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THE    BOOK    OF    JEREMIAH. 


IfnirobitctltiT. 


I.  Title.  So  called  from  the  name  of  the — II.  Author.  Jeremiah,  the 
S.  of  Ililkiah,  a  priest  of  Anathoth  (i.  (>)  in  Benj.,  called  to  proph.  office  70  yrs. 
aft.  d.  of  Isa.,  in  lotli  yr.  of  K.  Josiah  (i.  1).  Some  yrs.  att.,  Jer.  came  to 
Jeru?.,  visited  cities  of  Judah,  prophetiving  above  40  years  (ii.  (5).  Jehoiakira 
ppurned  his  predictions,  cut  the  roll  in  pieces,  and  burned  it.  Jer.  rewrote  it 
with  additions  (xxxvi.).  Falsely  accused,  in  the  reisfn  of  Zedekiah,  of  deserting 
to  Chaldajans,  he  was  imprisoned.  By  order  of  Nebuchadnezzar  he  had  the 
choice  of  going  to  Babylon,  but  preferred  to  remain  with  his  own  people. 
They,  disobeying  his  message,  went  to  Egypt,  taking  him  and  Baruch  with 
them  (xliii.  G),  there  he  still  sought  to  turn  the  people  (xliv.),  but  we  have  no 
further  ace.  of  him.  Trad,  says  the  Jews  put  him  to  death  at  Taphauhes 
{Jerome).  Jer.  was  contemp.  with  Zeph.,  Ilab.,  Eze..  and  Dan.  '•  The  hist,  of 
Jer.  brings  before  us  a  man  forced,  as  it  were,  in  spite  of  himself,  from 
obscurity  and  retirement  into  the  publicity  and  peril  which  attended  the  pro- 
phetical office.  Naturally  mild,  susceptible,  and  inclined  rather  to  mourn  in 
S-'cret  for  the  iniquity  which  surrounded  him  than  to  brave  <ind  denounce  the 
■wrong-doers,  he  stood  forth  at  the  call  of  God  and  pi'oved  himself  a  faithful, 
fearless  champion  of  the  truth,  amidst  reproaches,  insults,  and  threats.  This 
combination  of  qualities  is  so  marked,  that  Havernick  regards  it  as  a  proof  of 
the  Divine  origin  of  his  mission.  In  Eze.,  on  the  other  hand,  we  see  the  power 
of  Divine  inspiration  acting  on  a  mind  natui'ally  of  the  firmest  texture,  and 
ab-orbing  all  the  powers  of  the  soul "  (Anr/i/fi).  III.  Time.  B.C.  G_'S— .'iS.'S. 
"  The  style  of  Jer.  corresponds  with  the  character  of  his  mind  ;  it  is  peculiarly 
marked  by  pathos.  He  delights  in  expressions  of  tenderness,  and  gives 
touching  descriptions  of  the  miseries  of  his  people"  (Jwi/w.?).  "His  style, 
though  inferior  to  that  of  Isaiah  in  jiower  and  sublimity,  is  marked  by  pathos  and 
tenderness,  in  accordance  with  what  seems  to  have  been  the  cast  of  his  mind. 
He  excels  in  expressing  and  awakening  the  softer  emotions"  (Li f ton, 
Lowth).  With  this  Ilorne  agrees,  and  he  adds,  "  The  middle  part  of  his 
book  is  almost  entirely  historical,  and  is  written  in  a  plain  prosaic  style, 
suitable  to  historical  narrative.  On  many  occasions  he  is  veiy  elegant  and 
sublime,  especially  in  xlvi.— li.  1 — .59,  which  are  wholly  poetical,  and  in  which 
the  Prophet  approaches  very  near  the  sublimity  of  Isaiah." 

Two  or  three  of  the  prophecies  of  Jer.  clearly  announce  the  Messiah.  Thus, 
in  xxiii.  5.  (!.  He  is  called  the  Lord  our  righteousness,  a7ad  on  this  passage  Dr. 
Hales  says  this  is  "  to  intimate  that  He  will  be  a  mediatorial  God.  by  whose 
hand  we  shall  obtain  justification  from  the  name,  wherefore  it  calls  him  by  the 
name  of  the  name ;  that  is,  the  ineffable  name  Jaoli.  hei'e  put  for  God  Himself. 
Again  in  xxxi.  22  we  have  a  distinct  prediction  of  the  miraculous  conception 
of  Jes  IS  Christ;  and  in  xxxi.  31— 15(),  and  xxxiii.  8,  the  efficacy  of  Christ's 
atonement,  the  spiritual  character  of  the  new  covenant,  and  the  inward  efficacy 
of  the  Gospel  are  most  clearly  and  emphatically  described.  Comp.  Epistle  to 
the  Ilcbs.  viii.  8 — 13,  and  x.  Ki,  et  neq. 

The  character  of  Jeremiah  is  reflected  in  his  writings.  Ilis  speech  is  clear 
and  simple,  incisive  and  pithy,  and  though  generally  speaking  somewhat 
dilfuse,  yet  ever  ricli  in  thought.  If  it  lacks  a  lofty  strain,  the  soaring  flight 
of  an  Isaiah,  yet  it  has  beauties  of  its  own.  It  is  distinguished  by  a  wealth  of 
new  imagery  which  is  wrought  out  wdth  great  delicacy  and  deep  feeling,  and 
by  a  "  versatility  that  easily  adapts  itself  to  the  most  various  objects,  and  by 
ai'tibtic  clearness  "  {Eivald).    In  the  managameat  of  his  thouglitSj  Jeremiah 


Snnapsts?, 


(According  to  Home  after  Dr.  Blayney.) 
Introduction— Title,   i.  1—3.    Call  of  Jer. 

4-10. 
Part  I.— PROPHECIES    DELIVERED    IN 

REIGN  OF  JOSIAH ii.— .\ii. 

Discourse  1    ii.— iii.  5. 

Discourse  2     iii.  6 — vi. 

Discourses    vii. — x. 

Discourse  4    xi.,  xii. 

Part  II.— PROPHECIES  DELIVERED  IN 
REIGN  OF  JEHOIAKIM. 

Discourse  1 xiii. 

Discourses    xiv.,  xv. 

Discourses   xvi.,  xvii.  18. 

Discourse  4 xvii.  19—27. 

Discourses    xviii. 

Discourses    xix.,  xx. 

Discourse  7    xxii.,  xxiii.  1—8. 

Discourse  8     xxiii.  9—40. 

Discourse  9     xxv. 

Discourse  10     xxvi. 

Discourse  11     xxxv. 

Discourse  12 xxxvi. — xlv. 

Discourse  13   xlvi.— xlix.  1—6. 


Part  III.-PROPHECIES  DELIVERED  IN 
REIGN  OF  ZEUEKIAH. 

Discourse  1 xli.x.  S4—  39. 

Discourse  2    xxiv. 

Discourse  3  xxix.  1—  32. 

Discourse  4    xxx.  — xxxi.  38. 

Discourses     xxvii. — xxviii.  1 — 16. 

Discourse  6    1.,  li.  1 — 58. 

Discourse  7    -xxi.  1 — 14. 

Discourses    xxxiv.  1 — 22. 

Discourse  9    xxxvii.  1 — 21. 

Discourse  10    xxxii. 

Discourse  11 xxxiii. 

Discourse  12    ....    xx.xviii.,  xxxi.x.  1 — 18. 

Part  IV.— EVENTS  IN  JUDAH  FROJI 
TAKING  OF  JERUS.  TO  RETREAT 
INTO  EGYPT. 

Discourse  1     xl.— xlii. 

Discourse  2   xliii.— xliv. 

Conclusion— added  after  the  return  from 
captivity IIL 


has  more  recourse  than  other  Prophets  to  the  law  and  the  older  sacred  writingfs  ; 
and  his  style  is  rich  in  repetitions  and  standing'  phrases.  These  peculiarities 
are  not.  however,  to  be  regarded  as  signs  of  the  progressive  decline  of  the 
prophetic  gift,  but  are  to  be  derived  from  deeper  foundations,  from  positive 
and  fundamental  causes.  The  continual  recurrence  to  the  law  and  the  fre- 
quent application  of  the  prophetic  parts  of  Deuteronomy,  was  prompted  by  the 
circumstances  of  the  time.  The  wider  the  people's  apostasy  from  the  law  of 
God  extended  itself,  so  much  the  greater  becanie  the  need  for  a  renewed 
preaching  of  the  laAV,  that  should  point  to  the  sore  judgments  there  threatened 
against  hardened  sinners,  now  about  to  come  into  fulfilment.  And  as  against 
the  guile  of  false  prophets,  whose  influence  with  the  infatuated  people  became 
over  greater,  the  true  witres.-^-es  of  the  Lord  could  have  no  more  effective  meaua 
of  sliowing  and  proving  the  Divineness  of  their  mission  and  the  truth  of  their 
testimony  than  by  bringing  .strongly  out  their  connection  with  the  oldl'ropheta 
and  their  utterances  QDditzsoh). 


JEUEMIAn. 


[Cap.!.  1-0, 


•  Joseplius  snys 
this  town  is  20 
Btndia  ilistant  fr. 
Jerusiilein,  luid 
Jerome  descrilws 
It  as  three  Koin. 
miles  north  of 
that  city. 

"  Dr.  Robinson 
coiisiilers  the  pre- 
sent Anata  to 
occupy  the  site 
of  this  ancient 
town,  portions  of 
tliewiillofwliioh, 


dations  of  .some 
of  the  liouses, 
still  remain." — 
Henderson. 

t>  "The  first  an'l 
]ast  of  the  kings 
tin-Ier  whom  each 
Prophet  proplie- 
Rieil  are  often 
tlius  sppcififcl  in 
the  pr<-n.'ral  title." 

— t'tUlSSft. 

"  From  the  sixth 
f.  of  this  chapter 


yonnfT   when    he 

wascalle.lliynoa 
to  the  propliPtic 
office."— /,u  «■//!. 

c  Ilite. 

d  Dr.  Porter. 


CHAPTER  THE  FIBST. 

1 — 3.  (\)  the  "words,  better,  the  life  and  acts.  Some  under, 
stand  by  tbe  term  "  a  collection  of  the  iirophecies  of  Jeremiah." 
Jeremiah,  a  name  variously  translated,  yome  say  from  raniah, 
to  throw  down,  and  so  meaning  "  Jehovah  shall  throw  doAvn  ;  " 
others  take  it  from  ram.  high,  and  think  it  means,  '•  God  e.xalteth." 
Hilkiah,  jioss.  the  well-known  priest  of  this  name.  Anathoth, 
Jos.  xxi.  13,  18."  (2)  came,  lit.  n-fiJi,  or  began  to  come,  from  thia 
time  onward,  thirteenth  year,  wh.  would  be  the  year  after 
Josiah  began  his  national  reformations.  Jehoiakim,  etc., 
Jehoahaz  and  Jehoiachin  are  omitted  in  this  i-eference,  for  they 
reigned  only  three  months  each.* 

The  yoiinfi  C/iris/ian. — The  young  Christian,  trembling  on  the 

as  also  the  i^onn- 1  threshold  of  life  of  service,  is  equipped  and  comforted  by  his 

Master.     I.  The  young  Christian's  fears,  arising  from  sense  of — 

1.  Weakness,  '"a  child,"  witliout  influence,  experience,  stability  ; 

2.  Ignorance  :  how  comprehend  a  theme  into  which  angels 
de.=;ire  to  look  ?  3.  Unworthiness :  might  not  some  one  better 
known  do  the  work  required  of  him  better  ?  4.  Human  opjoosi- 
tion  :  he  saw  that  children  can  see  how  men  hate  the  truth.  II. 
The  young  Christian's  encouragements.  1.  God  sends  him  to 
work:  ''I  ordained  thee:"'  God  will  aid  ■whom  He  sends:  2. 
Disclosure  of  God's  purpose  :  no  less  God's  purpose  to  send  him 
than  to  save  Lsrael  ;  God's  plan  to  use  us,  as  well  as  to  save 
others  ;  3.  Promise  of  Divine  presence  :  "  I  am  with  ihee  : " 
Wesley's  saying,  "  The  best  of  all  is,  God  is  with  us ; "   4.  The 

weTnayTnferTha't '  message  should  be  supplied,  r.  'J  :  His  words  are  spirit  and  life  ; 
Jeremy  was  very  [  wisdom  and  power  of  God.     Learn  :— (I)  Advance  courageously  ; 

(2)  Expect  opposition  :  '•  they  hated  Me  before  thej' hated  you  ; " 

(3)  Look  constantly  for  Divine  aid."^ 
AnnlhotJi. — A  poor  village  of  some  twenty  houses,  built  amon^f 

Avhite  ro-'jks  and  wliite  ruins,  on  a  bare,  gvey  mountain  side.  No 
trees,  no  verdure,  no  richness,  nor  grandeur,  nor  beauty  ;  here, 
amid  mountain  solitudes  and  rocky  dells,  he  (Jeremiah)  mourned 
and  v/ept  over  the  foreseen  calamities  of  his  beloved  country.  .  .  . 
One  can  trace  in  nearly  all  the  images  and  illustrations  with 
which  his  writings  abound,  the  influence  of  those  wild  scenes 
amid  which  he  passed  hie  boyhood.  Mountains,  rocks,  wild 
beasts,  shepherds,  are  again  and  again  introduced.'* 

4 — 6.  (4)  word  .  .  came,"  the  way  in  which  Divine  messages 
came  to  the  Prophets  is  never  described.  Probably  thej'  distinctly 
heard  an  inward  voice  ;  or  felt  an  impulse  to  utter  certain  things. 
(."))  formed  thee,  the  figurative  assertion  of  God's  predestina- 
tion of  Jeremiah  to  the  prophetic  ofBce.  in  fulfilment  of  the 
Divine  plan.*  knew  thee,  in  the  sen.se  of  "  approved  of  thee  " 
as  a  fit  agent  for  My  purpose,  sanctified  thee,  in  the  sense 
of  "set  thee  apart,"  not  in  the  sen.se  of  "made  thee  holy."* 
ordained  thee,  or  appointed  thee  by  this  public  call,  nations, 
generally  :  to  other  beside  the  Jewish  nation.  (G)  child,  either 
as  young  in  years,"*  or  as  inexperienced.^  He  had  never  occuijied 
any  public  position. 

Fears  and  comforts  in  2»'os])ect  of  lahovr  for  God  {vv.  5 — 9).— 


«  "  This  call  was 
part  of  Jere- 
miah's first  nil- 
dress  to  the 
peoi)le.  It  was 
no  at'terthoup-ht, 
but  a  public  pro- 
clamation, by  wh. 
from  the  first  he 
stood  forth, 
claimin;»  to  act 
by  an  external 
authority,  and  to 
fpeaknothisown 
Words,  but  tliose 
of  .Jehovah."  — 
Upk.  Com. 


Cap.  i.  7—10.] 


JEREMIAH. 


9 


1.  The  fears  of  God's  servant  in  prospect  of  labour.  1.  He  feels 
his  weakness,  having  no  influence,  no  experience,  being  unstable  ; 

2.  He  feels  his  ignorance  :  3.  His  unworthiness  ;  4.  He  dreads 
th9  enmity  of  man.  II.  The  comforts  of  God's  servants  in  the 
prospect  of  labour.  1.  The  assurance  they  are  called  to  the  work  ; 
2.  The  knowledge  of  the  purpose  of  God  ;  ?>.  The  promise  of  the 
presence  of  God  ;  4.  The  fact  that  the  message  is  from  God.-'' 

Jerauiah. — 

I  am  the  man  sore  smitten  with  the  wrath 
Of  Him  who  fashioii'd  me  ;  my  heart  is  faint, 
And  crieth  out.  Spare,  spare,  O  God  !  Thy  saint 
But  yet  with  darkness  doth  He  hedge  my  path. 

My  eyes  with  streams  of  fiery  tears  run  down. 

To  see  the  daugliter  of  my  p-eople  slain, 

And  in  Jerusalem  the  godless  reign. 
Trouble  on  trouble  are  ui:)on  me  thrown  ; 

Mine  adversaries  clap  their  sinful  hands 

The  while  they  hiss  and  wag  their  heads,  and  say, 
"  "Where  is  the  temple  but  of  yesterday — 

The  noblest  city  of  a  hundred  lauds  .' " 

'VVe  do  confess  our  guilt  ;  then,  Lord,  arise, 

Avenge,  avenge  us  of  our  enemies  !  s 

7 — 10.  (7)  say  not,  etc.,  comp.  Ex.  vi.  30,  vii.  1,  2.  thou 
Shalt  go ,  God  renews  a  command  which  requires  a  simple  and 
unquestioning  obedience.  (8)  of  their  faces,  the  look  of  an 
audience  often  terrifies  a  young  and  untried  speaker,  and  as 
Je^-emiah  had  bitter  judgments  to  announce,  the  faces  would  be 
likely  to  daunt  him.  I  am  with  thee,  the  usual  and  all-suf- 
ficing assurance."  (9)  touched  my  mouth,*  as  a  symbol  of  the 
bestowment  of  grace  for  the  speaking  or  prophesying  required. 
(10)  set  thee  over,  or  given  thee  the  oversight :  set  thee  to 
have  an  eye  to  the  conduct  and  the  future  of  the  nations. 
■fauild  .  .  plant,  indicating  the  restoration  of  nations  when  they 
are  duly  repentant  and  reformed. 

Ji-rcmiah.  a  lesi<on  fur  the  dhnppointed  (v.  8). — Sketch  the  un- 
gi-ateful  treatment  of  the  Prophets  by  the  Israelites  :  of  all  per- 
Becuted  Prophets  we  know  most  of  Jeremiah.  See — I.  How  these 
words  apply  to  him  :  his  ministry  may  be  summed  up  in  three 
words  :  1.  Good  hope  ;  2.  Labour  ;  3.  Disappointment.  II.  How 
these  words  apply  to  us.'' 

Providential  interpositions. — The  goodness  or  mercy  of  God  is 
Been  when  it  interposes  for  the  help  of  man.  Thus  Moses  was 
preserved  on  the  margin  of  the  Nile.  The  ravens,  in  a  time  of 
famine,  bring  Elijah  bread  and  flesh,  1  Kings  xvii.  6.  The  story 
is  known  how  Du  Moulin,  during  the  massacre  of  the  Huguenots, 
in  Paris,  was  cherished  for  a  fortnight  by  a  hen,  which  came 
constantly  and  laid  her  eggs  where  he  was  concealed.  Also  how, 
at  Calais,  an  Englishman,  who  crept  into  a  hole  under  a  staircase, 
was  there  preserved  by  means  of  a  spider,  which  had  woven  its 
web  over  the  hole,  and  so  the  soldiers  slighted  the  search  there. 
It  is  related  of  Aristomenes  that,  being  thrown  for  dead  into  a 
ditch  along  with  others,  he  found  his  way  out  by  means  of  a  fox 
which  came  thither,  and  pointed  a  passage  out.  Lord  IMountjoy, 
coming  from  Ireland,  had  perished,  together  with  his  ship's 
U)mpan7,  had  not  Providence  wonderfully  preserved  them  by 


6  Is.  xlix.  1,  6. 

c"Wlien  Jeliovab 
declare.?  tliat  He 
liail».aiiotitieiltli« 
Prophet  before 
bis  birth,  the 
me,aning  is  not 
that  ile  liaii 
cleansed  him  fr. 
the  pollution  of 
original  sin,  as 
some  have  sup- 
poseil,  but  that 
He  had  separated 
him  in  His  eter- 
nal counsel  to  the 
work  ill  which 
he  was  to  be 
engaged." —  Hen- 
dersun. 

d  It  is  supposed 
that  at  his  call 
Jeremiah  was 
under  25  years  of 
age. 

e  For  the  reluc- 
tance of  men  to 
do  God's  work, 
comp.  Ex.  iv.  10, 
vi.  12,  30  ;  Jno. 
i.  3. 

fSkms and  Twigs, 
g  G.  iSmith. 

a  Ex.  iii.  12  ;  De. 
xxxi.  8 ;  Jos.  i.  5. 

b  Comp.  Is.  vi.  7, 
li.  16. 

"God,  by  this 
visible  sign,  as- 
sures him  that 
He  had  conferred 
upon  him  the 
gift  of  utterance, 
and  imparted  His 
will  and  purposes 
in  such  a  measure 
to  him  that  his 
words  ouglit  to 
be  esteemed  the 
oracles  of  God." 
— Loicl/i. 

c  J.  li.  Newman. 
j'.lO.  Dr.  G.  Croft, 
ii.  48 ;  A.  Fuller, 
GS3. 

"It  is  reported 
that  in  the 
Tanml  language 
there  is  no  word 
for  hope.  Alas  I 
poor  men,  if  we 
were  all  as  des- 
titute of  tlie 
blessed  comfort 
itself  as  these 
Tamul  speakers 
are  of  the  wordl 
What  must  be 
the     misery     of 


10 


JEREillAir. 


[Cap.  i,  11— la 


80 11  Is  i"  lie  11  j  means  of  certain  sea-birds.  Camerarius  relates  how,  in  the  time 
nicTnbor^  tl7e  '  °^  ^  8ie,s:e,  the  inhabitants,  who  were  sorely  presstd  by  the 
woni,  but  can  |  Turks,  placed  a  large  stove  of  beehives  on  the  walls  of  the  be- 
nevcr  know  hope  '•  sieged  place,  and  furiously  tuml>ling  down  the  hives  on  their 
o<w'/ '     ~  ^J""''  !  enemies,  the  latter  were  so  desperately  stung,  that  in  a  pnug  ot* 

indignation  they  gave  up  the  siege,  to  the  inexpref^sible  joj  o'> 
d  Crane,  the  besieged    Christians,  who  were   holpen  by  these   new  and 

wonderful  recruits  I   And  thus  is  mercy  displayed  in  the  meaneist 

creatures.'^ 

11 — 16.  (11)  seest  thoti,  this  indicates  that  God  guided  the 
Prophet  by  vL-ion.'i.  rod,  or  branch,  almond  tree,  wh.,  putting 
forth  its  flowers  before  its  leaves,  is  an  image  of  wakefulness  and. 
activity ,«  The  Heb.  words  ftlialwd,  an  almond  tree,  and  .sliahrd, 
hastening,  have  an  affinity  in  their  sound.  So  the  almond  is 
made  the  symbol  of  Gods  hastening.  (12)  liasten,  or  I  watch 
for  opportunity  to  perform  it.  (i:^)  seething  pot,  a  metal 
vessel  used  for  cooking  meat.  The  seething  intimates  that  ii> 
was  boiling  furiously',  north,  the  district  of  the  Chalda^ans.* 
(14,  15)  families  .  .  north,  the  Assyrian  kingdom  is  treated  in 
the  Bible  as  a  composite  kingdom,  consisting  of  many  provinces 
and  nations,  liis  throne,  intimating  a  general  council  and 
determination  to  destroy  the  city.«  (10)  judgements,  as  distinct 
from  projihecies. 

'Th(;  almond  tree  in  ilossoni. — "  A  little  after  sunrise,  went  out 
by  the  Jaffa  gate,  and,  turning  to  the  left,  took  the  path  that 
winds  down  the  slope  of  Zion.  As  I  went  along,  the  jileasant 
sound  of  bees,  '  the  wild  bees  of  Palestine,'  clustering  over  the 
pink  blossoms  of  an  almond  tree  on  the  left,  greeted  me.  The 
tree  itself,  all  flower,  without  a  single  leaf,  was  a  gay  contrast 
to  the  dark  olives  below.  A  few  days  ago  it  M'as  brown  and 
bare  ;  to-day  it  is  all  brightness  :  and  to  this  sudden  change 
reference  is  made  when  Jeremiah  is  taken  to  one  of  the  orchards 
of  Auathoth  and  bidden  look  at  the  '  rod  of  the  almond  tree,'  for 
it  is  added.  '  I  will  hasten  My  word  to  perform  it.'  ''"^ — Xnfc  on  v. 
13. — To  compensate  in  some  measure  for  the  scarcity  of  fuel,  the 
Orientals  endeavour  to  consume  as  little  as  possible  in  preparing 
their  victuals.  For  this  purjiose  they  make  a  hole  in  their 
dwellings,  about  a  foot  and  a  half  deep,  in  which  they  put  their 
earthen  pots,  with  the  meat  in  them,  closed  up.  about  the  half 
above  the  middle  ;  three  fourth  parts  they  lay  about  with  stones, 
and  the  fourth  part  is  left  open,  through  which  they  fling  in 
their  di'icd  dung,  and  any  other  combustible  substances  they  can. 
procui-e,  which  burn  immediately,  and  produce  so  great  a  heat, 
that  the  pot  becomes  as  hot  as  if  it  stood  over  a  strong  fire  of 
coals  ;  so  that  they  boil  their  meat  with  greater  expedition  and 
much  less  fuel  than  it  can  be  done  upon  the  hearth.  The  hole 
in  which  the  pot  is  set  has  an  aperture  on  one  side,  for  the  iiur- 
pose  of  receiving  the  fuel,  which  seems  to  be  what  Jeremiah  calls 
the  face  of  the  pot.  '•  I  see."  said  the  Prophet,  "  a  ]ot,  and  the 
face  thereof  is  towards  the  north  :"  intimatin-r  that  the  fuel  fp 
heat  it  was  to  be  brought  from  that  quarter.  This  emblematical 
prediction  was  fulfilled  when  Nebuchadnezzar,  whoso  doniiuions 
lay  to  the  north  of  Palestine,  led  his  armies  against  Jerusalem, 
and  overturned  the  thrones  of  the  house  of  David.« 

17 — 19.  (17)  gird  .  .  loins,  the  sign  of  earnest  preparation 


a  It  is  the  first 
of   trees  to  lilos- 
soni,  aiiil    hence 
tlip  Koinans  up-  ( 
Jjlied    to    it    the  : 
epitliet:!      "  viiri-  ' 
la  n  t  "         a  II  (1 
"  watchful."     lis 
bloisonis,    wliich  j 
are     wliite     an  \  I 
plentiful,     burst  | 
fortli  in  .January, 
even    before    the  i 
leaf-buds  apjjear.  [ 

b  The  seething  I 
pot  is  a  figure  of  | 
the  Chaldicans  ;  ' 
an  1  tlie  concep-  } 
tioii  seems  to  be  | 
that  it  will  boil  ] 
over,  anil  tlie  > 
contents  pour  ' 
diiwn  to  the  \ 
desolation  of  Je-  , 
rus.alem.  i 

i(7.,  from  the  f.ace  ' 
of     the     regien  ■ 
situated  towards 
the  north. 

c  "Or  '  Each  | 
prince  shall  pitcii  j 
)iis  royal  pavi-  I 
lion,  witli  all  the  j 
marks  of  sove-  ' 
reign ty  belong-  I 
ing  to  it,  in  token  i 
of  having  oh-  | 
tained  a  com-  ' 
])lete  victory,  and  { 
taken  entire  pos- 
session of  tlie 
city.'  " — Lowth.      I 

"  In  the  destruc-  ! 
tion  of  Jerusa-  ' 
lem  the  Chal-  \ 
dieans  would  but  i 
fullil  the  pur-  | 
poses  and  conn-  I 
cils  of  God." —  I 
Jlittderson. 

r.  II.    /.  Sauriix,  ' 

vii.  •-".)4. 

d  Dr.  lionar. 
t  J'axton. 


Cap.  ii.  1—8.] 


JEREMIAH. 


11 


for  Avork  »  and  fixity  of  purpose  to  do  it  thoroughly,  not  dis- 
mayed, at  the  oppopitiou  he  was  certain  to  meet  with.*  con- 
found, 7IIIJ /•{/.,  '-break  to  pieces."  (18)  a  defenced  city,  i.e. 
like  one,  guarded  well  round  with  Divine  defences."  iron 
pillar,  symbol  of  his  Divinely  strengthened  n-ill.  (19)  not 
prevail,  and  Avith  such  an  assurance  Jeremiah  may  well  bani.sh 
all  timidity  and  hesitation.  "  They  shall  no  more  prevail  against 
thee,  than  they  could  against  an  impregnable  wall  or  fortress." 

Oj'posititDi  (r.  19). — In  proi^ortion  as  we  are  faithful  to  God 
■we  are  assailed  by  man.  I.  The  vehemence  of  our  foes,  ''  fight 
against  thee  ;"  they  do  not  fight  against  principle  so  much  as 
against  persons.  II.  The  certainty  of  our  security,  "  they  shall 
not  prevail."  Saints  may  be  weary,  maimed,  fearful ;  but  not, 
in  the  end.  defeated.  III.  The  source  of  our  confidence.  1.  The 
abiding  presence  of  the  Lord  ;  2.  The  constant  mauiiestation  of 
the  power  of  the  Lord.'* 


CHAPTER  TEE  SECOND. 

1 — 4.  (1)  moreover,  this  first  prophecy  is  to  be  closely  con- 
nected with  the  call.  (2)  ears  of  Jerusalem,  i.e.  in  the  most 
public  places  where  audience  is  to  be  gained.  This  implies  that 
the  Prophet  was  to  leave  Anathoth.  remember  thee,  or.  for 
thee;  what  thou  hast  so  strangely  forgotten.  "Israel  is  here 
rsiiresented  as  a  young  bride.""  The  reference  is  to  the  forty 
years  in  the  wilderness  of  Sinai.*  (3)  holiness,  i.e.  a  con- 
secrated tiling.^  (Lev.  xxii.  10.  the  same  word  is  used.)  offend, 
or  incur  the  guilt  of  touching  a  sacred  thing.  (4)  Jacob  .  . 
Israel,  though  the  ten  tribes  had  been  taken  into  captivity, 
many  of  the  Israelite  nation  remained,  blended  with  Judah  ; 
and  nil  are  addressed. 

The  inrjratitude  of  men  (rv.  4 — G). — Here  we  are  called  to  con- 
sider—I. The  complaint  he  makes  :  it  may  be  urged  against  lis, 
for  there  is — 1.  The  same  folly  :  2.  Tlie  same  ingratitude.  II.  His 
challenge  in  relation  to  it.  I.  Have  you  ever  found  Him  a  hard 
master .'  2.  Or  less  gracious  or  merciful  than  He  professed  to  be  ? 
Tell  me  then — (1)  What  will  ye  say  in  justification  of  yourselves  ? 
2.  What  line  of  conduct  will  ye  henceforth  pui-sue.'''^ 

5 — 8.  (.t)  what  iniquity,  or  injustice  in  dealing  with  them." 
vanity,  the  usual  description  of  idols,  and  idolatrous  worship.* 
become  vain,  its  worshippers  acquiring  its  character,''  Ps.  cxv. 
8.  (())  led  .  .  wilderness,  coDip.  De.  viii.  1.5,  !(>,  xxxii.  lo.'' 
deserts,  e/e.,  figures  to  represent  the  entire  lack  of  all  ordinary 
conveniences  of  life  :  and  many  dangers  present."  (7)  plenti- 
ful country,  Jit.  a  Carmel-land.  The  fertile  district  of  Carmel 
being  made  to  represent  the' whole  land./  (8)  handle  the  law, 
•i.e.  the  Scribes,  or  perhaps  Levites.  pastors,  i.e.  the  temporal 
rulers,  prophets,  i.e.  those  who  received  and  communicated 
speci:d  Divine  messages. 

Three  !<]uniirft,l  jm.'isihilitie.t  of  human  life  (w.  fi — 8). — I.  The 
possibility  of  dishonouring  the  great  memories  of  life.  1.  As 
when  the  vividness  of  their  recollection  fades  ;  2.  When  their 
moral  purpose  is  overlooked  or  misunderstood  ;  3.  When  their 
Btimulating  and  strengthening  function  is  suspended.  II.  The 
possibility  of  under-estimating  the  interpositions  of  God,     1.  Ee- 


I  a  Job  xxxviii.  3 ; 
I  1  Pet.  i.  13. 
I  b  "Naturally  de- 
■  spoiuleiit        and 
I  self-Uibtrustlul, 
I  there     was      no 
1  feebleness  in  Je- 
I  remiuli's  cliarao- 
.  ter,  and  be  pos- 
se s  s  e  d     a    far 
liiglier      quality 
than   physical 
courage    in    bis 
power  of  patient 
endm-auce.'  'Spk. 
Com. 
c  Comp.  Eze.  iii. 

9.  Also  Je.  XV. 

10,  XX.  2,  xxiii. 
18,  etc.,  xxvi. 
10,  XXXV.  15, 
xxxviii.  6. 

d  iiltmsaiidTwigi, 


a  Eze.  xvi.  8; 
Ho.  ii.  20  :  Joel 
i.  8. 

b  "  Prob.  the  v. 
is  intended  to 
set  forth  the  zeal 
and  piety  they 
had  evinced  at 
that  early  period, 
and  which  were 
as  striliingly 
contrasted  with 
their  idolatrous 
practices  at  the 
time  of  the 
Prophet." — Hen- 
derson. 

c  "  A  people  par- 
ticularly dedi- 
cated to  Me,  as 
the  firstfi-uits  of 
the  i.lcrease  of 
the  ground  are, 
by  their  law, 
consecrated  to 
God,  E.X.  xxiii.  19. 
d  C.tiimevit,M.A, 
a  Mi.  vi.  3. 

b  Je.  .V.  15,  xiv. 
14,  22,  xvi.  19; 
1  Co.  viii.  4. 

c  "A  people's 
character  never 
rises  above  that 
of  its  gods,  wli. 
are  its  '  better 
nature.' "  -Bacon. 

d  Is.  Ixiii.  9,  11, 
13  ;  Ho.  xiii.  4. 

e  "A  more  fright- 
ful desert  it  had 
hardly  been  our 
lot  to  behold. 
The  niountaina 
beyoud  presented 


12 


JEFxEMlAn. 


[Cap.  il.  5—8, 


a  niopt  uninvit- 
iiif;  iind  liiiloous 
aspect  ;  preci- 
picrs  and  iiakeil 
conical  praks  of 
clialky  and  pra- 
Telly  formation, 
rising  one  above 
anotlier,  without 
a  sign  of  life  or 
vegetation." — 
Jiubiiisun. 

f  Is.  X.  18,  xvi. 
10,  xxxvii.  21. 

g  Dr.  J.  I'aiker. 

«.  5.  W.DiinU>p,i. 

vv.  6,  7.  E.  Sco- 
bell,  313. 

"After  we  had 
passed  the  salt 
desert,  we  caiae 
to  the  llalek-el- 
moat-dereli,  or 
the  valley  of  tlie 
angel  of  death. 
Tliis  extraordi- 
nary .ippellation, 
and  the  pi  culiar 
nature  of  tlie 
■Whole  of  tins 
tract  of  land, 
broken  into  deep 
ravines,  wiiliout 
■water,  of  a  dreari- 
ness without  ex- 
ample, will,  per- 
liaps,  be  found 
forcibly  to  illus- 
trate Jer.  ii.  6." 
— MorUr. 

"Upward  steals 
tlie  Hfe  of  man. 
as  the  sunsliine 
from  the  widl  ; 
from  the  wall  in- 
to the  sky  ;  from 
the  roof  along  the 
Epire.  Ah !  the 
souls  of  those 
that  die  are  but 
sunbeams  lifted 
liiglier."  —  Lumj- 
felloic. 

Life  is  a  thing 
wliich  many  peo- 
ple seem  in  a 
great  hurry  to 
get  rid  of,  if  we 
may  judg(;  by  the 
nuniiicrof  "fast" 
young  men  now- 
adays, wlio  use 
thini-iclves  up 
with  the  greatest 
apparent  sati;- 
factiuu. 


member  the  Deliverer  :  2.  And  the  Giver.  III.  The  possibility 
of  the  leading  minds  of  the  Church  being  darkened  and  jierverted. 

1.  Such  men  phould  watch  themselves  with  constant  jealousy; 

2.  Such  men  should  never  be  forgotten  by  those  who  pray.  ^ 
Kdtr  on  r.  (!. — ^^'hen  the  Prophet  describes  this  wilderness, 

according  to  our  version,  as  the  laud  of  the  shadow  of  death,  his 
meaning  has  been  differently  understood  by  diflereut  people. 
Some  have  supposed  it  to  mean  a  ]ilace  where  there  were  no 
comforts  or  conveniences  of  life,  but  this  seems  too  general  :  and 
to  explain  it  as  a  jiarticular  and  distinct  member  of  the  descrip- 
tion, pointing  out  some  quality  different  from  the  other  circum- 
stances mentioned  by  Jeremiah,  seems  to  be  a  more  just,  as  it  is 
undoubtedly  a  more  lively  way  of  interpreting  the  Prophet. 
Others  have  accordingly  understood  this  clause  as  signifying,  it 
was  the  habitation  of  venomous  serpents,  or  destroying  beasts  ; 
some  as  endangering  those  that  ptissed  through  it,  as  being  sur- 
rounded by  the  hostile  tribes  of  Arabs  :  some  as  being  Overshadowed 
by  trees  of  a  deleterious  quality.  They  might  better  have  intro- 
duced the  whiilwinds  of  those  southern  deserts  than  the  last 
particulai-,  which  winds,  taking  up  the  sand  in  gnat  qiiantities, 
darken  the  air.  and  prove  fatal  to  the  traveller.  This  last  would 
be  giving  great  beauty  and  energy  to  the  expression  (the  shadow 
of  death),  since  these  clouds  of  dust,  literally  speaking,  over- 
shadow those  that  have  the  misfortune  to  be  then  passing  through 
those  deserts,  and  must,  at  the  same  time,  give  men  the  utmost 
terror  of  t»ing  overwhelmed  by  them,  and  not  uufrequcntly  do 
in  fact  jirove  deadly.  Another  clause,  a  land  of  pits,  is  also  a 
part  of  the  Prophet's  description.  Irwin  affords  a  good  comment 
on  this  part  of  our  translation  :  in  the  one  place  he  saj's,  "  The 
])ath  winded  round  the  side  of  the  mountain,  and  to  our  left,  a 
horrid  chasm,  some  hundred  fathoms  deep,  presented  itself  to  our 
view.  It  is  surprising  no  accident  befell  the  loaded  camels."  In 
another,  "  On  each  side  of  us  were  perpendicular  steeps  some 
hut  dred  fathoms  deep.  On  every  part  is  such  a  wild  confusion 
of  hanging  preciinces,  disjointed  rocks,  and  hideous  chasms,  that 
we  might  well  cry  out  with  the  poet,  '  Chaos  is  come  again.' 
Omnipotent  Father  !  to  Thee  we  trust  for  our  deliverance  from 
the  perils  that  surround  us.  '  It  was  through  this  wilderness 
that  Thou  didst  lead  Thy  chosen  people.'  It  was  here  Thou  didst 
manifest  thy  signal  protection,  in  snatching  them  from  the  jaws 
of  destruction  which  opened  upon  every  side."  And  in  the  next 
I)age,  "  At  two  o'clock  we  came  suddenly  upon  a  dreadful  chasm 
in  the  rond.  which  appears  to  have  been  the  effect  of  an  earth- 
quake. It  is  about  three  hundred  j^ards  long,  one  hundred  yards 
wide,  and  as  man.y  deep  ;  and,  what  is  a  curiosity,  in  the  middle 
of  the  gulf,  a  single  column  of  stone  raises  its  head  to  the  surface 
of  the  earth.  The  rudeness  of  the  work,  and  the  astonishing 
length  of  the  stone,  announce  it  to  be  a  hisiix  nafiirce.  though 
the  robbers  declared  to  us  that  beneath  the  column  there  lies  a 
prodigious  sum  of  money  ;  and  added,  with  a  grave  face,  they 
have  a  tradition,  that  none  but  a  Christian's  hand  can  remove 
the  stone  to  come  at  it.  "We  rounded  the  gulf,  which  was  called 
Soinnh.  and  leaving  it  behind  us,  we  entered  a  valley  where  we 
found  a  very  craggy  road."  The  fir.=t  clause  in  this  x'assage, 
through  a  land  of  deserts,  is  the  most  obscure  and  difficult  to 
ascertain.    Instead  of  travelling  in  the  night,  as  he  had  proposed, 


Cap.  ii.  9^19] 


JE  REM  I  A II. 


18 


to  avoid  the  burning'  heat  of  the  sun,  he  says,  "  At  seven  o'clock 
we  halted  for  the  nig-ht.  The  Arabs  tell  us  that  the  roads  are 
too  rugged  and  dangerous  to  travel  over  in  the  dark."  Under 
the  next  day,  "  \vc  reached  the  foot  of  a  prodigious  high  moun- 
tain, which  we  cannot  ascend  in  the  dark."  The  following  day, 
he  tells  us,  "  by  six  o'clock  we  had  accoutred  our  camels,  and 
leading  them  in  our  hands',  began  to  ascend  the  mountain  on 
foot  ;  as  we  mounted  the  steep,  we  frequently  blessed  ourselves 
that  we  were  not  riding,  as  the  path  was  so  narrow,  the  least 
false  step  must  have  sent  the  beast  down  the  bordering  precipice." 
Under  another  day  he  remarks  that  the  greatest  part  of  that 
day's  journey  was  "  over  a  succession  of  hills  and  dales,  where 
ths  road  was  so  intricate  and  broken,  that  nothing  but  a  camel 
could  get  over  it.  The  appearance  of  the  road  is  so  frightful  in 
many  places,  that  we  do  not  wonder  why  our  people  have  hitherto 
lain  by  in  the  night."* 

9 — 13.  (9)  plead,  as  in  a  court  of  Iaw.«  with,  yoii,  the 
present  generation,  children's  children,*  who  will  further  : 
develop  the  idolatry  and  rebellion.  (10;  isles  of  Cllittim,'^  [ 
coast  lands  of  the  IMediterranean  Sea.  Kedar,  fig.  for  the  [ 
Eastern  lands."*  (11)  changed  their  gods,  the  tenacity  with  j 
which  men  keep  hold  of  national  religions  has  always  been  very  j 
marked,  their  glory,  wh.  was  the  revelation  to  them  of  the  one,  | 
living,  and  spiritual  God.  (12)  very  desolate,  or  diy.  The  | 
heavens  are  poetically  called  on  to  shrivel  and  dry  up  in  horror  j 
at  such  conduct.  (13)  broken  cisterns,'"  such  as  have  cracks  j 
or  rents,  through  which  the  water  wastes  away. 

The  fountnni  and  the  eiatevti  (v.  13). — In  these  two  evils  we 
have  ail  the  sins  of  the  people  summed  up, — apostasy  and  self-  j 
Bufficieucy.     I.   The  fountain  forsaken.     1 .   Its  nature  :   2.    Its 
contents, — God,  a  Fountain  of  cleansing  influence — of  cheering 
influence — of  reviving  power — of  fertilising  results.     This  foun-  \ 
tain  is  forsaken  when  men  cease  to  think  of  God  as  the  chief  end  ! 
of  their  life — when  they  overlook  the  law  of  God — when  they  do  | 
not  cleave  to  the  word  of  God — when  they  are  beginning  to  look  j 
back  to  old  times  of  bondage — when  they  look  away  fi'om  the  [ 
cleansing  fountain  to  their  own  works.     II.   The  cistern  pre- 
ferred.   1.  Domestic  happiness  :  2.  Professional  life  ;  3.  Intellec- 1 
tuality  ;  4.  Social  life.     III.  The  disappointment  involved.     1.1 
That  of  one  who  has  spent  his  best  time  and  strength  to  no  pur-  j 
pose  ;  2.  Of  one  who  must  after  all  go  to  the  rejected  fountain  ; } 
3.  AVho  finds  that  his  past  life  has  been  a  grievous  sin.  1 

Kdfe  on  v.  13. — In  Eastern  language,  '•  living  water"'  signifies 
Bpringing  water,  that  which  bubbles  up.     The  people  had  for- ! 
eakeu  Jehovah,  the  never-failing  Spring,  for  the  small  quantity 
which  coul*  be  contained  in  a  cistern  ;  nay,  in  broken  cisterns, : 
which  vv'ould  let  out  the  water  as  fast  as  they  received  it.    When  j 
people  forsake  a  good  situation  for  that  wliich  is  bad,  it  is  said, 
"  Yes  ;  the  stork  which  lived  on  the  borders  of  the  lake,  where  | 
there  was  a  never-failing  supply  of  water,  and  constant  food,  has  ] 
gone  to  dwell  on  the  biink  of  a  well,"  i.e.  where  there  is  no  fish, ' 
and  where  the  water  cannot  be  had.-^ 

14—19.  (11)  slave  ?  God  called  him  to  be  son,  not  slave,  Ex. 
iv.  22.  "Vi'liy  .  .  spoiled  ?  the  answer  must  be,  on  account  of  his 
Bins,   so  he  must  not  charge  God  with  his  calamities.     (15) 


"  Far  more  va- 
lued is  tlie  vine 
that  beuils  be- 
iieatli  its  swell- 
ing clusters,  than 
tlie  dark  and 
joyless  ivy,  round 
the  cloister  s  wall 
wreathing  its 
barren  arms."— 
iSouthey. 


h  Ilarmer. 

a  "  The  expres- 
sion is  taken 
from  the  pleas  of 
plain  till  and  de- 
fendant, used  in 
a  court  of  jus- 
tice."— Loirth. 
b  "  This  e.'vpres- 
sion  is  design- 
edly used,  to  in- 
timate that  the 
final  judgment 
on  the  nation 
would  be  sus- 
pended for  many 
generations. "  — 
llofxhii. 

c  See  Kitlim,  Ge, 
X.  4. 

d  Ge.  xjTf.  13 ' 
Ps.  cxx.  5 ;  Cant. 
i.  5. 

e  "  The  usua. 
plan  is  to  dig  a 
tank  in  the 
ground,  build 
round  with 
stonework,  some- 
times raising  this 
several  feet  above 
the  ground,  and 
putting  on  it  a 
roof.  These  cis- 
terns are  very 
liable  to  crack 
and  leak,  e-p. 
those  near  the 
surface  of  the 
ground  and  un- 
scientifically 
constructed ;  and 
no  more  expres- 
sive fig.  of  un- 
trustworthiness 
could  be  found 
than  a  leaky 
lnt\k."- 17>0Tns<m, 
f  Robei-ts. 

a  Comp.  Job  ir, 
10,  ll;Ps.X33aT. 


14 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  ii.  20—25. 


10,  Iviii.  6  ;  .Tp.  li. 
17:  Y,7A\  xix.  3,6; 
Na!i.  ii.  11,  12. 
6  "  Niipli,  or 
Menipliis,  cnpital 
of  Lowei  MpryiJt, 
on  the  W.  bank 
of  tlie  Nile. 
Tahapanes,  or 
Da  >'ine,  on  the 
I'Hiiicic  branch 
of  the  Nile. 
Ilipse  two  citie.s 
B'anl  for  the 
wliule  of  ICgypt." 
—  F.tnxxel. 
c  "  The  two  rivers 
are  tlie  two 
empires,  and  to 
fir  ink  their 
waters  is  to  ailii)it 
tlieir  principles 
anil  religion." — 
Shi.  Com. 

f.  17.  J.Marriott, 

213. 

d  Roseiimuller, 


a  Ex.  xix.  f? ;  .Tos. 
xxiv.  13;  Jh.  x. 
IG  ;  1  ?a.  xii.  10. 

b  "It  was  an  in- 
cru;tatlan  at  tlic 
1  ot'om  of  the 
lakes,  after  the 
sxinimer  heat  ha^ 
evajiorateil  the 
water.  It  wa; 
u.-e^l  for  washing. 
(Job  ix.  30;  Pr. 
XXV.  20).—Faus- 
set. 

c  "Thoufrh  thou 
usest  ever  so 
many  methoilsof 
washing  away 
thy  sins..  ..yet 
the  marks  or 
stains  will  al- 
ways ajipear  ii' 
the  sisriit  of  God, 
till  they  are  done 
away  liy  a  sincere 
reiicntance  and 
reformation. "  — 
Liiiclli. 

d  C.  H.  Spurgeon. 

a  "  The  people 
prob.  appealed  to 
the  maintenance 
of  the  <laily  sac- 
rifice, and  the 
Jlosaic  ritual ; 
and  even  more 
confidently  per- 
haps to  Josiali's 
splendid  restora- 
tion      of       the 


'  yotin^  lions,  type  of  the  dang-ers  into  wh.  Israel's  rebellion 
liad  brouoht  liiiii.  Lions  are  soiiietimes  taken  to  rcjiresent  the 
IJahylouian  ]irinccs."  (K!)  Nopli,  Taliapanea/  places  in 
Koyi)t.  broken  .  .  crown,  iiuir;/.  "feed  on  thy  crown."  or 
devour  the  best  jiart  of  thy  country.  (17)  to  tliyself,  by 
thy  own  doinyfs.  (18)  \va,7  of  E<?ypt,  at  this  time  some 
of  the  rulers  were  inclined  to  alliance  with  Egypt,  while 
others  favoured  alliance  with  Assyria.*"  (ID)  thine  .  .  thee, 
the  natural  consequences  of  wrong-doing  jjrove  to  be  Divine 
judgments. 

j\vU'  on  r.  18. — The  Euphrates  is  always  muddy,  and  the  water, 
consequently,  not  good  to  drink  unless  it  has  stood  an  hour  or 
two  in  earthen  vessels  for  the  sand  and  impurities  to  settle, 
which  at  times  lie  half  a  finger  thick  at  the  bottom  of  the  vessel. 
Hence  it  was  not  without  reason  that  the  Lord  said  to  the  Israel- 
ites, by  the  Prophet  Jeremiah,  "  "What  hast  thou  to  do  in  the  way 
of  AssjTia,  to  drink  the  waters  of  the  river  .'"  (Euphrates.)  For 
this  reason  we  fnid  in  the  houses  of  the  city  and  villages,  par- 
ticularly those  lying  on  the  Great  River,  many  large  earthen 
vessels  holding  a  pailful  or  two,  which  they  fill  from  the 
Euphrates,  and  do  not  use  till  the  impurities  have  settled  at  the 
bottom,  unless  they  are  verj'  thirsty,  and  then  they  drink  through 
their  pocket-handkerchiefs. — (Rauwolf.)'' 

20—22.  (20)  broken  thy  yoke,  th.it  which  Egypt  laid 
upon  thee.  But  God  gave  Israel  many  gracious  deliverances, 
and  received  from  Israel  repeated  promises  of  I'aithfi;!  service." 
high  hill,  rfp..  Is.  Ivii.  5 — 7.  (21")  nohle  vine,  .s-rr  Is.  v.  1,  etc. 
right  seed,  fructified  and  of  good  quality,  unto  me,  or  to 
my  hurt  and  vexation.  (22)  nitre,  not  saltpetre,  but  the  natrnn 
of  Egypt,  a  mineral  alkali.*  sope,  Heb.  honfh,  a  vegetable 
alkali  now  called  ])ofa.'<h.  Combined  with  oil  it  was  used  for 
washing,     marked,  as  a  stain  that  cannot  be  got  out." 

Sin  aroimed  hij  the  law. — A  contented  citizen  of  Blilan,  who 
had  never  passed  beyond  its  walls  during  the  course  of  sixty 
years,  being  ordered  by  its  governor  not  to  stir  beyond  its  gates, 
became  immediately  miserable,  and  felt  so  powerful  an  inclina- 
tion to  do  that  which  he  had  so  long  contentedly  neglected,  that, 
on  his  applicalion  for  a  release  from  this  restraint  being  refused, 
he  l)ecame  quite  melancholy,  and  at  last  died  of  grief.  How  well 
this  illustrates  the  Apostle's  confession  that  he  had  not  known 
lust  unless  the  law  had  said  unto  him.  ''Thou  shalt  not  covet !" 
"  Sin,"  saith  he,  "  taking  occasion  by  the  commandment,  wrought 
in  me  all  manner  of  concupiscence."  Evil  often  sleeps  in  the 
soul  until  the  holy  command  of  God  is  discovered,  and  then  the 
enmity  of  tlie  carnal  mind  rouses  itself  to  oppose  in  every  way 
the  will  of  God.  ''  Without  the  law,"  says  Paul,  '■  siil  was  dead." 
How  vain  to  hope  for  salvation  from  the  law,  when  through  the 
pei'versity  of  sin  it  pi'ovokes  our  evil  hearts  to  rebellion,  and 
works  in  us  neither  repentance  nor  love."* 

23—25.  (23)  say,  in  self-defence."  vallej^,  of  Hinnom.  ch. 
vii.  32.*  swift  dromedary,  a  '•  young  fem.ale  wh.  has  never  had 
a  foal."  (24)  wild  ass,  "  symbol  of  an  untamed  and  reckless 
nature."  her  occasion,  the  pairing  season.  (2."))  thirst,  or 
lusting  after  these  vain  idols.  "  Do  not  wear  out  thy  shoes  and 
expose  thyself  to  thii-st  and  weariness  in  undertaking   long 


Cap.ii.  26—34.]  JEREMIAH.  15 

journeys  to  make   new  alliances  with  idolaters."    no  hope, }  temple,   and   to 
mar<?.  "  Is  the  cas-j  desperate  ? "  |  ^^'^    suppressiou 

Sclf-i-lndicatlnrj  sinners  reproved  (rv.  23,  2i).— I.  The  self- vin- 1  ship S  Baariu 
dicatiug  ways  of  sinners.  1.  In  a  Avay  of  direct  denial;  2.  Of  j  such  pleas  a- 
vain  excuse  ;  3.  Of  hyiwcritical  palliation.  II.  The  charge  which  r"'''^'l  little  as 
God  brings  against  them.  1.  By  an  appeal  to  fact ;  2.  By  a  most ' '''"" 
apt  comparison.'^ 


26—30.  (2fi)  house  of  Israel,  here  the  whole  Heb.  people 
remaining  in  their  land.  (27)  stock,  a  thing  that  cannot  move 
itself,  stone,  this  word  being  feminine  in  Hebrew  is  re^jresented 
as  a  mother,  hack"  unto  me,  a  token  of  contempt  and  aver- 
sion. (28)  "Where  .  .  gods,  why  do  not  they  comfort  and  help 
you  in  your  troubles  ?  cities  .  .  gods,  besides  the  national 
deities,  tutelary  gods  abounded.  (29)  j^lead  with  me,  for  help 
in  trouble-time.  (30)  sword  .  .  prophets,  with  prob.  allusion 
to  the  violent  persecutions  of  Manasseh.* 


as  the  rites 
of  Molech  were 
still  privately 
practised . ' '— /Sp/t. 
Com. 

b  2  Ki.  xxiii.  10. 
c  C.  Simeon,  M.A. 

a  Heb.  noreph, 
properly  the 
binder  part  of 
the  neck. 


6  Josephus   tells 
us  that  both  the 

The  folly  of  neglect inq  God  (re.  27,  28). — I.  The  conduct  of  |  ligTousmen'gene- 
einners  towards  their  God.  1.  It  is  a  state  of  ease  ;  2.  Of  trouble.  I  rally,  were  put  to 
II.  The  folly  and  danger  of  it.  1.  The  disappointment  it  willp^eat'i  in  large 
occasion  ;  2.  The  reflections  to  which  it  will  give  rise.  Address  relentless  Mng.''^ 
— (1)  Those  that  are  at  ease  in  their  sins  ;  (2)  Those  who  are 
brought  into  any  kind  of  trouble;  (3)  Those  that  have  aheady  i  "^•'^'''nfon.i/'.J. 
begun  to  seek  the  Lord."  |  „  j^^  ^j^^^.^  . 

Ihll//  of  idolnfry  .ihotrn. — The  following  incident  occurs  in  the  |  foolish  wisdom, 
life  of  the  Auglo-Saxon  missionary,  Winfrid,  afterwards  called  i  ?o  there  is  a  wise 
Boniface.  On  his  recommencing  his  mis.sionary  work  in  Hessia,  i  ^si^'^'ance,  in  not 
he  found  that,  during  his  absence  (^t  Rome),  many  of  the  con- 
verts had  relapsed  into  their  old  supeistitions,  and  therefore 
resolved  to  destroy  one  of  the  chief  objects  of  veneration  in  the 
neighbourhood  in  which  he  was  labouring  ;  this  was  an  eminent 
oak  near  Giesmar,  in  Upper  Hesse,  which  for  ages  had  been 
eacred  to  Thor,  the  god  of  thunder.  Many  times  had  the  zealous 
missionary  declaimed  against  this  idolatry,  but  without  effect. 
He  determined,  therefore,  to  strike  a  blow  at  the  object  itself, 
and  remove,  if  possible,  the  stumbling-block  from  their  midst. 
Jlr.  Maclear  (Mi.s.fions  of  the  3Iiddle  Aye.t)  thus  describes  the 
scene  : — "  One  day,  accompanied  by  all  his  clergy,  he  advanced, 
axe  in  hand,  to  cut  down  the  offending  monarch  of  the  forest. 
The  people  assembled  in  thousands  to  witness  the  great  contro- 
versy between  the  new  and  the  old  belief,  many  em-aged  at  the 
interference  of  the  stranger  preacher,  many  more  conildent  tliat 
an  instant  judgment  would  strike  dowTi  so  daring  an  offender. 
But  scarcely  had  the  missionary  begun  to  ])ly  his  axe  than  it  was 
apparent  that  Thor  could  not  defend  his  own.  If  he  was  a  god, 
he  was  certainly  either  '  gone  on  a  journey,'  or  was  'asleep  and 
needed  awaking  ;'  for  in  vain  his  votaries  supplicated  his  ven- 
geance. After  a  few  blows  of  the  axe,  a  crashing  was  heard  in 
the  topmost  boughs  :  a  mighty  rushing  wind,  says  the  chronicler, 
seemed  to  shake  every  branch,  and  then  the  leafy  idol  came 
down  to  the  ground,  and  split  into  four  quarters.  '  The  Lord. 
He  is  the  God  I '  the  people  shouted,  thus  acknowledging  the 
superior  might  of  the  new  faith."'* 


31- 

tion. 


-34.  (31)  O  generation,  a  highly-impassioned  cxclama- 
have  .  .  darkness  ?  a  strong  appeal."    are  lords,  and 


prying  into  God's 
ark,  not  inquir- 
ing into  things 
not  revealed.  I 
would  fain  know 
all  that  I  need, 
and  all  that  I 
may  :  I  leave 
God's  secrets  to 
Himself.  It  is 
bappy  for  me 
that  God  makes 
me  of  His  court, 
though  not  of 
His  counciL" — 
Bp.  Hall. 

"  A  man  is  never 
astonished  or 
ashamed  that  he 
doesn't  know 
what  another 
does,  but  be  is 
surprised  at  tlie 
gross  ignorance 
of  the  other 
in  not  knowiiig 
what  he  does." — 
IlaliOurton, 

d  Ilassell, 


a  "  So  far   was 

Jehovah       from 
proving    a   nig- 


wili  have  our  own  will.    (32)  ornaments,  Oriental  females  gardly  and  au- 


16 


JERTSMTAH. 


[Cap,  iil.  1-a 


Btere  sovereign 
to  the  Jews,  that 
He  hn<l  eviuced 
Himself  to  he 
tlieir  most  liberal 
benefactor.  No- 
thing but  wan- 
tonness con  111 
have  induced 
them  to  renounce 
their  subjection 
to  Hira."  —  Hen- 
derson. 

i  C. Simeon, M. A. 

».  34.  Dr.  G.  E. 
Biber,  141,  154  ; 
£.  Bather,  i.  86. 


"  Sincerity  1  thou 
first  of  virtues, 
let  no  mortal 
leave  thy  onward 
path,  althoupli 
tlie  earth  sliouM 
gape,  and  from 
the  gulf  of  hell 
destruction  cry, 
to  take  dissimu- 
lation's wind- 
ing way. — Home. 

Be  truly  religi- 
ous, and  do  not 
care  to  seem  to 
be  so. 

"Wio  by  kind- 
ness and  smooth 
attention  can  in- 
sinuate a  hearty 
■welooMie  to  an 
u  n  w  p  1  c  o  m  e 
guest,  is  a  hypo- 
crite superior  to 
a  thousand  plain 
dealers."  — i,((ra- 
ier. 

b  Roberii. 


a  "  Contrary  to 
all  precedent  in 
the  caae  of  adul- 
terj',  Jehovah 
offer*  a  return 
to  Judali,  the 
epiritual  adul- 
teress."— Funssft. 
b  <S';/r.,  Viilff., 
Turg.,  Calvin,  elc. 
«  S^k.  Com. 


prcatly  pride  themselves  on  tlieir  ornaments,  attire,  or  g-inllea 
for  the  breast.  The  r  arringe  girdle  in  the  E.  taking  the  place 
of  the  marriage  ring  Vvith  us.  ('.V.i)  trimmest,  c/c,  makcst 
effort  to  Icam  foreign  and  base  idolatries,  v/ickcd  .  .  ways, 
better,  thy  ways  ^vickedne£S.  (34)  'blood.,  c'c  of  idolatrous 
persecutions  :  or  with  a  reference  to  the  children  offered  to 
Molech.  not  .  .  secret,  or  by  breaking  into  the  house,  by 
digging  through  like  a  lliicf. 

(ji)d\s  comjh'aiiit  arjulnsf  Ike  rehelJioiis  (ri'.  31,  32). — I.  God's 
appeal  in  answer  to  yorr  charges  against  Him.  ].  Was  He  to  the 
Jews  a  wilderness  or  a  land  of  darkness  .'  2.  Has  He  in  His  con- 
duct to  us  deserved  any  such  humiliating  imputation  .'  II.  His 
charge  against  you.  He  complains  of  two  things.  1.  The 
flagrancy  of  your  rebellion ;  2.  The  contemptuousness  of  your 
neglect.  Apply:  — (I)  Are  any  of  you  disposed  to  vindicate 
yourselves  ?  (2)  Are  ary  of  you  humbled  under  a  senso  of  your 
guilt  ?  " 

35 — 37.  (3r>)  innocent,  the  people  made  loud  professions,  in 
the  time  of  the  reiom:ation  of  Josiah,  but  God  knew  they  were 
not  sincere,  plead,  here  the  word  means  as  a  judge,  not  as  a 
plaintiff.  (30)  gaddest,  travellest,  dost  wander  about.  Turn- 
ing now  to  Egypt  and  now  to  Assyria.  (37)  from  him,  i.e. 
from  Egypt,  to  wh.  land  the  people  were  then  turning,  hands 
.  .  head,"  the  sign  of  failure  and  despair.  "  The  ambassadors 
thou  seudest  to  Egypt  shall  return  with  disappointment  and  con- 
fusion." 

j\'()fe  on  r.  37.  —  Impenitent  Jeriisalem  was  to  be  punished 
for  revolting  against  God  :  and,  as  a  token  of  her  misery,  she  was 
to  go  forth  with  her  "hands  on  her  head.'     Tamar  '-laid  her 

j  hand  on  her  head,"  as  a  tign  of  her  degradation  and  sorrow. 
'When  people  are  in  great  distress,  they  put  their  hands  on  their 
heads,  the  fingers  being  c'asped  on  the  top  of  the  crown.    Should 

I  a  man  who  is  plunged  into  wretchedness  meet  a  friend,  he 
immediately  puts  his  hands  on  his  head  to  illustrate  his  circum- 

I  stances.  When  a  person  hears  of  the  death  of  a  relation  or  friend, 
he  forthwith  clasps  his  hands  on  his  head.  'When  boys  have 
been  punished  at  school,  they  run  home  with  their  hands  on  the 
same  place.  Parents  are  much  displeased  and  alarmed  when 
they  see  their  children  with  th:ir  hands  in  that  position,  because 
they  look  upon  it  not  merely  as  a  sign  of  grief,  but  as  an  emblem 
of  bad  fortune.  Thus  of  those  who  had  trusted  in  Egypt  and 
Assyria  it  was  said,  "  Thou  shalt  be  ashamed  "  of  them  :  and  they 
v/ere  to  go  forth  with  their  hands  on  their  head  iu  token  of 
their  degradation  and  misery.*" 


CHAPTER  THE  THIRD. 

1_3,  (1)  they  say,  or,  that  is  to  say.  The  Prophet  gives 
his  conclusion.  shall  .  .  again,"  see  the  law,  Dc.  xxiv.  4. 
that  land,  in  wh.  such  people  dwelt  as  could  take  back  aa 
adulteress,  yet  return,  some  regard  this  as  an  imiierative  ;* 
but  others  render,  "  and  thinkest  thou  to  return  unto  ]\Ie  ?"«  (2) 
high  places,  the  scenes  of  idolatries,  which  are  regarded  as 
spiritual  adulteries,    in  tho  ways,  illus.  by  Ge.  xxxviii.  14, 


Cap.  iii.  4,  5.] 


JE  REM  I  An. 


17 


4.rabian,  or  desert  robber,  watching  for  prey.''    (3)  showers, 
etc..  see  De.  xxviii.  24. 

JS'ofe  0)1  r.  2. — Every  one  knows  the  general  intention  of  the 
Prophet,  but  Chardin  has  given  so  sli-ong  and  lively  a  description 
of  the  eagerness  that  attends  tlieir  looking  out  for  prey,  that  I 
am  persuaded  my  readers  will  be  pleased  with  it.  '•  Thus  the 
Arabs  wait  for  caravans  with  the  most  violent  avidity,  looking 
about  them  on  all  sides,  raising  themselves  up  on  their  horses, 
running  here  and  there  to  see  if  they  cannot  perceive  any  smoke, 
or  dust,  or  tracks  on  the  ground,  or  any  other  marks  of  people 
passing  along."' 

4,  5.  (4)  from  this  time,  i.e.  the  time  of  Josiah's  reforma- 
tion. God  would  have  the  penitent  return  not  merely  an  out- 
ward act,  but  inward  and  sincere,  the  guide,"  lit.  familiar 
friend,  but  here  meaning  /ni.^luuid.  Father,  husband,  are  the 
'•two  most  endearing  appellations  that  could  have  been  em- 
ploj'cd."  (5)  spoken,  in  the  public  profession  of  reformation, 
as  thou  couldest,  i.e.  persistently.  "  Her  words  were  fair, 
but  her  deeds  were  false." 

i'he  ffiddc  of  youth  (v.  4). — T.  Tlie  young  need  a  guide — 1.  On 
account  of  their  ignorance  ;  2.  On  account  of  their  natural 
buoyancy  ;  3.  Of  their  dangerous  sixrroundings.  II.  God  is 
willing  to  become  their  guide — 1.  By  liis  "Word  :  2.  By  His 
providence  ;  3.  By  Eis  Spirit.  III.  God  expects  them  to  show  a 
desire  that  lie  would  become  their  guide.  1.  They  must  pray  to 
Him  ;  2.  They  must  pray  to  Him  as  a  Father.  IV.  God  wishes 
them  to  apply  to  Him  immediately.  This  time — 1.  Is  the  com- 
manded time  :  2.  Mo.st  .suitable  ;  3.  May  be  the  only  time.* — 
'Jlic pntjiei'  praye)'  tf  yci/tJi. —  Hclsiie  some  story  to  illustrate  the 
usefulness  of  guides  to  travellers  in  foreign  lands,  as  among  the 
mountains  of  Sv\-itzerlaud,  etc.  I.  The  journey  of  life.  1.  Things 
unknown — length,  trials,  enemies,  temptations,  etc.  ;  2.  Things 
desired — prosperity,  length  of  days,  fi'iends, hapitiness,  to  "rejoice 
and  be  gla^l  all  our  days,"  etc.  :  3.  Things  certain — a  journey  to 
be  only  once  made,  will  certainly  end  ;  the  end  will  answer  to 
the  way.  '•  AVhat  will  ye  do  in  the  end?"  II.  The  pilgrim  of 
life.  A  youthful  traveller  is  supposed.  1.  Such  are  inex- 
perienced ;  2.  Think  they  know  more  than  they  really  do  ;  3. 
Often  wilful  and  wayward  ;  4.  Travelling  through  unknown 
land  ;  5.  Need  help  and  provision  of  a  spiritual  kind  for  the 
journey.  III.  The  guide  of  life.  Many  false  guides — custom, 
fashion,  human  reasons,  etc.  Only  one  safe  Guide — God.  He 
has  all  that  a  good  guide  should  have.  1.  Knowledge  of  way  ; 
2.  Sympathy  with  the  traveller  :  3.  Strength  and  vigilance  to 
meet  and  defeat  danger  ;  4.  Constant  presence.  If  we  say  "  yes" 
to  the  text,  then — (1)  The  start  will  be  in  the  right  direction  ; 
(2)  The  way  will  be  in  the  safe  path ;  (3)  The  end  will  be  in 
the  best  place." 

Zat/y  Iliniti/iydon. — It  is  recorded  of  the  late  Countess  of 
Huntingdon,  who  afterwards  so  warmly  espoused  the  cause  of 
God  and  His  truth,  that  in  her  early  youth,  when  about  nine 
years  old,  the  sight  of  a  coq^se  about  her  own  age  carried  to  the 
grave  induced  her  to  attend  the  funeral,  when  the  first  im- 
pressions of  deep  seriousness  respecting  sm  eternal  world  were 
made  on  her  conscience.'' 

VOL.  IX.     O.T.  B 


rf  "  TTie  Arabs  of 
the  desert  to  the 
east  ami  south  of 
Palestine  were 
notorious  for 
tlieir  habit  of 
robbing  travel- 
lers, as  they  si  ill 
are  at  tlie  pre- 
sent day." — ilen- 
dcf.ion. 
e  Ilarmer. 


a  "  As  having 
espoused  them  in 
the  days  of  their 
youth,  before 
their  manners 
were  corrupted 
by  idolatr}'.  Je. 
ii.  2  ;  Ho.  ii.  16." 
— Loiolh. 

b  G.  Brooks. 

r.  4.  E.  Cooper, 
iii.  296;  W.  Jay, 
ii.  2S8;  E.  Blerir 
coice,  i.  23. 

'•  The  first  breath 
of  morn  ia 
sweeter  than  the 
last  breath  of 
eveninjr.  The 
earliest  snovrdrop 
is  lovelier  thaa 
tlie  latest  rose. 
As  tlic  firstfruits 
of  the  ground, 
and  tlie  firstlings 
of  tlie  flock,  were 
offered  up  to  the 
I-ord  in  tht 
olileii  time,  so 
offer  up  to  Him 
your  youthful 
affections  and 
your  youthful 
service."  —  Mog- 
ridge. 

c  Hive. 

Our  weakest 

years  engender 
]iassions  which 
our  strongest  are 
unable  to  eradi- 
cate, 

"  Our  youth  and 
manhood  we  owe 
to  our  country, 
but  our  declining 
years  are  due  to 
o  u  rselves."— 
['liny. 


dR.T.ai 


18 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  lil.  0— la 


a  Comp.  Eze' 
xxiii.  4,  etc. 
ft  "  A  bill  of 
divorce  is  called 
in  Heb.  a  writiii'/, 
or  document,  «/' 
cutting  off,  and 
]iore  in  tile  plural, 
a  icrilinii  of  ciil- 
t>nO  off  b?o. 
slie  to  whom  such 
a  ilocunient  was 
given  by  lier  hus- 
band was  cut  olt" 
from  all  con- 
nection with 
liim."  —  Hender- 
son. 

c  Comp.  Je.  vii. 
18,  xix.  4 ;  and 
.ilso  2  Clir.  x.v.\iv. 
■ii. 

d  Eze.  xvi.  51. 
e  C.  Simeon,  il.A. 

a  Not  receive 
you  with  averted 
looks.  So  LXX., 
^yi\,  and  Vulg. 
b  Ps.  lx.vxvi.  15, 
ciii.  8,  9. 

c"  However  few 
the  converts 
might  be,  Jeho- 
vah would  not 
d.'spise  them,  but 
wouM  restore 
them  to  their  own 
land.  Or  that, 
should  there  only 
be  one  found  in 
a  foreign  city,  or 
two  in  any  of 
the  nations,  they 
should  not  be 
forgotten."  — 
JUiulrrsoii. 
d  \y.  ."^Iri-rns. 
rv.  11,  15.  H. 
Marridll,  75. 
f.  15.  Dr.  J.  Owen, 
xvii.  GO;  JI.  ,Sj/- 
d'u/inm,  272  ;  Or. 
J.  Scoll,  iii.  3o3; 
£.  Cooper,  ii.  239. 
*  R.  T.  S. 

a  "  Because  the 
tabernacle  of  God 
M'ill  beono'm.ide 
without  hands' 
(lleb.  i.v.  11), 
even  the  heart 
of  His  believing 
p  e  ople." — Sj[jk. 
Com. 

b  Ro.  ix.  25,  26. 

r  "  Most  of  the 
ppijiliecies  which 
nioiitjiin  tlie  re- 
Btoraliou  of  tLe 


6 — 11.  ((>)  said  also,  on  another  occasion,  backsliding^, 
the  word  used  is  not  an  aljoctivc,  but  a  substantive,  and  the 
claus:;  should  read,  "  Ilast  thou  seen  backsliding,  even  Israel?" 
gone  up,  or  goes  up.  (7)  treacherous  sister,  so  called  bee. 
Judah  was  as  bad  as  Israel,  but  Jmlali  made  a  good  outward 
show  and  profession."  (8)  bill  of  divorce,*  a  fig.  for  God  a 
putting  away  the  ten  tribes.  (9)  lightness,  or  the  fame, 
report,  defiled,  or  profaned.  Stones,  efr.,  ch.  ii.  27.  (10) 
feignedly,  JLh.  '•  in  falsehood."  The  Jews'  professions  of 
ameudment  were  hypocritical  and  insincere.''  (II)  more  .  . 
Judab,  bee.  Judah  "had  the  additional  warning  of  the  fate  of 
Israel,  and  disregarded  even  that."* 

Comparative  oriminalify  (f.  II). — The  criminality  of  Judah 
exceeded  that  of  Israel.  I.  State  this  decision  of  the  Lord.  II. 
Confirm  it.  1.  It  argues  a  greater  dejiravity  of  heart  ;  2.  lb 
casts  more  dishonour  upon  God  ;  3.  It  does  more  extensive  injury 
toman.  Address — (I)  Those  who  are  careless  about  religion  ; 
(2)  Those  who  make  a  profession  of  religion." 

12—15.  (12)  toward  the  north,  the  region  to  wh.  the  '•'  ten 
tribes"  had  been  carried  by  Shalmaueser.  return,  etc.,  lit. 
"turn,  thou  that  hast  turned."  anger  to  fall,"  in  further 
judgments,  merciful,  this  is  the  highest  and  most  moving  of 
all  incentives  to  repentance.*  (13)  acknowledge  thine 
iniquity,  penitence  being  the  essential  condition  of  restoration. 
(14)  married  unto  you,  and  so  long  to  bo  in  gracious  and 
dear  relations,  one  .  .  family,  prob.  a  prophetic  fig.  of  the  fact 
that  only  a  few  will  ever  return,  but  for  even  the  few  Gci  will 
care."    (15)  shepherds,  pastors  ;  as  before,  temporal  rulers. 

J'a.ttor.i  (r.  15). — They  shoidd  have — 1.  Spiritual  wisdom  ;  2. 
Authority  from 'the  unction  of  the  Holy  One  ;  3.  Experience  of 
religion ;  4.  Skill  to  divide  the  AVord  aright ;  5.  Knov\-ledge  of 
the  state  of  their  flocks ;  (J.'Zeal  for  the  glory  of  God  ;  7.  Jealousy 
for  the  word  and  truth  of  God  ;  8.  They  should  watch  for  souls ; 
9.  Should  be  pious  at  all  times  ;  10.  Ihey  should  be  comforters  of 
those  that  mourn;  11.  They  should  maintain  discij^line  in  the 
Church  :   12.  They  should  be  examples  to  the  believers.'' 

Avchbi.Hhi>p  Adalbert. — Adalbert,  who  lived  in  the  tenth  cen- 
tury, was  appointed  Archbishop  of  Prague.  This  preferment 
seemed  to  give  him  so  little  satisfaction,  that  he  was  never  seen 
to  smile  afterwards  ;  and  on  being  asked  the  reason,  he  replied, 
"  It  is  an  easy  thing  to  wear  a  mitre  and  a  cross  ;  but  an  awful 
thing  to  give  an  account  of  a  bishopric  before  the  Judge  of 
quick  and  dead."' 

16 — 19.  (IG)  in  those  days,  the  recognised  formula  for  the 
times  of  Messiah,  the  ark,  etc.,  regarded  as  the  centre  of  the 
Mosaic  system.  It  api^ears  that  the  ark  was  finally  lost  in  the 
Babyloni-sh  captivity,  visit  it,  better,  '•  neither  shall  it  ba 
missed."  that  be  done,  or,  "  neither  shall  it  be  made,  or  re- 
paired."" (17)  Jerusalem,  the  whole  city,  not  specially  the 
temple.  "There  the  foundation  of  the  Chri.stiau  I'hurch  was 
laid."  nations,  i.e.  the  Gentiles.*  imagination,  marg. 
stul/ljornncts.  (18)  with  .  .  Israel,  clearly  intimating  that  the 
return  was  to  be  a  united  one."    (11>)  how,  i.e.  how  gladlj'. 

(f lid's  relations  to  Jlis  peojyle  (r.  I'J). — I.  The  ho  lOurs  whirh 
God  desires  to  confer  upon  us.    1,  To  make  us  members  of  His 


Cap.  iil.  20-25.] 


JEREUrAB. 


Id 


family  ;  2.  To  make  us  heirs  of  heaven.  II.  The  difficulties  that 
beset  the  conferring-  these  honours  upon  us.  1.  Arising  from 
God's  character  ;  2.  From  our  own  character  :  3.  From  the  great- 
ness of  the  blessings.  III.  The  effect  which  uniformly  follows 
the  conferring  of  these  honours — a  filial  spirit  towards  God.  1. 
Reverence;  2.  Love;  3.  Obedience.  Ajiply : — (1)  Encom-age 
those  who  doubt  the  possibility  of  their  salvation  ;  (2 )  "Warn 
those  who  see  no  difficulties  in  the  way  of  their  salvation  ;  (3) 
Exhort  those  who  profess  to  be  in  the  way  of  salvation.'' — 'The 
clilhl  at  home  (v.  19). — I.  A  condition  of  delightful  privilege, — 
"put  among  the  children."  A  relation  of  endearment,  depen- 
dence ;  involving  obligations  of ,  affection,  obedience  ;  which 
carries  with  it  advantages, — instruction,  maintenance,  inheri- 
tance. II.  Some  difficulties  in  the  way  of  its  bestowment. 
"  How  shall  I .' "  These  are  insuperable  to  all  but  infinite 
wisdom  ;  they  spring  out  of  the  sinner's  character.  III.  The 
evidences  of  the  removal  of  these  difficirlties  and  the  attainment 
of  the  blessing.  1.  Prayer  ;  2.  Si3irit  of  adoption  ;  3.  Preserva- 
tion and  pers?verance. —  Children  of  God. — Here  is — I.  A  most 
delightful  condition  of  privilege  and  happiness.  As  children  of 
God,  we  are  also  heirs  to  His  kingdom.  II.  A  suggestion  of 
difficulties  in  the  way  of  our  attaining  this  condition, — "  How 
ehall  I  ? "  etc.  III.  The  solution  of  these  difficulties,  and  the 
process  by  which  v>'e  may  attain  these  privileges, — '•  thou  shalt 
call  Me,  My  Father.''* 

20 — 23.  (20)  husband,  or  familiar  friend.  (21)  weeping, 
etc.,  the  signs  of  real  i^enitence  on  the  part  of  the  people.  Weep- 
ing is  blended  with  prayer  for  mercy.  (22)  return,  etc.,<^  comp. 
the  similar  passage,  Ho.  xiv.  1.  (23)  hills,  specially  associated 
with  idol  wor.ship.* 

JjacMideiv  reelaimed  (r.  22). — I.  God  inviting  backsliders  to 
return  to  Him.  1.  The  characters  addressed;  2.  The  sin  and 
consequence  of  backsliding  ;  3.  God's  message  to  such  characters. 
II.  Backsliders  complying  with  God's  invitation.  1.  The  ready 
compliance  they  manifest  ;   2.  The  way  they  return  to  God. 

The  bach-ilider's  confe.t.tion — I  have  been  a  fugitive  servant  to 
the  most  glorious  Lord  and  Master  :  I  have  deserted  His  service, 
and  denied  my  obedience.  But  now,  Lord,  nail  my  ear  to  Thy 
door-post,  that  I  may  serve  Thee  for  ever  :  nail  my  heart  to  Thy 
service,  that  no  trouble,  temi^tation,  or  desertion  may  drive  me 
away  from  Thee  ;  nail  my  eyes  to  Thy  service,  that  I  may  never 
look  upon  vanity  ;  nail  my  hands  to  Thy  service,  that  I  may 
never  do  an  ill  turn  ;  nail  my  feet  to  Thy  way,  that  I  may  never 
turn  aside  from  Thee.  Let  all  the  faculties  of  my  soul  be  nailed 
to  Thy  service  and  obedience. 

24,  25.  (24)  shame,  etc.,  the  people  here  acknowledge  the 
unprofitableness  and  disgrace  of  their  idolatry."  (2.5)  we  lie 
down,  or  we  will  lie  down  :  prostrating  ourselves  humbly  before 
God.  The  miseries  of  the  captivity  were  recognised  as  Divine 
judgments  on  the  national  sins.''  "  The  expressions  are  taken 
from  those  who  cast  themselves  down  upon  the  ground,  and 
cover  themselves  with,  dust  or  ashes  out  of  grief  and  anguish  of 
mind. 

God  the  salration  of  Israel  (r.  23). — Let  me  ask  if  this  be 
not — 1.  A  mighty  salvation  ?  2.  A  merciful  salvation  ?  3.  A  free 

B  2 


1  Jews  inin  Judah 
:  ami  Israel  to- 
gether, as  equal 
sharers  iu  tliab 
blessing.  (See 
Je.  XXX.  3,  xxxi. 
1;  Is.  xi.  13;  Eze. 
xxxvii.  le,  22 ; 
JIo.  i.  11;  Zee. 
X.  G)."—Loiclh. 

d  G.  Brools. 

V.  16.  Dr.  Gordon, 
iv.  IIU. 

V.  17.  Dr.  Gordon, 
XV.  124. 

"  The  excesses  of 
yontli  are  rlravts 
upon  our  oM  age, 
payable  with  in- 
terest about! 
thirty  years  after 
date." — Collon. 

e  J.  Preston. 


a  "  The  whole 
descripiion  ia 
most  grapliicahy 
conceived.  The 
Ijecple  weeping 
upon  the  hils; 
God's  gracious 
voice  bidding 
them  return ;  the 
glad  cry  of  the 
penitents  pro- 
claiming that 
tliey  come;  the 
profession  of 
faitli  won  from 
them  by  the  Di- 
vine love ;  these 
form  altogetlier 
a  most  touching 
picture  of  a  na- 
tional repent- 
ance."-,5/)X-.  Ci'ji\ 
b  "The  altars \vh. 
were  erected  oa 
high  places  to 
the  lieathen  gods 
abounded  to  such 
a  degree,  that 
they  were  seea 
in  every  direc- 
tion." —  Hender- 
son. 

a  "  So  far  from 
bringing  us  sal- 
vation, tliey  have 
cost  us  our  cattle 
and  even  our 
cliildren,  whom 
we  have  sacri- 
ficed to  them."— • 
Fimssit. 
b  Ezr.  Is.  7. 


20 


JEnEMIAH. 


[Cap.  iv.  1—6 


c  w.   Tl'iUiHion,  I  galvation?  4.  An  unchangeable  salvation?  5.  A  soul-satisfying 
^■^-  salvation  ?' 


a  "  Tlie  ropniit- 
niice  (lescribpil 
in  ch.  iii.  21-25 
was  a  lio|)(»  lint  a 
reality." — Sid: 
Com. 

b  "  Swearinpr  by 
the  uaiiio  of  Gwl 
is  mentioiicil 
elsewliere  as  a 
solemn  part  of 
religious  wor- 
ship, an'l  opposeil 
to  tlie  custom  of 
swearing  by  fahe 
gods,  wliicli  was 
practiseil  among 
idol  a  ters." — 
Lnwlh. 
c  C.  Back. 

a     "The     an- 

humbled  heart  is 
like  ground  wli. 
niay  be  im- 
proved, being  let 
out  to  us  for  that 
purpose,  but  wh. 
is  as  yet  fallow, 
overgrown  witli 
weoils,  its  na- 
tural product." 
— Fa  usset. 

b  Be.  X.  16. 

c  "  By  placing 
such  signals  on 
fit  spots  tlie  safest 
route  would  be 
inilicated  to  the 
fortilied  towns." 
■^Spi.  Com. 

dS.  TomJi/ns. 

e  Dr.  Thomas. 

V.  3.  J.  Weemse, 
L  1G3. 

The  cry  of  the 
penitent  soul, 
"  Have  mercy  on 
me,"  U  more  ao- 
C'piable  to  Jesus 
tlian  tlie  chant  of 
angels,  the  me- 
lody of  golden 
harps  swept  by 
serapliic  fingi^rs, 
or  the  Umd  swell- 
ing anthem  of 
heaven,  thongli 
it  be  "  as  the 
Voice    of    many 


CHAPTER  THE  FOURTH. 

1,  2.  (1)  wilt  return,  i.r.  art  really  willing  to  return."  put 
away,  this  would  be  the  outward  sign  of  the  neccsi^ary  repent- 
ance, then  .  .  remove,  better,  '•  and  henceforth  not  wander." 
(2)  swear,  by  the  name  of  the  living  God,  truly  and  sincerely. 
"  We  swear  by  the  God  whom  we  worship."* 

Xtitiirc  of  hack.tHding. — Backsliding  is  the  act  of  turning  from 
the  path  of  duty.  It  may  be  considered  as  partial  when  applied 
to  true  believers,  who  do  not  backslide  with  the  whole  bent  of 
their  will :  as  voluntarj\  when  applied  to  those  who,  after  pro- 
fessing to  know  the  truth,  wilfully  turn  from  it,  and  live  in  the 
practice  of  sin  ;  as  final,  when  the  mind  is  given  up  to  judicial 
hardness,  as  in  the  case  of  Judas.  Partial  backsliding  must  be 
distinguished  from  hypocrisy,  as  the  former  may  exist  when 
there  are  gracious  intentions  on  the  whole  ;  but  the  latter  is  a 
studied  profession  of  appearing  to  be  what  we  are  not." 

3 — 6.  (3)  break  .  .  ground,  "  repent  of  your  idolatry,  and 
so  be  prepared  to  sarvo  the  Lord  in  truth.""  thorns,  or  weeds, 
wh.  would  abound  in  the  neglected  soil.  (4)  circumcise,*  the 
symbol  of  self-hamiliatiou,  and  the  sign  of  consecration  to  the 
Lord,  fury,  or  vengeance,  fire,  with  a  consuming  power.  (.5) 
blow  .  .  land,  raising  tho  alarm  of  war.  The  verse  pictures 
the  fright  of  the  people  at  the  presence  of  a  hostile  army.  (C) 
standard,  or  signal  round  which  to  rally  the  people.^ 

The  jAoiifilb  for  the  fallon'a  {c.  3). — I.  The  hearts  of  unregene- 
rate  men  are  like  fallow  ground.  II.  It  is  their  duty  to  break 
up  their  fallow  giound.'' — lite  life  of  the  sinner  afoolhh  afjr'icul- 
turc  {v.  3j. — Notice  here  two  things.  I.  A  grand  evil.  1.  Los3 
of  seed  :  2.  Loss  of  labour  ;  3.  Loss  of  hope.  II.  An  urgent  duty, 
evangelical  repentance  for  sin.  1.  Hard  work  ;  2.  IndisiJcnsable 
work.* 

Soirhifj  in  China.— In  China  the  fields  are  parted  by  terraces, 
on  which  some  of  the  seed  scattered  in  the  broadcast  is  wont  to 
fall  in  the  sower's  attempt  to  cover  the  headlands  as  well  as  the 
more  central  parts  of  the  enclosure.  These  seeds  resemble  those 
that  fell  bj'  the  wayside  in  the  paral)le.  and  are.  like  them, 
obvious  to  the  ej'e  of  any  hungry  bird  that  may  chance  to  fly 
near  them.  As  the  valleys  often,  in  their  expansion,  rebut  against 
the  rocky  declivities  of  the  hills,  large  masses  of  stone  constitute 
a  fence  on  ono  or  more  sides  of  the  fields.  Near  these  stones,  the 
monuments  of  ancient  changes  in  the  crust  of  the  earth,  several 
kinds  of  thorny  shrubs  are  found  growing.  One  of  them,  a 
species  of  (lardenia.  has  sharp  spines  of  more  than  an  inch  in 
length.  The  thorns-  referred  to  in  the  parable  belonged  to  a 
Sjiecies  of  rest-harrow,  very  common  in  the  barren  lanes  and 
commons  of  this  country.  The  fiardoiia  and  its  companions, 
however,  are  very  projier  representatives  in  China,  and  would 
answer  the  purpose  of  any  missionary  who  should  take  this 
parable  as  the  theme  of  discourse  in  a  Chinese  village.  The 
A\Titer  has  a  lively  remembrance  of  these  thorns,  as,  in  crossing 
a  farm  near  a  pleasant  ravine,  he  often  mistook  his  path  amidst 


Cap.  iv,  7—14.] 


JEREMIAH. 


21 


mighty  aid. 
/  Visitor, 


a  ]ab_-STinth  of  ten-aces  and  causeways,  and  found  himself  opposed  !  )vaters."  Tliough 

in  one  iilace  bv  a  hng-e  stone,  ■\vhicli  he  could  not  climb,  and  in  i  |"    *''®  . ''.'^'''f^* 

,,      ^  ,  ■.  *=:         £  c  A-  >-  ii  i  I  lieaveii,  tins  plea 

another  by  an  impervious  rence  ot  tnorns.     JNow  as  these  stones  i  enters    His    de- 

and  thorns  lay  or  grew  at  the  sides  of  the  corn-fields,  the  sower  \  lighted  ear,  and 

would,  in  the  bountiful  sweep  of  his  hand,  cast  a  few  seeds  upon    secures  His  M> 

both  of  them.     If  the  stones  were  covered  with  a  thin  layer  of 

earth,  the  seed  might  germinate  in  very  rainy  seasons  ;  and  if 

the  thorns  left  a  vacancy  here  and  there  between  them,  the  grains 

might  sprout  for  a  time  under  their  shade  ;  but  neither  one  nor 

the  other  would  ever  arrive  at  maturity.     Only  that  seed  which 

fell  in  good  ground,  in  soil  prepared  by  the  plough  and  the 

harrow  to  receive  it,  would  yield  any  fruit  to  recompense  the 

BOwer  for  his  i^ains.-/" 

7—10.  (7)  lion,  symbol  of  Assyria."  destroyer,  etc.,  he 
who  has  already  destroyed  Gentile  nations,  on  his  way,  lit. 
has  broken  up  his  encampment.  (8)  gird,  etc.,  ch.  vi.  2(J.  (9) 
heart  of  the  king,  i.e.  his  spirits,  his  courage.  '•  Great  cala^ 
mities  often  deprive  men  of  their  presence  of  mind."  astonished 
.  .  Tv'onder,  bee.  both  these  had  joined  in  persuading  the  people 
that  no  such  -  troubles  should  come  upon  them,  (lu)  This  f.  is 
probably  an  outburst  of  Jeremiah's  own  feelings.  "  He  had  con- 
Btantly  to  struggle  with  the  misgivings  of  his  o'wn  melancholy 
nature."* 

Lnvltinq  i^laee  of  lionx. — "  Having  quickly  armed  ourselves,  and 
left  Philip  in  charge  of  my  waggons,  we  briskly  pushed  our 
way  between  the  thickets,  winding  through  the  willow  grove, 
and  crossing  many  a  deep  ravine.  Everywhere  the  enormous 
foot  of  the  hippopotamus  had  imprinted  the  earth  with  holes. 
G>-rt,  who  hatl  never  seen  a  zcc-lioe,  a  sea-cow,  as  the  colonists 
call  this  animal,  enjoyed  the  ti  ip  as  much  as  myseif,  both  equally 
anxious  to  gratify  our  curiosity.  He  had  been  less  a  traveller 
than  any  of  the  rest  of  my  men  ;  and  therefore,  like  myself,  had 
the  greater  novelty  to  expect.  As  we  hurried  on.  our  conversation 
was  on  nothing  but  the  sea-cow  ;  and  his  animation,  excited  by 
the  subject  to  a  higher  pitch  than  usual,  exceedingly  pleased  and 
amused  me.  Thus  beguiling  the  time,  my  attention  was  diverted 
from  the  flowers  that  decked  our  path  or  the  birds  that  enlivened 
the  branches  above  our  heads.  Suddenly  he  stopped,  and,  crying 
out  with  some  emotion,  '  Look  here,  sir,'  I  turned  my  eyes  down- 
wards, and  saw^  the  recent  footmarks  of  a  lion  which  had  been  to 
drink  at  the  river,  apparently  not  more  than  an  hour  before. 
This  gave  a  check  to  our  dialogue  on  the  hippopotamus  ;  and  in 
a  lower  and  graver  tone  of  voice,  he  talked  now  only  of  lions,  and 
the  danger  of  being  alone  in  a  place  so  covered  with  wood.  That 
which  a  minute  before  had  been  praised  as  a  delightful  shady 
path,  was  now  viewed  as  the  lurking-place  of  lions,  and  of  every 
formidable  beast  of  prey."  " 

11—14.  (10  at  that  time,  the  time  of  the  Bnbylonian  in- 
vasion, previously  referred  to.  dry  wind,  or  hot  pestilential 
wind  :  the  simoom."  fan,  for  such  purjioses  the  husb.andmau 
uses  the  wind:  but  he  would  not  use  the  simoom.  (12)  full 
wind,  or  fuller,  stronger,  than  winds  that  fan  or  cleanse,  unto 
me,  i.e.  to  perfomi  my  wilL  (115)  he.  the  enemy:  Nebuchad- 
nezzar, the  lion,  as  clouds,''  gathering  for  a  storm.  whirl- 
Wind,  swiftly  moving,  and  overwhelming,     eagles,  De.  xxviii. 


a   NebuchadneS" 
zar  is  referred  to. 

b  "  Deeply  affect- 
i  ed  by  this  state 
i  of  things,  tlie 
I  Prophet  cannot 
;  restrain  his  feel- 
I  ings,  but  gives 
I  them  utterance 
I  in  what,  at  first 
I  sight,  ajijiears  to 
I  be  a  blas^phenious 
I  charge  against 
'  Jehovai'.  It  is, 
however,  but  a 
strong  Oriental- 
ism." —  IlKiidef 
son. 

r.  10.    n.Alford, 
i.  207. 

Na7.i.inzen    coin- 
pares  the  sonl  to 
a  i)air  of  writing- 
tables,      out     of 
which    must    be 
;  washed     whatso- 
I  ever  was  written 
with  sin,  and  in- 
stead        thereof 
1  must  be  entered 
the     writing    of 
grace;  both  these 
are    necessary  in 
true  repentance. 

c  Buixhell. 


a  It  generally 
blnw.s  from  the 
south-e.ist  across 
the  dry  sandy 
deserts  to  the 
cast  of  Palestine. 

"  This  simoom 
exteuils  its  ra- 
vages all  the  way 


22 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  iv.  15-18. 


fr.  the  extreme 
end  of  tlic  Gulf 
of  Ciiuiba.va  up 
to  Mosul ;  it  car- 
ries along  with 
it  flakes  of  lire 
like  threads  of 
Bilk ;  instantly 
Btrikesdeail  those 
that  broathc  it, 
anil  consumes 
them  inwarilly 
to  ashes." — Cui. 
Campbell. 

t  Joel  ii.  2. 

«  J.  Fostfr. 

r.  It.  /.  Craig, 
ii.  383;  Dr.  S. 
Charters,  ii.  437  ; 
ir.  Hichardsnn, 
ii.  210;  J.  Jowett, 
22. 

4  Ez.  Hopkins. 


a  "  Scouts  to 
warn  men  of  tlie 
approach  cjf  a'l 
enemy.  Here  the 
Prophet,  by  way 
of  irony,  calls  the 
ChaMaiiiu  army 
by  that  name." 
— Loiclh. 

b  Beddome. 

Calls  to  repen- 
tance come  in  the 
thunder's  roar,  in 
the  liffhtnins's 
flash,  from  the 
shininf?  stars, 
ifrom  the  rolling 
earth,  fi-om  tlie 
failing  flower. 
from  tlio  church- 
yard stones,  from 
t,he  funeral- 
tr.ain  ;  they  come 
on  every  birth- 
day, on  every  sick 
day,  Willi  every 
sorrow,  with 
every  mercy.  i>er- 
Bistently  calling 
".Repent." 

t  Paxton. 


40.     (14)  vain  thoughts,  thonprhts  of  security  in  the  service 
of  vain  idols.     Or  ref.  may  bo  to  their  confidence  in  Egy[)t. 

Vaiiithoiifihfs  (r.  11). — I.  The  characteristics  of  vain  thoug-hts. 
1.  Cannot  reap  any  good  from  them  :  2.  They  cannot  a.^sociate 
with  good  and  useful  thonghts  :  8.  JIust  be  driven  out  to  attend 
to  serious  matters  :  4.  Tliey  dwell  largely  and  habitually  on 
trifles  ;  5.  They  trifle  with  important  things  ;  G.  They  are  fickle  ; 
7.  Those  pertinaciously  fixed  upon  an  unworthy  object ;  8.  Will 
again  and  again  return  to  it;  9.  Such  as  are  on  speculative 
fancies  ;  10.  Those  bent  on  schemes  of  worldlj'  felicity.  II.  The 
correctives  of  vain  thoughts.  1.  The  substantial  state  of  the 
mind  must  be  cured  of  vanity  ;  2.  We  should  have  specific  sub- 
jects of  serious  interest  to  employ  thought ;  3.  Self-detection  in 
the  act  of  sin  ;  4.  Recourse  to  acts  of  devotion  ;  o.  Practical 
employment :   G.  Communion  with  thoughts  of  wise  and  good.'' 

fain  tlioiiglitx. — A  true  Christian,  who.  by  experience,  knows 
what  it  is  to  deal  with  his  own  heart,  finds  ic  infinitely  more 
difficult  to  beat  down  one  sinful  thought  from  rising-  up  in  him 
than  to  keep  a  thousand  sinful  thoughts  from  breaking  forth 
into  open  act.  Here  lies  his  chief  labour,  to  fight  against 
phantasm  and  any  ajiparitions,  such  as  thoughts  are  :  he  sets 
himself  chiefly  against  these  heart-sins,  because  he  knows  that 
these  are  the  sins  that  are  most  of  all  contrary  to  giace,  and  do 
most  of  all  weaken  and  waste  grace.  Outward  sins  are  but  like 
60  many  caterpillars  that  devour  the  verdure  and  flourishing  of 
grace  ;  but  heart-sins  are  like  so  many  worms  that  guaw  the 
very  root  of  grace.'' 

15 — 18.  (!•'))  Dan,  the  border-town  of  Palestine  on  the  north, 
mount  Epliraim,  on  the  march  towards  Jerusalem.  The 
northern  boundary  of  the  kingdom  of  Judasa.  (IGj  watchers," 
or  besiegers.  (17)  keepers  of  a  field,  who  watch  to  frighten 
away  the  wild  beasts.  (IS)  this  .  .  wickedness,  this  final 
siege  is  the  issue  of  thy  wickedneiss. 

iJitfcnicss  of  a'ni  (r.  18). — I.  Sin  is  bitter.  1.  It  is  so  com- 
paratively ;  2.  Absolutely.  II.  It  reaches  to  thine  heart.  1.  It 
defiles  it;  2.  It  disquiets  it ;  3.  It  ruins  and  damns  it.  Apply  :^ 
(1 )  Since  sin  is  bitter,  bitter  remedies  must  be  taken  ;  (2)  It  is  a 
mercy  that  grace  reaches  to  the  heart  as  well  as  sin.* 

iVotr  on  V.  17. — In  Arabia,  and  probably  in  other  parts  of  the 
East,  instead  of  a  solitary  ■\^•atchman  in  the  middle  of  the  planta- 
tion, they  place  guards  at  certain  distances  round  the  whole  field, 
increasing  or  diminishing  their  numbers  according  to  the  sup- 
posed danger.  This  custom  furnishes  a  clear  and  easy  explana- 
tion of  a  passage  in  the  prophecies  of  Jeremiah,  where  he 
solemnly  warns  his  people  of  their  approaching  calamities  :  "  As 
keepers  of  a  field,  are  they  against  her  round  about :  because  she 
hath  been  rebellious  against  Me.  saith  the  Lord.""  Fields  in  the 
East  have  not  fences  to  keep  off  cattle  and  other  marauders,  but 
only  low  embankments  :  hence,  were  there  not  keepers,  they 
would  be  exposed  to  all  kinds  of  depredations.  These  men 
wander  about  the  ridges,  or  spend  their  time  in  platting  baskets 
or  jjouches  for  areca-nuts  and  betel  leaf,  o.--  tend  a  few  sheep. 
At  night  they  sleep  in  a  small  stall,  about  six  feet  by  four,  which 
stands  on  four  legs,  and  is  thatched  with  leaves.  The  whole 
affair  is  so  light,  that  it  can  be  removed  in  its  comi)lete  state  to  any 
other  part  by  two  men  ;  or  be  taken  to  pieces  in  a  few  minutes, 


Cap.  iv.  19-31.] 


JEREiriAff. 


23 


and  removed  and  put  together  by  one  man.     The  frail  fabric 
illustrates  the  "  lodge  in  a  garden  of  cucumbers."  "^ 

19 — 22.  (ID)  bowels,  regarded  as  the  seat  of  emotion.  Most 
deeply  is  the  Prophet  moved  by  his  vision  of  the  coming  woes  of 
the  lard,  are  pained,  or  writhe  in  pain,  maketli  a  noise, 
of  moaning."  (2U)  destrnction,  etc.,  or  complete,  utter  destruc- 
tion, tents  ..  curtains,  poetical  for  the  dwellings.  (21) 
standard,  rv.  5,  G.  (22)  wise  .  .  evil,  "they  have  studied  all 
the  artsi  of  sin  and  wickedness,  but  are  perfect  strangers  to  the 
obligations  of  religion  and  virtue."  * 

Tlie  mlffrr'ics  of  war  (v.  19). — In  the  contemplation  of  war — I. 
What  should  be  our  feelings  ?  We  should  view  it — 1 .  As  a 
calamity  endured  ;  2.  As  a  judgment  inflicted.  II.  What  should 
be  our  conduct?  Make  the  inquiry  in  reg'ard — 1.  To  ministers; 
2.  To  people.  Address — (1)  The  careless  ;  (2)  The  self-couMent ; 
(3)  The  mourners."-' 

23—26.  (23)  I  beheld,  "  in  this,  and  the  following  vv.,  the 
Pro|)het  sees  in  vision  the  desolate  condition  of  Judaea  during 
the  Babylonish  captivity.""  The  imagery  is  highly  poetical. 
form  and  void,  Ge.  i.  1.  (24)  moved  lightly,  or  as  light 
things,  being  tossed  by  the  earthquake.  (25)  birds  .  .  fled, 
bee.  in  the  desolate  land  they  could  not  find  their  food.  (2G) 
frtlitfixl  place,  or  the  Carmel  (ch.  ii.  7). 

i^iii,  its  iv'ide  eonttcqncnas. — Sages  of  old  contended  that  no  sin 
was  ever  committed  whose  ccnscquenccs  rested  on  the  head  of 
the  sinner  alone ;  that  no  man  could  do  ill  and  his  fellows  not 
suffer.  They  illustrated  it  thus  :  "  A  vessel  sailing  from  Jop-pa 
carried  a  passenger  who,  beneath  his  berth,  cut  a  hole  throug'h 
the  ship's  side.  When  the  men  of  the  watch  expostulated  with 
him,  "  Whatdoest  thou,  0  miserable  man?"  the  offender  calmly 
replied,  "  What  matters  it  to  you  ?  The  hole  I  have  made  lies 
tinder  my  own  berth."  This  ancient  parable  is  worthy  of  the 
utmost  consideration.  No  man  perishes  alone  in  his  iniquity  ; 
no  man  can  guess  the  full  consequences  of  his  transgressions.'' 

27 — 31.  (27)- thus,  Jeremiah  now  puts  the  message  into 
plainer  language,  full  end,  or  final  destruction.  There  was 
hope  and  promise  even  in  the  Bab.  cr-ptivity.  (28)  not  repent, 
bee.  the  iniquity  of  Judah  could  now  only  be  met  by  judgments. 
The  time  for  repentance  is  conceived  as  gone.  (21»)  horsemen, 
etc.,  the  cavalry  and  archers  of  Chaldsea.  (30)  clothest  .  . 
gold,  intimating  the  utter  uselessness  of  all  attempts  to  gain 
the  favour  and  mercy  of  the  conqueror,  rentest  thy  face,  or 
en  largest  thine  eyes  with  stibium."  (31)  WOe  is  me,  for  the 
hoioelessness  of  the  calamity. 

J'aintinfj  the  eyes. — Almost  all  writers  and  travellers  in  the 
East  afford  us  proof  of  the  unchanging  character  of  Oriental 
fashions.  A  gentleman,  describing  his  visit  to  a  Jewish  family 
in  Damascus,  says  :  "  They  were  rich,  stylish  people,  consequently 
•we  may  conclude  that  their  dress  and  ornaments  were  consistent 
with  all  that  was  thought  proper  or  fashionable.  The  gentle- 
men of  the  family  being  from  home,  the  ladies.received  me  in  a 
handsome  apartment,  with  the  utmost  courtesy  and  kindness. 
The  ceiling  and  walls  of  the  room  were  highly  ornamented  with 
painting  and  gilding  ;  the  walls  similarly  decorated  and  hung 
with  looking-glasses.  The  dress  of  the  ladies  was  splendid  :  they 


d  Robeiis. 

a  Twice  appliecl, 
as  here,  to  the 
low  moaning  of 
persons  in  grief, 
Is.  xvi.  11;  Jer. 
xlviii.  36. 
b  "  The  repeti- 
tious clauses  of 
tliis  V.  are  de- 
signed to  give 
greater  force  to 
ttie  sentiment 
conveyed  in  it." 
— Hnidersou. 
c  C.  Himi'011.  if.A. 
V.  19.  Dr.  T.  Uoi-- 
ton,  353. 

V.     22.       I)r.     V. 
Knox,  vi.  253. 

I  a  Spk.  Com. 


b  iSptayeon. 

"The  efforts  ol 
men  to  e.^plaia 
the  origin  of  sin, 
this  throws  no 
more  liglit  upon 
it  than  a  candle 
upon  a  widely 
extended  laud- 
scape  veiled  in 
mists,  and 
wrapped  in  mid- 
night darkness." 
—Br.  Omlirie. 


a  "The  use  of 
their  paint  was 
to  contract  the 
eyelids,  and  make 
their  e3'es  appear 
more  large  and 
full,  which  they 
thought  a  great 
beauty." — Lou-l/i. 


31.    &  iSmith, 
325. 


"  Her  e.ves,  spark- 
ling witli  great 
iro,  resembled 
properly  two 
starsof  the  night, 
that  shoot  forth 
their  brightness 
upon  the  earth 
when  all  things 
be  in  silence."^ 
William  Fainter. 


84 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  V.  1,  2. 


"  The  eye  takes 
in  at  once  the 
landscape  of  the 
■world  at  a  small 
inlet  which  a 
grain  might 
close,  and  half 
creates  the  won- 
drous world  we 
■ee." — Young. 


a  Comp.  the 
search  of  Dio- 
genes the  Cynic 
in  the  streets  of 
Athens. 

"The  true  sense 
of  this  jiassage  is 
that  Josiah's  re- 
forms were  frus- 
trated by  the 
immorality  pre- 
valent among  all 
classes ;  which, 
though  checked 
lor  a  time,  yet 
■was  too  deeply 
ingrained  to  he 
really  eradicated 
bj'  all  that  good 
king  could  do." 
— Spk.  Cum. 

t  O.  BrooTcs. 

».  1.  Tr.  Reading, 
ii.  469  ;  J.  Smit'/i, 
U-  270;  A.  Jiu- 
lerts,  V.  i. 

r.  2.  Dr.  Ilam- 
tnond,  iv.  601. 

"  There  are  some 
men  who,  like 
pictures,  would 
be  perfect  in 
their  moral  cha- 
racters were  it 
not  for  some  ble- 
mish which  you 
discover  on  tlie 
ey^,  or  the  enr,  or 
the  motilh,  or 
some  other  part 
of  the  exposed 
person."— yoAn 
Jiate. 

Actions,    looks, 
•words,  steps, 

form  the  alpha- 
bet by  which  you 
may  spell  charac- 
ter."— Luvater. 


]  wore  loose  Eastern  robes  of  silk,  stomachers  covered  -with  gold, 
I  and  je'ft'elled  ornaments  on  their  heads.  But  one  decoration 
attracted  my  attention  from  all  the  others,  and  seemed  to  my 
unaccustomed  eyes  to  mar  their  beauty  in  a  high  degree.  From 
the  outer  corner  of  each  eye  a  black  line  was  paintid  upon  the 
check,  which  gave  exactly  the  appearance  of  two  slits  or  rents. 
Now  you  will  no  longer  be  at  a  loss  to  understand  what  was  the 
singular  custom  alluded  to  by  Jeremiah,  of  which  there  can  be 
little  doubt  that  this  fact  affords  an  interesting  illustration." 


CHAPTER  THE  FIFTH. 

1,  2.  (1)  run,  etc..  this  is  a  strong  figure,  and  not  to  be 
pressed  with  absolute  literalness.  There  were  some  godly  men, 
but  Jeremiah  refers  to  the  mass  of  the  people,  or  more  particularly 
to  the  leaders  of  the  people,  find,  a  man,  i.e.  one  worthy  of 
the  name."  There  was  a  general  corruption  of  manners. 
exeCTiteth,  in  the  sense  of  •'  carries  out  into  practice."  truth., 
or  probity,  it,  i.e.  Jerusalem.  Comp.  Ge.  xviii.  32.  (2)  sv.^ear 
falsely,  though  not  by  false  gods,  they  swear  in  a  false, 
deceptive  spirit.  They  were  hypocrites  when  not  idolaters, 
see  r.  7. 

Iii(jht  Itind  of  men  {v.  1). — I.  That  in  the  estimation  of  God  the 
true  excellence  of  man  is  moral  and  religious.  1.  A  strict 
obedience  to  the  Divine  will  as  far  as  it  is  known  :  2.  An  earnest 
endeavour  to  attain  an  accurate  acquaintance  with  the  Divine 
word.  II.  That  there  are  states  of  society  in  which  men  of  this 
description  are  exceedingly  rare.  1.  They  may  ba  removed  by 
death  ;  2.  They  may  be  withdrawn  into  concealment :  3.  They 
may  be  reduced  in  numbers  by  the  progress  of  degeneracy. 
III.  That  in  the  worst  states  of  society  such  men  are  very 
valuable.  1.  They  avert  Divine  judgments  ;  2.  Draw  down 
Divine  blessings  ;  3.  Promote  the  work  of  reformation.'' 

tSfrcet.i  i)i  Jenisalcni. — In  Jeru.?aleni  there  are  no  right  names 
for  streets,  just  as  in  Alexandria  and  Cairo.  Hence  the  diffi- 
culty of  directing  any  one  to  a  house  or  place.  In  Malta  tbe 
British  Government  have  remedied  this  with  great  care,  by 
affixing,  in  large  letters,  its  name  to  every  street,  just  as  in 
London  or  Edinburgh.  In  ancient  times  the  streets  of  Jerusalem 
seem  to  have  had  their  names  ;  and  it  is  worth  our  while  to 
notice  how  many  of  these  are  mentioned  in  Scripture.  There 
was  the  Bakers'  Street,  from  which  King  Zedekiah  ordered 
Jeremiah's  food  to  be  sent  to  him  (.Tcr.  xxxvii.  21 ).  There  was 
'■  Ea.st  Street,"  into  which  Hezekiah  gathered  the  priests  and 
Levitcs,  Avhen  exhorting  them  to  cleanse  the  house,  and  to 
carry  f 01  th  the  filthincss  that  had  been  allowed  to  lie  there  in 
heaps  in  the  reign  of  Ahaz  (2  Chron.  xxix.  4).  There  was  the 
'•  Street  of  the  House  of  God,"  into  which  the  men  of  Judah 
and  Benjamin  came  together  in  the  days  of  Ezra  (Ez'a  x.  !)). 
ITiere  was  the  "  "Water-gate  Street."  where  the  peo})le  came 
together  in  the  days  of  Nehcmiah  (Xeh.  viii.  1,  3,  1(!).  There 
was  '•  Ephraim-gate  Street,"  where  thej'  met  to  celebrate  the 
feast  of  tabernacles  (Xeh.  viii.  KJ).  Nor  were  these  streets  few, 
for  Jeremiah,  when  warning  Isi-ael  against  the  increase  of  her 
false  gods,   eays,   '-According  to  the  number  of  the  streets  of 


Cap.  V.  3—6.] 


JEREMIAH. 


25 


Jerusalem  have  ye  eet  up  altars  to  that  shameful  thing,"  Jer.  xi. 
13.  In  the  days  of  that  Prophet  the  idolatry  seems  to  liave  been 
more  open  than  before,  and  the  public  streets  were  the  place 
wiiere  altars  and  idols  were  set  up.  Heuce  there  are  more 
allusions  to  the  ••streets  of  Jerusalem  "  in  his  prophecies  than  in 
all  the  other  Prophets  together  (Jer.  v.  1,  vii.  17,  34,  ix.  21, 
xi.  G,  13,  xiv.  IG,  xxxiii.  10,  xliv.  G,  9,  21).  He  was  specially 
tha  prophet  of  the  streets,  the  "  out-door  "  preacher :  and 
he  was  thus  brought  more  keenly  and  frequently  into  collision 
with  the  inhabitants  than  any  of  his  "  fellow-servants  the 
Prophets."' 

8 — 6.  (3)  eyes  .  .  truth,  i.e.  upon  the  sincerity  of  religious 
profession  ;  upon  the  heart.  God  is  the  God  of  truth  ;"  and 
desireth  truth  in  the  inward  parts,  stricken,  with  chastise- 
ments that  were  designed  for  correction.*  faces  .  .  rock,  fig. 
for  an  obstinate  unwillingness  to  receive  Divine  instruction. 
(4)  poor,  ctc.,'^  they  must  belong  to  those  classes  which,  in  all 
ages,  are  found  least  susceptible  of  religious  impressions.  (5) 
great  men,  men  of  education  and  position,  these  .  .  bonds, 
among  tliem  he  found  nothing  but  the  most  lawless  profligacy.'' 
(G)  evenings,  or  deserts.  Three  of  the  wildest  animals  are 
here  taken  to  represent  the  Babylonians,  who  were  to  punish  the 
wilful  and  wicked  nation. 

I'/i.ianctip'i'd  ajfllction  (r.  3). — I.  Some  of  the  forms  of  un- 
sauctified  affliction.  1.  Insensibility  ;  2.  Hardihood.  II.  Some 
of  the  means  by  which  this  evil  may  be  kept  away.  1.  By 
seeking  to  ascertain  and  to  accomijlish  the  design  of  our  affliction  ; 

2.  By  repressing  every  tendency  to  murmuring  or  impatience  ; 

3.  By  avoiding  immoderate  sorrow.' 
T/w  Hon. — i'he  lion  prowls  about  in  the  day,  which  I  have  often 

witnessed  in  Africa  :  but  the  habits  of  the  wolf  are  different,  as 
it  seldom  makes  its  appearance  before  sunset,  after  which  it  comes 
forth,  like  other  thieves  of  the  night,  in  search  of  prey.  I  never, 
when  moving  about  in  Africa,  saw  more  than  one  wolf  stalking 
about  in  daylight,  and  that  was  in  a  most  forsaken  part,  ^^•here, 
to  a  great  extent,  the  land  was  absolutely  paved  with  flag-stones, 
the  same  as  the  side  pavements  in  our  streets  ;  but  when  night 
came  they  were  constantly  howling  and  hovering  around  our 
encampment.  The  habit  of  the  leojiard,  also,  is  to  be  slumbering 
in  concealment  during  the  day ;  but  the  darkness  rouses  him, 
and  he  comes  forth  seeking  what  he  may  devour.  It  is  of  the 
tiger  species,  and  rather  smaller.  The  wolves  and  leopards 
have  the  boldness  to  prowl  about  their  cities,  as  the  wild 
beasts  did  about  our  wagons  in  the  wilderness,  so  that  it  should 
be  most  hazardous  for  man  or  beast  to  venture  outside  their 
walls/ — 'J7u'  n\ilf. — The  rapacious  character  of  the  wolf  was 
familiarly  known  to  the  ancients,  for  both  the  Greek  and  Latin 
poets  frequently  mention  it.  In  the  first  book  of  the  Georgics, 
Virgil  says,  this  office  was  given  to  the  wolf  by  Jupiter,  to  hunt 
the  prey.  "  The  rapacious  wolf  "is  a  phrase  which  often  occurs  in 
the  odes  of  Horace  :  and  Ovid,  in  one  of  his  Elegies,  sings  how 
the  wolf,  rapacious  and  greedy  of  blood.  Avhen  pressed  by  famine, 
piund.  rs  the  uugMarded  fold  :  his  ravenous  temper  prompts 
liim  to  destructive  and  sanguinary  depredations.  He  issues  forth 
in  the  night,  traverses  the  couTitry,  and  not  only  kills  what  I 
is  suilicient  to  satisfy  his  hunger,  but  everjrw'here,  unless  deterred  ' 


am 


l"When  I 

!  man,"      is     the 

j  piietry  of   cliild- 

liood.    "  Wlien  I 
!  was    young,"    is 

the  poetry  of  old 

age. 

c  Christian  Treas. 


a  De.  xxxiL  4. 

6  Is.  ix.  13;  Je. 

il.  30. 

c  "  The  Prophefc 
supposes  tliat 
siicli  evil  conld 
only  exist  among 
the  mass  of  the 
uninstructed  vul- 
gar, and  then  he 
goes  ou  to  ex- 
)iress  his  hope 
tliat  lie  would 
find  things  in  a 
very  different 
state  among 

tliose  consti- 
tuting the  higher 
ranks  of  society, 
wlio  had  enjoj-ed 
superior  advau- 
tages." — Bender' 
son. 

d  "  They  bid  open 
defiance  to  God's 
laws,  and  cast  oif 
all  obligations  of 
duty  and  con- 
science ;  like 
lieadstrong  oxen 
that  will  not  be 
brought  under 
tlie  yoke,  but 
break  through 
any  bonds  wliere- 
by  you  would  re- 
I  striiin  them,  or 
bring  them  under 
discipliue." — 
Loicth. 

e  G.  Broois. 

f  Campbell. 

V.  3.  Origen,  Op. 
iii.  1G3;  Dr.  k. 
Lucns,  iii.  253 ; 
H.  i»rtr(>.s,  iii.  151 ; 
Dr.  Fplhcrgill,  i. 
403;  T.  Jiennell, 
347. 

r.  4.  Dr.  & 
Clarke,  405. 


20 


JEnE.)riA!T. 


[Cap.  V.  7— ft 


vv.  4.  B.     Dr.  y. 

Jinvi;/,  i.  45  ;  Dr. 
J.  (Jrlun,  i.  225. 

"  The  way  to  gain 
a  g()nA  ri'p.Ua- 
tion  is  to  emloa- 
voiir  to  be  wliat 
yoa  desire  to  ap- 
poar."— S  >c/vito. 
"Affliction  is  the 
Roo  1  man's  sliin- 
iug  sceuj ;  pros- 
perity conoo.ils 
hisbri'jlitest  ray ; 
a?  niglit  to  star-?, 
woe  lustre  gives 
to  mau."-i'u««y. 

"  lie  went,  like 
one  t!iat  liath 
beenstiiMu'd  and 
is  of  sense  for- 
lorn ;  a  sa  Idor 
and  a  wiser  man 
he  rose  the  mor- 
row  morn." — 
Coleridje. 

It  "  all  things 
work  togetlier 
for  good  to  them 
that  love  God," 
tlion  afflictions 
must  1)0  among 
the  number. 

No  man  has  n 
right  to  do  as  he 
pleases  except 
when  he  pleases 
to  do  right. 

g  Paxton. 


a  Je.  V.  25,  ix.  0, 

xliv.  22. 

r.  8.  "  The  Kam;> 
term  is  used  in 
tlie  East  to  de- 
note a  similar 
thing.  It  is  said, 
'  Listen  to  tliat 
evil  man,  he  is 
always  neigliing.' 
'  O  that  wicked 
one,  he  is  like 
tlie  horse  in  his 
frensy.'  'The 
men  of  that 
family  are  all 
neigli.^rs.'  Jl.'a- 
thcnism  is  ever 
true  to  itself: 
Impurity  is  its 
jnscpirablo  com- 
pa  iiiou."  —  lio- 
berlt. 


by  the  barkinj''  of  dog-.?  or  the  vociferation  of  the  shepheplg, 
destroy.?  a  whole  flock  ;  he  roams  about  the  cottacjes.  kills  all  the 
animals  which  have  been  left  without,  dig-.s  the  earth  umler  the 
doors,  enters  with  a  dreadful  ferocity,  and  puts  every  living 
creature  to  death,  before  he  chooses  to  depart,  and  carry  off  hia 
prey.  "Wlien  these  inroads  happen  to  be  fruitless,  ho  returns  to 
the  wools,  searches  about  with  avidity,  follows  the  track  of  wild 
beasts,  and  pursues  th^m  in  the  hope  that  they  may  be  stopped 
and  seiz3d  by  some  other  wolf,  and  that  ho  may  be  a  partaker  of 
tho  spoil.  "  To  appease  hunger,"  says  Buffon,  "  he  swaIlow.s  in- 
discriminately cverythingf  he  can  find,  corrupted  flesh,  bones, 
hair,  skins  half-tanned  and  covered  with  lime  ;"  and  Pliny  avcra 
that  he  devours  the  earth  on  which  he  treads,  to  satisfy  hia 
voracious  appetite.  Wheu  his  hunger  is  extremo,  he  loses  the 
idea  of  fear  ;  he  attacks  women  and  children,  and  even  some- 
times darts  upon  men  ;  till,  becoming'  perfectly  furious  by 
excessive  exertions,  he  generally  falls  a  sacrifice  to  pure  rage  and 
distraction.  He  has  been  accordingly  joined  with  the  lion  in 
executing  punishment  upon  wicked  men  ;  and  it  is  evident,  from 
his  character  and  habits,  that  he  is  well  adapted  to  the  work  of 
judgment  :  ''  The  great  men,"  Baiel  Jeremiah,  •'  have  altogether 
broken  the  yoke,  and  burst  the  bonds  ;  wherefore  a  lion  out  of 
the  forest  shall  slay  them,  and  n,  wolf  of  the  evenings  shall  spoil 
them."  The  rapacious  and  cruel  conduct  of  the  princes  of  Israel 
is  compared  by  Ezekiel  to  the  mischievous  inroads  of  the  samo 
animal  :  "  Her  princes  in  the  midst  thereof,  are  like  wolvca 
ravening'  the  prey,  to  shed  blool,  to  destroy  souls,  to  get  dis- 
honest gain."  The  disposition  of  the  wolf  to  attack  the  weaker 
animals,  especially  these  which  are  under  the  protection  of  man, 
is  alluded  to  by  our  Lord  in  the  parable  of  tlie  hireling  shepherd  : 
■•  The  wolf  catches  them  and  scatters  the  flock  ;"  and  the  Apostle 
Paul,  in  his  address  to  the  elders  of  Ephesus,  gives  the  name  of 
this  insidious  and  cruel  animal  to  the  false  teachers  who  disturb 
the  peace,  and  perverted  the  faith  of  their  people  :  ■•  I  kno\r 
this,  that  after  my  dejiarting,  shall  g-rievous  wolves  enter  in. 
among  you,  not  sparing  the  flock."  Ovid  gives  him  the  same 
character  iu  his  fable  of  Lycaon.^ 

7 — 9.  (7)  how,  or  why.  What  reason  can  be  olTered  for  any 
expectation  of  pardon  ?  sworn  .  .  gods,  again  and  again  the 
"  swearing  "  is  noticed  as  a  solemn  act  of  religion,  fed  .  .  full, 
supplied  them  with  all  good  :  some,  however,  trans.,  '"though  I 
bound  them  to  ]Me  by  oath."  harlots'  houses,  a  strong  fig.  for 
idol  temples,  but,  with  allusion  to  the  unclean  rites  of  idol 
worship.  (8)  fed,  etc.,  Eze.  xxii.  11.  (9)  visit,"  iu  severe 
judgments. 

Sill  a  h'ni'lrannr,  to  our  rpcrivinrj  hJc-ixlnfj-t. — "When  our  spiritual 
supplies  fail,  the  channel  is  sometimes  at  fault,  and  not  the 
stream  ;  the  hindranc?  to  their  coming  lies  with  us  and  not  with 
our  heavenly  Father.  The  supply  of  fuel  to  our  city  in  midwinter 
sometimes  fails,  not  because  the  coal-fields  are  exhausted,  but 
because  the  weather  has  frozen  our  rivers,  detained  our  colliers  in 
the  channel,  and  blocked  up  our  railways.  The  supply  of  ^^•ater 
or  of  gas  to  our  houses  is  sometimes  insufficient,  not  becaiise  the 
reservoirs  are  low,  but  because  the  pipes  which  connect  our 
dwellings  with  the  m'ain  service  are  choked  up  or  broken. 
I  News  fails  to  reach  us,  uot  because  our  correspondent  has  neg- 


Cap.  V.  10—24.] 


JEREMIAff. 


27 


lected  to  write,  but  because  the  means  of  transmission  have  been 
imperfect.* 

10 — 13.  (10)  go  ye,  an  apostrophe  addressed  to  the  Baby- 
lonians. They  were  to  execute  the  Divine  judgment,  full  end, 
final  and  complete  destruction,  v.  IS.  not  the  Lord's,  He 
having'  withdrawn  from  their  defence,  by  reason  of  their 
iniquities.  (11,  J  2)  belied,  spoken  unworthily  and  untruth- 
fully of  God."  (13)  word  .  .  then,  i.e.  any  word  or  message 
from  God.*  thus  .  .  then,  "  may  the  evil  which  the  Prophets 
threaten  fall  upon  their  own  head." 

Vnln  dcfcnct'H  (r.  10). — I.  The  sinner's  consciousness  of  danger. 

1.  His  danger  is  real  ;  2.  He  has  a  deep-seated  apprehension  of  it. 
II.  His  inadequate  means  of  defence.  1.  Sometimes  in  an 
absolute  denial  of  the  moral  government  of  God  ;  2.  In  mistaken 
views  of  the  Divine  character  ;  3.  In  a  false  estimate  of  personal 
merit  or  excellence.' 

14—18.  (U)  words  . .  mouth,  ch.  i.  9.  fire  . .  wood,  ?>., 
the  issue  of  thy  words  shall  be  a  destruction  like  the  burning  of 
dry  wood."  (15)  from  far,  Is.  xxxix.  3.  mighty,  or  enduring, 
firm,  language  .  .  not,''  as  threatened,  De.  xxviii.  49.  (lH) 
quiver,  kcc  ch.  iv.  29.  (17)  bread,  here  put  for  bread-corn, 
impoverish,  better,  pound,  or  batter  with  the  battering-ram. 
sword,  here  in  a  general  sense  for  the  instruments  of  siege. 
(IS)  full  end,  as  V.  10,  ch.  iv.  27. 

Her.  Dr.  Campbell. — "  Is  not  Mr.  B.  a  deep  preacher  1 "  asked  a 
friend  of  the  late  Eev.  Dr.  Campbell,  of  Aberdeen.  "  Eh  1  " 
replied  the  doctor,  smiling  :  "  I  will  tell  you  a  story,  sir.  "When 
I  was  a  boy,  I  was  amusing  myself  with  some  other  boys  in  a 
pool.  Some  of  them  were  going  further  in  than  I  was  disposed 
to  go.  and  I  was  frightened.  To  a  man,  who  was  passing  by, 
I  called  out,  '  Is  this  pool  deep  1 '  '  No,  man,'  replied  he  ;  'it  is 
only  muddy.'  There  is  such  a  thing  as  preaching  the  deep 
things  of  God,  which  will  be  neither  understood  nor  relished  by 
the  natural  man.  But  it  is  very  possible  to  jn-each  the  plain 
truths  of  the  Gospel,  in  a  language  and  style  which  at  once 
clothe  them  with  mystery,  and  expose  them  to  ridicule.  It  ought 
never  to  be  forgotten  that  the  Gospel  is  a  revelation  :  and  that 
it  is  by  manifestation  of  the  truth  that  the  preacher  is  to  com- 
mend himself  to  every  man's  conscience.  I  have  heard  of  t 
minister  discussing  the  unrevealed  glories  of  Christ.  This  may 
be  deep  preaching  ;  I  am  sure  it  must  be  very  nonsensical  and 
unprofitable."" 

19—24.  (19)  like  as,  etc.,  retribution  has  come  upon  thee, 
retribution  in  kind."  They  had  given  themselves  up  to  worship 
foreign  idols,  they  should  now  be  given  up  to  serve  foreign 
masters.  (20,  21)  declare  this,  proclaim  it  publicly.  (22) 
sand  .  .  decree,*  Job  xxxviii.  10.  11  ;  Ps.  civ.  9.  (23)  heart,_ 
or  disposition,  will."  (21)  fear,  in  the  religious  sense  of 
•'  worship."  giveth  rain,  etc..  comp.  Ps.  cxlvii.  8  ;  Mat.  v.  45  ; 
Ac.  xiv.  17.  weeks  ..  harvest,  the  seven  weeks  intervening 
bet.  thr-  Passover  and  Pente^  ost,  dating  fr.  the  ICth  day  of  Nisan. 

1)1(1} ffrrnwe  (r.  21). — I.  AVhiC  God  has  done  to  produce  pious] 
consideration.     1.  lie  hr.s  given  powers  of  mind  adapted  to  it ;  | 

2.  lie  lias  given  us  the  means  to  answer  to  these  powers  ;  3.  His 
Uoly  Spirit  to  strive,  convince,  etc.    II.  The  indifference  men ; 


b  S.  Martin. 


'  a  "  Tlicy   denied 
the    Liiviiie    go- 
veniment      over 
liuuiaii      affairs; 
I  asc.ibing        His 
!  judgments        to 
{  cliance     or    for- 
1  tune,  and  disbe- 
1  i  e  V  i  n  g     all 
threateuinjjs     of 
sword       or      fa- 
mine  which  the 
Prophets       have 
denounced  in  Hi3 
niiuie,  wli.  i.s,  iu 
eflect,     to     give 
Ilim   the   lie." — 
L<  III /I. 
b  IIo.  i.  2. 
c  G.  Brooks, 


a  "Thy   dentin- 

i  ciations  of  judg- 
I  nient  shall  aU 
I  be  fulfilled,  and 
shall  consume 
them  as  lire  does 
wood." —  Fausset. 
b  "  This  would 
render  tliem 
more  pitiless,  a( 
they  would  not 
understand  their 
cries  for  mercy." 
—iSpk.  Com. 

"  Our  actions  are 
our  own  ;  their 
consequences  be- 
long to  heaven." 
— Francis. 

"  Our  best  light 
must  be  made 
lite,  and  our  best 
thouglit,  action." 
— IS.  Umiles. 

c  R.  T.  S. 


a  "All  God's  pro- 
mises were  niada 
upon  condition 
of  your  obedi- 
ence, and  if  you 
forsake  (J  od,  you 
are  not  to  e.vpecb 
that  the  iiroiuise 
of  dwelling  iu 
tliis  land  sliouid 
be  made  good  to 
you  any  longer." 
—Ltjulh. 

i"Modern  science 
has  shown  that 
tlie  resisting 

power  of  sand  is 


28 


JEREMUn. 


[Cap.  vi.  1—5, 


enormous.  By 
the  nicclianical 
laws  wli.  guvcni 
it  tlie  sliock  of  a 
blow  is  distribu- 
ted laterally,  and 
produces  little- 
effect.  A  wave 
wh.  would  shatter 
rocks  falls  power- 
less upon  saud." 
— Spk.  Cum. 
c  De.  xxi.  18,  20. 
<t  Dr.  Dunis. 

a  "  In  metaphors 
taken  fr.  bird- 
catchers,  the  I'ro- 
pliet  describes 
the  cunuinK  of 
the  more  aban- 
doned part  of  the 
nation,  and  the 
great  we.alth  wli. 
they  had  unjustly 
acquired."— //tvt- 
derson. 

b  J.  J.  Cort,  M.A. 
a  "  Both  priests 
and  prophets 
agree  to  speak 
pleasing  things 
to  the  people, 
thereby  to  keep 
up  their  interest 
and  authority 
with  them ;  and 
what  can  this 
end  in  but  a  total 
corruption  of 
manners  ?  the 
cnisequence  of 
wh.  must  be  utter 
ruin  and  destruc- 
tion."— Linoth. 
h  S.  Martin. 


a  "  Every  one 
knows  that  Jeru- 
salem is  situated 
in  the  tribe  of 
Benjamin.  As  for 
Tekoa,  we  see 
every  day  with 
our  own  eyes  tliat 
it  is  a  little  town 
upon  a  hill  about 
twelve  (Roman) 
miles  from  Juru- 
Balem.  Between 
these  is  anotlier 
villiige,  called  in 
the  Heb.  and  Syr. 
tongues,  /li'l/t- 
acharmn,  whioh 
also  is  placed 
upon  a  hiU." — S. 
Jeronn: 

b  "  The  peuernls. 
more       prudent 


often  exhibit.  1.  Of  some  it  is  total,  without  any  concern  ;  2. 
Of  othcns  considerate  only  of  the  cxtcrnal.s  of  religion  ;  ."5.  Of 
some  only  to  tlic  intellectual  parti  of  truth  ;  4.  Of  others  only 
occasional.  III.  The  consequences  of  this  indifference.  1.  It 
i.s  extremely  foolish  ;  2.  Detrimental  to  the  soul ;  iJ.  Specially 
offensive  to  God  ;  4.  Must  end  in  the  soul's  ruin.  Apply  : — (1) 
Examine  and  test  yourselves  ;  (2)  Seek  the  quickening- iufluencjs 
of  the  Spirit ;  (3)  Be  resolved  and  wise,  and  now,  lest  you  perish 
for  ever.'* 

25—28.  (2."))  iniquities,  rfc,  ch.  iii.  3.  (2G)  lay  wait,  or 
"pry  as  fowlers  lie  in  wait.""  (27)  cage,  or  basket  coop  full  of 
birds  that  have  been  caught,  full  of  deceit,  i.e.  of  treasures 
acquired  by  fraud.  (2^))  fat,  De.  xxxii,  15.  overpass,  sur- 
pass in  wickedness  even  the  wicked. 

JVational  {IcHnqiicncy  (v.  25). — Notice  the  chief  of  our  national 
sins.  1.  Ungodliness  ;  2.  Immorality  ;  3.  General  indifference 
to  the  truth.  Apply  :— (1)  Lay  it  to  heart  personally  ;  (2)  Pray 
for  your  country.'' 

29—31.  (29)  not  visit,  v.  9.  (.30)  wonderful,  or  a  thing 
exciting  amazement  and  terror.  (31)  by  their  means,  accord- 
ing to  the  guidance  and  directions  of  these  false  prophets,  love 
to  have  it  so,  prefer  the  license  wh.  such  false  teachings 
give."     Mi.  ii.  11. 

M'hai  Kill  ye  do  in  the  end?  (y.  31). — I.  There  is  an  end  to 
every  evil  course — a  termination,  and  a  result  which  God  fore- 
knows as  a  certain  termination,  and  as  an  inevitable  re.sult,  if 
an  evil  course  be  pei-si.sted  in  and  persevered  in.  II.  The  end  is 
not  far  distant  ;  it  draws  nigh.  III.  The  proximate  end  of  some 
things  is  already  realised,  and  the  end  of  other  things  is  begin- 
ning to  api:»ear.  IV.  Some  of  our  fellows  are,  under  our  eye, 
realising  the  proximate  end  of  many  of  their  evil  ways  ;  while 
others,  by  looking  to  the  end,  have  forsaken  their  evil  ways. 
Appeal  to  different  characters,  as  the  hypocrite,  the  neglecter 
of  salvation,  to  the  criminal,  etc.* 

CHAPTER   THE  SIXTH. 

1 — 5.  (1)  of  Benjamin,  a  name  for  Jerusalem,  as  situated 
partly  within  the  limits  of  this  tribe.  Jeremiah  was  himself  a 
JJenjamite.  Tekoa,  11  m.  S.  of  Jerusalem.  Th^  south  was  tho 
only  road  open  to  thosT  Avho  would  escaps.  Bstli-haocerem, 
Ne.  iii.  14."  (2)  comely,  etc.,  or,  to  a  luxuriant  pasturage.  (3) 
shepherds,  efc.,  another  fig.  for  the  consuming  Babylonians, 
who  should  feed  upon  this  pasture.  (4)  at  noon,  the  usual 
resting  time  :  but,  in  their  eagerne.ss,  the  Chaldajans  would 
advance  even  at  noon,  woe,  cfc.  the  expression  of  the  im- 
patient soldiers.*  (5)  go  by  night,  i.e.  the  soldiers  clamour  for 
a  night  assault. 

T/n:  cirrliny  .teaxnna  of  the  year  (v.  4). — 1.  Thei'C  are  times 
when  serious  thoughts  will  crowd  into  the  mind  ;  2.  For  wlio 
can  see  things  cliange  and  depart  without  regret.'  3.  But  yet  the 
fuller  beauties  of  summer  succeed  to  those  of  spring  :  4.  It 
would  seem  tliat  autumns  have  produced  similar  feelings  in  the 
miudsof  inspired  writers  ;  5.  Scenes  of  autumnal  docny  speak  to 
those  who  are  in   the  summer  of  their  life  ;  6.  The  autumn  of 


Cap.vi.  6— 12.] 


JEREMIAH. 


29 


life  is  approaching  ;  7.  'When  the  evening  is  come  night  is  not  i 
far  off  ;  when  auiunin  is  with  us  winter  is  at  hand."  i 

Note  on  r.  1  —  Fire  a'lfinnh. — Fire  signs  are  used  as  a  telegraph 
in  some  parts  of  tlie  South  Seas.  A  native  of  Tanna,  in  giving  [ 
me  the  news  one  morning,  said,  "  There  will  be  a  party  over  from  ; 
the  island  of  Aueiteum  to-day  or  to-morrow."  "  How  do  you  I 
know  ? "  "  Because  we  saw  a  great  bonfire  rising  there  last 
night."'  The  natives  of  heathen  islands  are  also  in  the  habit  i 
of  kindling  fires,  as  a  smoke  signal,  to  attract  the  notice  of  a  j 
vessel  which  may  be  off  their  shore.  Sometimes  when  we  are  ' 
wondering  whether  there  are  any  natives  among  the  dense  bush  i 
which  we  see  from  the  ship,  up  goes  a  column  of  smoke,  and 
removes  all  doubt.'' — Note  on  r.  2. — A  passage  of  D'Arvieux  will 
account  for  that  surprise  which  he  supposes  the  daughters  of 
Jerusalem  would  notwithstanding  feel,  upon  seeing  the  swarthi- 
ness  of  the  person  which  Solomon  had  chosen  for  his  spouse, 
as  it  shows  the  attention  usually  paid  by  the  great  men  of  the 
East  to  the  complexion  of  their  wives,  as  well  as  the  great 
tanning  power  of  the  sun  in  Palestine.  "  The  princesses,  and 
the  other  Arab  ladies,  whom  they  showed  me  from  a  private 
place  of  the  tent,  appeared  to  me  beautiful  and  well  shaped  ; 
one  may  judge  by  these,  and  by  what  they  told  me  of  them,  that 
the  rest  are  no  less  so ;  they  are  very  fair,  because  they  are 
always  kept  from  the  sun.  The  women  in  common  are  ex- 
tremely sunburnt,  besides  the  brown  and  swarthy  colour  which 
they  naturally  have,"  etc.  Naturally,  he  says,  though  this  most 
permanent  swarthiness  must  arise  from  the  same  cause  with  that 
temporary  tanning  he  speaks  of.  or  otherwise  the  Ar-ab  princesses 
would  have  been  swarthy,  though  not  sunburnt,  being  natives  of 
the  country,  which  yet,  he  aflirms,  they  were  not.  It  is  on  this 
account,  without  doubt,  that  the  Prophet  Jeremiah,  when  he 
■would  describe  a  comely  woman,  describes  her  by  the  character 
of  one  that  dwelleth  at  home.  The  delicate,  and  those  that  are 
Bolicitous  to  preserve  their  beauty,  go  very  little  abroad  :  it 
Beems  it  was  so  anciently,  and  therefore  the  Prophet  uses  a  term 
to  express  a  woman  of  beauty,  which  would  not  be  very  appli- 
cable to  many  British,  fine  ladies.  * 

6 — 8.  fC)  cast  a  moTint,  marg.  "pour  out  the  engine  of 
Bhot.""  The  fig.  of  pouring  has  reference  to  the  emptying  of  the 
baskets  of  earth,  wh.  were  brought  to  make  the  mound.  (7) 
grief,  etc.,  the  groan  of  those  suffering  by  reason  of  the  w'icked- 
ness  wh.  calls  for  these  judgments.  (8)  instructed,  or  learn 
the  lessons  of  thy  chastisement,  my  SOUl,  or  I  Myself:  ''lest 
My  mind  and  affection  be  utterly  alienated  from  thee." 

A  soJenm  admonition  (r.  8).— I.  The  benefits  of  instruction  in 
national  danger.  II.  The  destructive  consequences  of  this  in- 
struction being  sent  in  vain.  Apply — 1.  To  the  man  who  rests 
in  the  mere  external  observances  of  a  public  fast ;  2.  To  those 
who  are  desirous  of  instruction.* 

9 — 12.  (9)   turn   back,  or  go  over  the  vineyard  again  to  be  j  „  comp.  Is.  xtU. 
quite  sure  no  stray  grapes  are  left."    into  the  baskets,  better, !  6,  x.\iv.  13. 
"  upon  the  tendrils."    (10)  ear  is  uncirctimcised,  ch.  vii.  20  : 
Ac.  vii.  'A.     "  Closed  against  the  precepts  of  God  by  carnality."  ,  '■.  10.    J.  Si/aU, 
reproach,   they  turn   it   into    ridicule.       (11)    weary  with 
holding  in,  and  must  utter  my  denunciations,  wh.  shall  reach  all 


than  the  troops, 
(loLiy  tlie  assault 
till  the  iie.xt 
morning,  the 
usual  lime  for 
such  an  enter- 
pnie."-Sjk.  Com. 

c  /.'.  W/iileJuad, 
M.A. 

"In  Eeth-hacce- 
reni  there  niight 
possibly  be  a  very 
liigh  tower.  Kim- 
chi  observes  that 
the  woril  signifies 
a  high  tower,  for 
tlie  keepers  of  the 
vines  to  watch  in. 
If  it  Mere  so,  it 
was  a  very  proper 
place  to  set  »ip 
the  sign  of  fire 
in,  to  give  notice 
to  all  the  sur- 
rounding coun- 
try. It  was  usual 
with  the  Per- 
sians, Grecians, 
and  Romans,  to 
signify  in  the 
night  by  signs  of 
fire,  and  by  burn- 
i  n  g  torches, 
eitlier  the  ap- 
proach of  an 
enemy,  or  suc- 
cour from  friends. 
The  former  was 
done  by  shaking 
and  moving  their 
torches  ;  the 

latter  by  holding 
tliem        Etill."— 
Binder. 
d  Dr.  Turner, 
e  IJarmer. 

a  Comp.  2  Sa.  tx. 
15;  Isa.  x.\.\vii. 
33  ;  Je.  x.xxii.  24, 
xxxiii.  4;  Eze, 
xvii.  17. 
b  K.  Cecil,  M.A. 
!-.8.  Or.Ji.  WItich- 
cole,  i.  177;  Abp. 
Tillolson,  ill.  53 ; 
R.  Cumell,  43 ; 
T.  Meeler,  125; 
P.  ill  nclwn.  it. 
276  ;  J.  T.  Robin- 
son, 111;  K.  C. 
Cox,  342. 


,  10. 
74. 


80 


J'ERFAIIMl. 


[Cap.  vt.  9-  12« 


*'  How  wretched 
a  spectacle  is  a 
garden  into 
■wliicli  cloven- 
footed  b  e  a  s  t  n 
have  entered ! 
That  which  yes- 
terday was  fra- 
grant, and  shone 
all  over  with 
crowded  beauty, 
is  to-day  rooted, 
despoiled,  tram- 
pled, and  utterly 
devoured ;  and 
flll  over  the 
ground  you  shall 
find  but  tlie  re- 
jected cuds  of 
flowers  and 
Vo-vves  and  forms 
that  have  been 
champed  for  their 
juices  and  then 
rejected.  Such 
to  me  is  the 
Bible,  when  the 
pragmatic  pro- 
phecy-mo n  per 
and  tlie  swinish 
utilitarian  have 
toothed  its  fruits 
and  craunched 
its  blossoms." — 
Beecher, 

"The  motives  of 
the  best  actions 
■will  not  bear  too 
Eti-ict  an  inquiry. 
It  is  allowed  that 
the  cause  of  most 
actions,  good  or 
bad,  may  be  re- 
solved into  the 
love  of  ourselves : 
but  the  self-love 
of  some  men  in- 
clines them  to 
please  others  ; 
and  the  self-love 
of  others  is 
wholly  emploj-ed 
in  pleasing  thorn- 
selves.  This 
makes  the  great 
distinction  be- 
tween virtue  and 
vice."— /SVt'V. 


classes,  young-,  miJdle-aged,  and  old.  full  of  days,  i.e.  who 
have  lived  to  the  full  term  and  peHod  of  human  life.  (12) 
houses  . .  others,  De.  x.xviii.  30. 

Ciiurfiijefor  (hul  vcirnvdcd. — A  traveller  relates  the  following 
incident  : — "  Some  time  since,  I  was  travelling'  in  Switzerland. 
On  the  close  of  a  brilliant  day  I  was  anxious  to  see  the  last  rays 
of  the  setting  sun.  I  mounted  a  hill,  and,  struck  with  admira- 
tion at  the  g-lorious  colouring-  around  me.  I  longed  for  a  com- 
panion to  unite  with  me  in  praising  the  Sun  of  righteou.sness 
thus  visible  in  the  beauties  of  creation.  A  distant  whistle  from 
a  peasant  returning  to  his  home  quickened  my  steps,  but  his 
speed  fast  exceeded  mine,  and  he  was  quickly  out  of  sight.  The 
rosy  tints  were  also  fading,  giving  jjlace  to  the  deep  shadows 
of  evening.  As  I  descended  the  height,  I  walked  clo.se  to  a 
hedge  which  bordered  a  deep  ravine.  The  sound  of  voices  from 
beneath  arrested  my  attention  ;  and  looking  through  the  bushes, 
I  beheld  a  body  of  men,  wearing  the  apjiearance  of  banditti, 
at  their  evening  meal.  Here.  I  thought,  is  an  opportunity  of 
making  known  the  plan  of  salvation  ;  but  my  timid,  bashful 
nature  suggested  the  temerity  of  such  an  effort.  One  so  totally 
defenceless  as  I  was  could  not  be  called  upon  to  face  such  a 
gang ;  so  I  moved  on  slowly,  still  listening  to  their  rough 
language.  Dissatisfied  with  my  own  cowardice,  I  went  near  au 
opening  in  the  hedge  to  take  another  view  ;  my  foot  trod  uj^on 
unsafe  ground,  and  I  came  down  with  the  crumbling  earth  into 
the  midst  of  the  dreaded  party.  I  now  felt  God  had  decided  for 
me,  and  realised  the  truth  of  the  following  lines : — 
" '  Let  faith  suppress  each  rising  fear. 

Each  anxious  doubt  exclude  ; 
Thy  ]\Iaker's  will  has  placed  thee  here, 

A  Maker  wise  and  good.' 
" '  A  booty  I  a  booty  I '  shouted  the  marauders.  With  a  strength 
not  my  own,  I  echoed,  with  an  undaunted  voice.  '  A  booty  !  a 
booty  such  as  you  have  never  received  before  ! '  An  unpleas.ant 
expression  passed  over  their  faces.  I  heeded  it  not,  feeling 
assured  I  was  God's  ambassador.  'Yes,'  I  exclaimed. '  I  bring- 
you  good  news — glorious  news,  of  a  powerful  Friend  who  is  able 
and  willing  to  save  both  body  and  soul.'  A  tall,  dark-featured 
man  took  up  my  words.  '  Save  my  soul  ?  No  one  has  ever 
cared  for  my  soul :  I  have  been  a  castaway  from  my  birth.' 
Opening  my  pocket  Bible,  I  repeated  from  niemoiy — for  there 
was  no  other  light  but  such  as  the  stariy  firmament  gave  — 
suitable  invitations,  exhortations,  and  promises.  Oh  !  how  quick 
and  powerful  is  the  Avord  of  God.  discerning  the  thoughts  and 
intents  of  the  heart,  imparting  light,  life,  and  hope  !  Finding- 
the  attention  of  my  hearers  riveted,  I  concluded  -with  this 
verse  : — 'This  is  a  faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of  all  acceptation, 
that  Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners.'  With 
heartfelt  pleasure  I  heard  a  union  of  voices  cry  out,  '  Let  ua 
shake  hands  upon  that ! '  '  Let  us  also,'  I  said,  '  go  to  the  Foun- 
tain of  all  strength,  and  ask  God  to  confirm  our  resolutions." 
They  unanimously  knelt  down  under  the  blue  vault  of  heaven. 
U])on  rising,  the  dark-featured  man  begged  a  favour  of  me — 
'  Will  you  give  me  your  Bible  ? '  '  Will  j'ou  promise,'  I  asked, 
'  to  read  it  with  prayer  ? '  'I  will,'  he  answered.  Three  years 
after  this  interview  I  was  accosted  by  a  respectable-looking  man 


Cap.  vi.  13-20.] 


JE  REM  I  An. 


31 


in  Piccadilly.  '  Excuse  the  liberty  of  the  inquiry,  sir.  Have 
you  visited  such  a  canton,  in  Switzerland,  in  such  a  year .'  And 
do  you  recognise  this  book  ? '  pi-oducing'  from  his  pocket  my 
well-worn  Bible.  Answering  in  the  affirmative,  he  then  grasped 
my  hand,  and  said,  •  This  gift  has  been  blessed  to  my  soul  :  and 
often  have  I  prayed  that  I  might  meet  you  ^on  earth  to  thank 
y^u  for  this  inestimable  boon.'  " 

''  Cast  down  thj'self .  and  only  strive  to  raise 
The  glory  of  thy  Maker's  sacred  name. 
Use  all  thy  power  that  blessed  Power  to  raise, 
"Which  gives  the  power  to  be,  anduse  the  same." 

— Herbert.* 
13—17.  (13)  to  covetonsness,  or  gaining  gains,"  the 
acquisition  of  exorbitant  or  unjust  gains,  falsely,  or  fraudu- 
lently. (14)  slightly,  only  making  a  surface-healing,  without 
reaching  the  deep  cause,  daug-hter  .  .  people,  the  poetic 
name  for  Jerusalem,  saying,  peace,  this  would  be  the  hope 
based  on  Josiah's  reforms.*  (15)  were  they  ashamed,  a 
people  is  in  a  terrible  condition  when  it  is  past  feeling  srhame. 
(!(])  old  paths,  the  neglected  and  despised  ways  of  allegiance 
to  Jehovah,  and  obedience  to  His  wilL''  (17)  -watchmen,  the 
Prophets. 

Tli-c  old  jmtlut  (r.  10). — The  figure  :  travellers  and  their  guides. 
I.  The  denomination,  "  old  paths."  1.  Because  ordained  from 
eternity  ;  2.  Because  herein  all  the  saints  have  walked  ;  3. 
Because  tried.  II.  The  description,  "  good  way."  A  way  is 
good — 1.  "When  safe  ;  2.  "When  direct  ;  3.  "When  frequented  : 
4.  When  pleasant ;  5.  "When  firm  and  pas.?a'ble.  III.  The  direc- 
tions, ''Stand,  etc."  1.  They  who  seek  this  path  should  be 
cautious  in  their  observations  ;  2.  They  must  be  earnest  in  their 
inquiries  ;  3.  They  should  be  prompt  in  entering  thereon.  IV. 
The  destination,  "  rest."  1.  On  the  journey,  contentment,  satis- 
faction, etc  ;  2.  Afterwards  eternal  repose.'' 

18 — 20.  (IS)  congregation,  or  general  assembly  of  man- 
kind. (19)  O  earth,  the  appeal  being  even  to  nature  to  listen 
to  God's  charge  against  His  people.  (2(i)  to  what  piirpose,"  or 
what  is  the  value  of  any  external  ceremonies,  when  the  heart  is 
not  in  them  .'  Sheba,  a  part  of  Arabia  Felix,  famous  for  its 
spices,  sweet  cane,*  Is.  xliii.  24.  "burnt  offerings,  which 
shof/Id  testify  to  an  entire  devotion  to  My  service,  but  do  not. 

j\'fife  0)1  v.  20. — The  sweet-smellmg  reed  grows  in  the  deserts  of 
Arabia.  It  is  gathered  near  Jambo,  a  i^ort  town  of  Arabia 
Petra3a,  from  M-hence  it  is  brought  into  Egyjot.  Pliny  says  it  is 
common  to  India  and  Syria.  This  plant  was  probably  among  the 
number  of  those  which  the  Queen  of  Sheba  presented  to 
Solomon  ;  and  what  seems  to  confirm  the  opinion  is,  that  it 
is  still  very  much  esteemed  by  the  Arabs  on  account  of  its 
fragrance.  It  is  likely  the  sweet  cane  of  Jeremiah,  who  calls  it 
prime,  or  excellent,  and  associates  it  with  incense  from  Sheba. 
'•  To  what  purpose  cometh  there  to  IMe  incense  from  Sheba,  and 
the  sweet  cane  from  a  far  country  .'''  And,  in  allusion  to  the 
same  plant.  Isaiah  complains  in  the  name  of  Jehovah.  "  Thou 
hast  bought  Me  no  sweet  cane  with  money."  In  the  Book 
of  Exodus  it  is  called  "  sweet  calamus,"  and  is  said  to  come 
'•from  a  far  country  ;"'  which  agrees  with  the  declaration  of 
ancient  writers,  that  the  best  is  brought  from  India." 


"The  flighty  pur- 
pose never  is  o'er- 
tiiok,  unless  the 
deed  go  with  it ; 
from  this  mo- 
ment the  Tcry 
firstliiiprs  of  ny 
heart  shall  be  the 
firstlings  of  my 
liand."  —  Hhakc- 
xjieuiv. 

b  CliHtrhman's 
Pnttiy  Ma<j. 

a  Is.  Ivi.  11;  Je. 
viii.  ]0. 

b  '•  They  have 
used  oidy  l(ni- 
litis,  as  if  a  sur- 
ge o  n  should 
slightly  s-kin  over 
as<  re  that  festers 
underneath." — 
L(,iii/i. 

c  "  Teur  country 
was  once  pi-osper- 
ons  and  blessed. 
Try  to  Icaru  what 
were  tlie  paths 
trndden  in  those 
days  by  your  an- 
ee.-tors.  Discover 
what  the  good 
path  was  wli.  led 
them  to  liappi- 
ness.  See  wliether 
it  was  the 
patli  of  idolatry, 
of  moral  corrup- 
tion, of  priv:;te 
greed;-  cr  the 
p.atli  of  true  re- 
ligion, of  purity 
of  life,  of  self- 
sacrilice."  —  Sjik. 
Ctm, 

d  Stems  and 
Twigs. 

a  Is.  i.  11,  Ixvi.  3; 
Am.  V.  21;  M. 
vi.  6. 

"  The  oracle  of 
.lupiter  Hammon 
gave  this  answer 
to  the  Atlienians, 
'  I  am  better 
pleased  with  the 
prayer  of  the 
Lacedemonians 
tlian  with  all  the 
oblations  of  the 
Greeks.'"— /"/aro. 

b  Ex.  sxx.  23. 

V.  19.     W.  J.  JB. 

Biiiiiell,  291. 

c  Paxlon. 


32 


JEnE3fIAff. 


[Cap.  vi.  21—30. 


a  "When  Gofl 
saya  He  lays 
stuinlilins-blocks 
ill  mens  way.  wi- 
iriust  rerae'ubor 
tint  it  is  by  the 
g(!iieral  ai;Uon  of 
His  moral  law,  by 
which  wilful  sin 
in  ouo  point  re- 
acts upoii  the 
whole  moral  na- 
ture."— Upk.  Com. 

b  Is.  xiv.  13. 

"  Wlien  a  person 
l3  hungry,  or 
weary,  or  when 
he  bears  biul 
news,  it  is  said, 
*  His  bauJs  h.ave 
become  weak,' 
'His  hamls  have 
turneil  cold.' "  — 
Roberts. 

"  Jrost.  wretched 
men  are  cradled 
into  poetry  by 
wronj; :  tliey 
learn  in  sufFerinj? 
what  tliey  teach 
in  song."-S/tdlfi/. 

"  Only  the  ac- 
tions of  tlie  just 
smell  sweet,  and 
blossom  in  the 
iiiiit."Shirlt'!f. 

e  Neie.^paper, 


a  Mi.  i.  10. 


6  Lowlh. 

e  Ft.  xvii.  3 :  Isa. 
i.  25  ;  Zee.  xiii.  9  ; 
Mai.  iii.  2,  3;  1 
Pe.  i.  7. 

d  "  They  have 
rejected  .all  God's 
gifts  and  motives 
for  their  repent- 
ance, and  there- 
fore Jeliovah  has 
rejected  them  as 
an  alloy  too  ut- 
terly adulterate 
to  repay  the  re- 
finer's toil." — 
Spk.  Com. 

"As  we  see  one 
coal  kiiviie  an- 
other, and  Wood 
to  be  apt  matter 


I  21—25.  (21)  stumblingblocks,  or  causes  of  stumbling-. « 
;  Perhaps  ref.  is  to  the  Babylonians,  as  causes  of  the  fall  of 
the  nation.  C22)  sides  .  .  earth,  or  remotest  regions  of  the 
eart.h.^  (2.*5)  spear,  or  javelin  :  coinp.  the  Zulu /7.?.?^v/^//.  voice 
roareth,  Ls.  xvii.  12,  i:i.  horses,  ch.  iv.  18.  '(21)  time, 
report  of  the  ])rowess  and  mijrht  of  the  Chald:eans.  hands  .  . 
feeble,  so  that  we  cannot  hold  our  weapons.  (25)  every  sid,e, 
there  is  danjrer  all  around. 

)      Diiljlit.   mir  ]))'(! i/rr. — According'    to    the    Di-lhi    Gazette,   the 
I  Dufllas  are  in  an  uncomfortable  state  of  mind  about  our  approach- 
ing expedition  into  thrir  country.     A  big-soundinj:  war  prayer 
I  has  been  drawn  up  by  the  local  pope,  who  has  enjoined  all  true 
Dufllas  to  repeat  it  twice  a  day.     Among  other  things  they  are  to 
pray  :  "  Let  their  co.asts  bs  ruled  by  us  !     Let  the  demon-<  of  their 
fo^-ts  be  given  to  those  of  ours  !     Let  the  soul  of  him  who  is  the 
chief  cause  of  this  quarrel  be  bound  by  that  of  our  friend  and 
chief,  whom  he  has  injured  !     Let  the  properties  of  their  country 
!  be   received   by   us  !    Let  their  warriors  be  seized  by   us  ;    for 
which  reason  make  strong  all  our  warriors,  that  they  may  bind 
j  the  spirits  of  all  their  able  men  for  us  to  destroy  them  1     Give  U3 
j  such  help  that  they  may  not  stand  or  hold,  and  that  they  be 
1  rendere<l  insane  and  made  to  tremble  !     Come,  our  principal  god, 
\  who  art  great,  and   powerful,  and  old,  and    whose   words   are 
I  always  obeyed,  destroy  all  oitr  enemies,  with   all  they  possess, 
;  even  that  which  is  upon  their  backs  !     Let  owls  scream  on  their 
houses  !     Let   all  venomous   reptiles  scramble   up  the  posts  of 
I  their  houses,  and  frighten  them  with  terrific  noises  !     Let  fierce 
'  dogs,  wild   elephants,  and  ferocious  tigers  terrify  them,  so  that 
they  scratch  each  other's  faces  and  tear  their  own  hair !     Let  the 
rainbow  drink  up  the  water  of  their  wells,  and  tanks,  and  rivers  ! 
Let  a  powerful  tempest  sweep  them  away  !     Come,  spirits  of  our 
warriors,   of   our   ancestors,  seize   the   spirits   of   our  enemif^s  ! 
Come,  sjiirits  of  our  great-grandmothers,  with  the  demons  of  this 
powerful  country,  by  whom  we  are  governed,  and  whose  eyes,  and 
ears,  and  nostrils  are  ever  open  towards  us  1'* 

26—30.  (2fi)  gird,  ete..  as  ch.  iii.  2.".«  wallow  .  .  ashes, 
the  sign  of  wilduess  of  grief,  only  son.  Am.  viii.  10  :  Zee. 
xii.  10.  spoiler,  i.e.  Nebuchadnezzar.  (27)  tower,  or  watch- 
man in  a  tower,  to  notice  the  people's  ways.  (28)  brass  and 
iron,  '•  their  impudence  resembles  brass,  and  their  obstinacy  may 
be  compared  to  iron.'*  (2'J)  burned,  or  snort,  blow  furiously. 
But  these  metals  will  not  be  refined  even  in  intense  fires  of 
chastisement.*^  (1^0)  reprobate,  or  refuse  ;  only  dross,  with  no 
basis  of  good  metal.'' 

The  lattle-feliL— 

I3oyond  Busaco's  mountains  dun. 
AVh(^n  far  had  roU'd  the  sultry  sun. 
And  night  her  pall  of  gloom  had  thrown 
O'er  Nature's  still  convexity  ; 

High  on  the  heath  our  tents  were  spread. 
The  cold  turf  was  our  cheerless  bed, 
And  o'er  the  hero's  dew-chill'd  he.ad 
The  banners  llapp'd  incessantly. 


Cap.  vii.  1—4.] 


JEREMIAH. 


33 


The  loud  war-ti-nmpet  woke  the  morn, 
The  quiveiinc;'  druni.  the  peali'ig-  horn  ; 
From  i-ank  to  rank  the  cry  is  borne, 
"  Aroiise  for  death  or  victory  1" 

The  orb  of  day.  in  crimson  dye, 
Began  to  mount  the  morninji:  sky  ; 
Then,  what  a  sight  for  warrior's  eye 
Hung  on  the  bold  declivity  1 

The  serried  bay'nets  glittering  stood, 
Like  icicles  on  hills  of  blood  ; 
An  aerial  stream,  a  silver  wood,_ 

Reel'd  in  the  flickering  canopy. 

Like  waves  of  ocean  rolling  fast. 
Or  thunder-cloud  before  the  blast, 
Massena's  legions,  stern  and  vast, 
Rush'd  to  the  dreadful  reveliy. 

The  pause  is  o'er  :  the  fatal  shock 
A  thousand  thousand  thunders  woke  ; 
The  air  grows  sick  ;  the  mountains  rock 
Red  Ruin  rides  triumphantly.* 


CHAPTER  THE  SEVENTH. 

1 — 4.  (1)  word,  a  new  prophecy,  or  denunciation.  (2)  gate, 
either  the  principal  gate  on  the  east  side  of  the  temple  :  or  the 
gate  of  the  court  of  Israel  :  prob.  the  latter.  (3)  amend  .  . 
doings,  Zee.  i.  (>,  '' ivoys  or  habits,  (hi'ing.t  the  separate  actions 
upon  which  the  formation  of  habits  depends."  cause  you,  or 
permit  you.  (4)  lying  words,  such  as  deceive,  temple  .  . 
these,  the  repetition  emphasises  their  confidence.  Being  the 
temple  and  service  of  Jehovah,  they  intimated  that  it  would  never 
be  destroyed.     God  would  surely  protect  it."* 

"  )S7r,  ix  your  .toid  xnrr/l?''- — Some  years  ago  an  officer  in  the 
army,  being  in  Richmond.  Surrey,  met  a  young  chimney-sweep, 
who.  looking  him  in  the  face,  said  point-blank  and  suddenly,  as 
if  he  were  a  sentry  giving  him  a  challenge,  "  Sir,  is  your  soul 
saved  .'"'  The  soldier  was  hot  ready  with  a  direct  reply.  The 
sudden  and  strange  way  in  which  the  question  had  been  put  by 
the  sooty-faced  lad.  who  stood  before  him  waiting  the  answer,  was 
enough  to  take  him  aback.  But  that  was  not  all.  He  was  not 
quite  sui-e  whether  the  boy  wa§  serious,  or  was  only  seeking  fun 
in  a  new  and  odd  way  :  and.  above  all  other  reasons  for  his 
hesit.ation  was  this,  that  in  truth  he  dare  not  say  "  Yes  1''  and  did 
not  like  to  say  '•  Xo  !"  So  he  resorted  to  the  convenient  device  of 
questioning  his  querist  instead  of  answering  him,  and  said  to  the 
lad,  "  Is  yours  .'"'  Seriously,  and  without  pausing,  he  replied  as 
follows  :  "  I  thank  God,  sir,  I  believe  it  is  ;  and  I  have  no  doubt 
that,  if  I  were  to  die,  I  should  go  to  heaven."  After  a  few  more 
words  the  two  went  on  their  way.  The  soldier  turned  into 
the  park  with  his  heart  full  of  solemn  feeling  ;  for  to  himself  at 
least  he  had  been  compelled  to  answer  the  boy's  question.  It  liad 
thrust  upon  his  attention  a  fact  of  the  utmost  importance — that 
he  dare  not  say,  "  I  am  saved."     He  walked,  thought,  prayed, 

■\roL.  IX.    o.T.  c 


to  make  a  fire ; 
so  tliosp  that  are 
di>pospil  to  con- 
tention and 
brawling  are  apt 
to  kindle  strife." 
— Caudray. 

"  As  we  avoid 
fighting  dogs, 
lest  we  be  caught 
by  the  shins ; 
even  so  are  we 
to  avoiil  tronble- 
some  spirits,  that 
are  ready  to 
wran  gle  about 
every  trifle." — 
Cairdray. 

"  The  next  dread- 
ful thing  to  a 
battle  lost  is  a 
battle  won." — • 
Duke  of  Wetting- 
ton. 

e  Hogg. 


a  The  Jews  sup- 
posed that  bee. 
the  temple  was 
dedicated  to 
Jehovah,  He,  as 
theirtntelarGod, 
woulil  effectually 
protect  it,  and 
all  who  came  to 
worship  iu  it." — • 
Henderson. 

r.  2.      ^y.   Fenn, 

82. 

r.  3.  G.  J.  Znlli- 
Infer,  ii.  1G8  ;  T. 
J/cbbes,  53. 
r.  4.  Dr.  R.  Moss, 
V.  147  ;  J.  Sod' 
son,  371 ;  Jip. 
Kfirje,  491  ;  O. 
Currey,  Huls.  Lee. 
121. 

"  Lais  broke  her 
looking-glass  be- 
cause it  showed 
the  wrinkles  on 
her  face.  Jlany 
men  are  angry 
with  tliem  that 
tell  them  tlieir 
fa\iUs.  when  (hey 
should  he  angry 
only  with  the 
f.iuils  tliat  Br« 
told  them."  ■" 
Venning. 


34 


JFRE.UIA/r. 


[Cap.  vli.  5-16. 


a  Je.  \T7.  5 ;  Ne. 
ix.  5  ;  Ps.  xc.  2. 

"Witli  Goil  tliero 
is  no  free  iimii 
but  His  servant, 
thougli  in  tlie 
galleys  ;  no  slave 
but  the  siiiULT, 
tliough  in  a 
palace;  none 
noble  but  the 
virtuous,  if  never 
EG  basely  de- 
scenrleil  ;  none 
rich  but  be  that 
possessetli  Goil, 
even  iir  rags ; 
none  wise  but 
he  that  is  a  fool 
to  himself  and 
the  world  ;  noiie 
happy  but  he 
whom  the  world 
pities.  Let  me 
be  free,  noble, 
rich.  wi-AO,  happy, 
to  God."  —  B}>. 
IJiill. 
b  J.  Fin  vel. 

a  Is.  iv.  10,  xir. 
13, 14. 

6  "  The  Prophet 
dops  not  charge 
them  with  tlie 
transgression  of 
tlie  ritual  ordi- 
nances of  Jloses, 
but  with  the 
breach  of  the 
weightier  matter 
of  the  law." — 
Zowlh. 

vr.  9,  10.  Dr.  T. 
Jlorton,  315. 

e  S.  TumUjns 
(1659). 

a  "  At  Silo,  where 
once  was  the 
tabernacle  and 
ark  of  tlie  Lonl, 
there  can  scarce- 
ly be  poiiiteil  out 
the  foundation  of 
an  altar."  —  & 
Jerome. 

b  "When  people 
are  given  up  to 
judicial  hardness 
of  heart,  inter- 
cessory prayer 
for  them  is  ua- 
fl  V  a  i  1  i  n  g." — 

ftlUSSI-t. 

"  Comfort,  like 
the  golden  sun, 
di^ipeU  the  sullen 


re.solved,  and  ere  very  long'  obtained,  through  faith,  the  blessing 
of  a  conscious  salvation. 

5—7.  (."))  throughly,  sincerely,  and  heartily,  man .  . 
neighbour,  i.r.  one  with  another.  ((])  oppre.ss  not,  rfo., 
comp.  ch.  V.  28  ;  De.  xiv.  29,  xxiv.  19 — 21.  These  would  b3 
the  true  signs  of  an  earnest  and  thorough  reformation.  (7) 
dwell,  permanently  and  securely,  ever  and.  ever,  fj'dm 
etcrnitij  to  ctcrnifi/  :  "  the  strongest  formula  by  which  j^erpetuity 
of  duration  is  e.x;prc.«sed  in  Hebrew.'  " 

State  of  the  n'ortd. — The  world  is  a  gi'eat  hospital,  full  of  sick 
and  dying  souls,  all  wounded  by  one  and  the  same  mortal  weapon 
— sin.  Some  are  senseless  of  their  misery,  feel  not  their  pains, 
value  not  a  physician.  Others  are  full  of  sense,  as  well  as 
danger,  mourn  under  their  condition,  and  sadly  bewail  it.  The 
merciful  God  hath,  in  His  abundant  compassion  to  the  perishing 
world,  sent  a  Physician  from  heaven,  and  given  Him  His  orders 
under  the  great  seal  of  heaven  (Luke  iv.  18).  He  is  the  "  tree  of 
life,"  whose  leaves  are  for  the  healing  of  the  nations  :  He  is 
■'  Jehovah  Rophi,"  the  Lord  that  healeth  us.  The  brazen  serpent 
was  an  excellent  type  of  our  Great  Physician,  Christ  (John  iii.  14). 
He  rejects  none  that  3ome,  and  hetils  all  whom  He  undertakes.* 

8 — 11.  (8)  lying  words,  such  were  the  assurances  of  the 
false  2:)voi-)hets.'^  (9)  steal,  ft  a.,  comp.  these  sins  and  vices  with 
the  signs  of  amendment  God  looks  for,  vi\  5,  C.  (10)  delivered, 
or  we  are  free  to  do  all  these  things,  because  we  have  gone 
through  the  prescribed  ceremonials  of  the  temple.*  (11)  robbers, 
the  word  means  those  who  rob  with  violence.  God"s  holy  temple 
was  not  a  fit  place  for  such  to  enter.  "  You  make  My  house  a 
Ijlace  of  sanctuary  and  protection  to  malefactors." 

The  need  of  repenfttnee. — This  heavenly  Physician  hath  no 
practice  but  on  humbled  and  broken-hearted  sinners  ;  these  are 
they  to  whom  He  applies  His  remedies,  and  in  whom  He  works 
and  cures.  He  was  appointed  and  designed  to  bind  up  the 
broken  in  heart.  None  others  do  think  they  need  Chrisfs  help, 
prize  His  remedies,  or  value  His  consolations  :  those  that  are 
whole,  that  never  saw  the  "  plague  of  their  hearts,"  or  gi-oaned 
under  the  burden  of  their  sins,  do  not  think  they  need  a 
pliysician.  Christ  hath  few  patients,  and  little  practice  in  the 
world,  because  men  are  not  sick  of  sin." 

12—16.  (12)  Shiloh,"  in  the  tribe  of  Ephraim,  and  north  of 
Bethel.  Jos.  xviii.  1  ;  1  Ga.  iv.  3  ;  Ps.  Ixxviii.  GO.  at  the  first, 
before  the  tabernacle  was  removed  to  Zion,  or  the  temple  built. 
(13)  rising  up  early,  a  fig.  for  doing  a  thing  earnestly.  "  Speak- 
ing zealously  and  earnestly."  called,  etc..  Pr.i.  2-1  :  Is.  Ixv.  12, 
Ixvi.  4.  ( 1 4)  as  I  have  done,  i.e.  I  will  utterly  destroy  it.  (!.")) 
your  brethren,  the  ten  tribes,  who  had  already  come  under 
Divine  judgments.  (IG)  pray  not,  spoken  to  Jeremiah.*  cry, 
olferiug  prayer  aloud. 

rraijer  hi  time  of  troiihle. — A  German  colporteur  writes  : — "A 
man  who  bought  two  Bibles  of  me  told  nie  how  God's  "Word  had 
delivered  him  from  great  distress  of  mind  and  body.  He  set  up 
business  for  himself,  but  wiihout  any  faith  in  God.  In  a  few 
years  he  was  reduced  to  poverty.  Ho  and  his  wife  and  children 
were  actually  starving.  Suddenly  he  thought  of  his  Bible  and 
opened  it.    The  fii'st  patsage  wliich  caught  his  eye  was,  '  Call 


Cap.  vii.  17-24.] 


JEREMIAir. 


35 


upon  Me  in  the  day  of  trouble  ;  I  will  deliver  thee,  and  thou !  shade   with  her 

Bhalt  glorify  Me.'     the  effect  was  overpowerinfr.     He  fell  on  his  :  ^^''^et    influence, 
------  -    -  _  1    _     _       o  ,  J^,^,^     cheers    the 


knees,  calling-  loudly  and  fervently  on  God.     Peace  came  to  his 

eoLil.  and  he  has  been  delivered  from  trouble.     In  his  house  he  j  house  of  care."— 

has  had  ever  since  the  bread  needful  for  his  earthly  wants,  and    J^ov^e. 

his  soul  feeds  daily  on  '  the  Bread  of  Life.'  " 

17 — 20.     (17)  wliat  they  do,  in  carrjing-  out  their  worship 
of  the  most  impure  of  all  the  heathen  deities.     (18)  children,  i 
etc.,  all  taking  some  part  in  the  degrading-  service,     cakes,"  j 
made  of  honey,  fine  flour,  eto.,  in  a  round  fiat  shape,  to  resemble  I 
the  disc  of  the  moon,  to  whom  they  were  offered,     q-ueen  of  | 
heaven,  the  moon.*     Ashtoreth,  the  wife  of  Baal,  the  sun-god.  j 
(19)  confusion  .  .  faces?    are  they  not  themselves  utterly  dis- 
graced and   put  to  shame  ?     (2)  poured  out,  ch.  iv.   25,   2G, 
ix.  10,  xii.  4.     The  creatures  share  man's  lot.' 

'Ilie  wants  and  claims  of  our  covntrj/men  (r.  17). — I.  Glance  at 
the  circumstances  and  conduct  of  the  Jewish  people,  which  gave 
rise  to  the  language  of  the  text.  II.  Follow  up  the  striking 
suggestion  of  the  text  with  relation  to  the  spiritual  evils  of  our 
native  laud.  1.  Their  seciilar  condition  :  2.  Their  religious 
state  :  3.  Their  future  and  everlasting  habitation  ;  4.  The  means 
provided  for  the  restoration  of  men.  Aj^ply  : — (1)  What  could  be 
done  /  (2)  What  has  been  done  ?  (3)  What  is  5'ct  to  be  done  ? 
(4)  What  have  we  personally  done  ?  (5)  What  shall  we  now  do  ?  "^ 

WJiat  a  child  can,  do. — Even  a  child  may  do  something  to  help 
forward  Chrisfs  cause.  A  oomiiany  of  men  were  pushing  a  boat 
into  the  water,  but  it  stuck  so  fast  that  they  could  not  move  it. 
"  Another  jiound,''  said  one,  '•  and  it  will  go."  "  I  can  push 
a  pound,'  answered  a  ■  little  boy.  Upon  the  addition  of  his ! 
strength  the  boat  again  moved,  and  soon  floated  on  the  water. 
But  all  these  men  could  not  of  themselves  move  the  boat. 
• — Hottentot  girls. — A  little  Hottentot  girl,  nine  years  old,  was 
asked  how  she  and  her  younger  sister  spent  their  time.  She 
replied.  "  We  often  pray  to  our  Saviour  to  own  us  as  his  children, 
and  to  keep  us  from  growing  up  as  children  of  the  devil.  Then 
we  sing  verses  together,  which  we  learn  at  school.  Sometimes 
we  help  old  mother  Lydia  to  work,  and  she  gives  us  a  piece  of 
bread  for  our  labour,  for  our  parents  are  a  great  way  off  ;  and 
when  they  are  at  home,  we  have  to  dig  for  roots  in  the  fields 
to  satisfy  our  hunger,  for  they  are  very  poor,  and  have  very  little 
to  give  us.'^ 


melanclioly 


a    "  Prob.    very 

similar  to  those 
offered  at  Athens 
to  Artemis  in  the 
miilille  of  the 
month  Muny- 
chiou.  Tliese 
were  round  like 
the  full  moon, 
and  covered  with 
liglits,and  finally 
were  burnt  in 
her  honour,  form- 
ing with  the 
adileJ  libation 
the  symbol  of  a 
eucharist."— (Sipi. 
Com. 

b  Regarded  as  the 
symbol  of  female 
productiveness. 

c  Ro.  viii.  20—22. 

d  Dr.  R.  M'AU. 

"  Act  I  for  in  ac- 
tion are  wisdom 
anil  glory ;  fame, 
immortality, — 
these  are  its 
crcuvn.  Wouldst 
thou  illumine  the 
tablets  of  story  ? 
Build  on  <ichieve- 
menls  thy  doom 
of  renown."  — 
Anon. 

eU.  T.S. 


21—24.  (21)  burnt  offerings,  these  should  be  wholly  con- 
sumed on  the  altar.  God  says,  they  may  be  dealt  with  as  common 
sacrifices,  for  they  were  insincere,  and  so  an  abomination  unto 
Him."  (22)  spake  not,  etc.,  i.e.  God  did  not  give  ceremonial 
rules  first,  but  moral  laws  :  and  His  anxiety  ever  mainly  conoerns 
those  moral  laws.*  (23)  obey,  etc..  De.  vi.  3.  (24)  imagina- 
tion, or  stubbornness,    went  backward,  like  headstrong  oxen. 

E.rplicit  ohedicHcc. — There  Avas  a  cry  of  fire  near  a  large 
schoolhouse.  The  children  in  the  school  were  very  much 
affri'jlited.  and  began  to  rush  to  the  doors  and  stairs,  thus 
perilling  their  limbs  and  lives.  But  there  was  one  little  girl 
Avho  remained  quietly  in  her  seat.  Her  teacher  asked  her  why 
she  did  not  do  as  the  other  girls  did.  "  My  father  is  a  fireman," 
she  said ;  "  and  he  told  me,  whenever  there  was  a  cry  of  fii'c 
C2 


a  "  The  Prophet 
j  tells  the  Jewa 
j  that  they  may,  if 
!  tliey  please,  eat 
the  flesh  of  their 
burnt  -  offering!!, 
as  well  as  of  their 
peace  -  offerings, 
for  God  will 
accept  neither  of 
Ihem  from  their 
hands." — f^inclh. 
U.  i.  11 ;  Je.  vi. 
2J  ;  Am.  v.  21. 
b  Ex.  xix.  5,  6<' 
Le.  xi.  i5. 
r--.  21-23.  D.  W. 
Marks,  160. 


36 


JEREmAff. 


[Cap.  viL  25-34. 


"  Christ's  slippp 
were  markeil  in 
the  ear  ami  tlie 
foot ; '  They  hear 
My  voice,  iind 
follow  Me.'  " — 
jr.  Jinj. 

•'  This  life  will 
not  admit  of 
equality;  but 
surely  that  man 
who  thinks  he 
derives  conse- 
quenco  antl  re- 
spect from  keep- 
ing others  at  a 
distance  is  as 
base-minfled  ais  a 
coward  who 
shuns  the  enemy 
from  the  fear  of 
an  attack." — 
Goethe. 

^M.  T.S. 


ft  Je.  xlvli.  5, 
xlviii.  37. 

b  2  Ki.  xxi.  3—5. 

"The  redeeming 
power  of  tlie 
blood  of  Christ  is 
greater  tlian  the 
condemning 
power  of  sin. 
This  excellency 
it  hatli  from  tlie 
dignity  of  His 
person  (for  it  is 
called  the  blood 
of  God.  Acts  XX. 
28),  which  makes 
His  obedience 
and  sufferings 
give  more  glory 
to  God  than  our 
suffering  in  hell 
■wonlil  h.avedone. 
I?aiah  xlii.  21 ; 
Bom.  V.  17." — 
Mather. 

0  R.  Watson, 


a  Je.  xvi.  9. 

"  Eeferenco  is 
made  in  this  r. 
to  the  joyous 
processions  in 
which  tlie  bride 
and  bridegroom 
are   led  through 


while  I  was  in  school,  to  remain  quiet  in  my  seat  :  for  that  was 
the  safest  way.  I  was  dreadfully  frightened  ;  but  I  knew  that 
father  had  told  me  what  was  best :  so  I  sat  still  when  they  raa 
to  the  doors." 

25—28.  (2.;)  sent  unto  you,  r.  13.  hardened. .  .  neck, 
ch.  xvi.  12.  (27,  2S)  receivetli  correction,  or  direction, 
instruction  for  heaven-sent  messengers,  truth,  in  the  sense 
of  fidelity,  from  their  mouth,  which  only  makes  false  pro- 
fessions. 

American  ^wzrw/.?. — The  American  Sunday-School  ITcrnld.  a 
few  years  ago,  states  that  a  little  girl,  six  years  old,  in  a  Sunday 
school,  was  repeating  the  fifth  commandment.  Her  teacher 
endeavoiii'ed  to  show  her  in  what  way  she  was  to  honour  her 
parents,  and  said,  •'  You  must  honour  your  parents  by  obeying 
them."  "  O  ma'am."  e.xclaimed  the  child,  "  I  cannot  keep  that 
commandment."  "  Why  cannot  j'ou  keep  it.  my  dear .'"  "  Because, 
ma'am,  when  my  mother  tells  me  to  do  one  thing,  my  father  tells 
me  to  do  another.  Now,  just  before  I  came  here,  my  mother  told 
me  to  stay  upstairs  and  learn  my  lesson,  and  my  father  t^ld  me 
to  come  down  and  play  :  now,  how  could  I  obey  them  both  /  No, 
no,"'  closing  her  little  hands,  as  if  in  despair  :  "  no.  no,  ma'am,  it 
is  impossible  for  me  ever  to  keep  that  commandment." 

29 — 31.  (2!))  cut  .  .  hair,  a  sign  of  mourning."  It  is  rom- 
manded  in  anticipation  of  the  desolation  of  Jerusalem,  genera- 
tion .  .  wrath,  that  is  but  the  subject  of  His  judgments,  "This 
sinful  generation,  who  have  so  highly  provoked  His  aneer." 
(30)  in  the  house,  etc.,  this  must  refer  to  the  times  of 
Manasseh.*  (31)  high  places,  here  prob.  meaning '•  artificial 
mounds."      Tophet,  2  Ki.  x.xiii.  10.     burn,  etc..  Le.  sx.  2 — :■,. 

Kntiire  of  repentance. — Repentance,  as  explained  by  John's 
ministry,  is  a  conviction  of  the  fact  of  sin.  but  a  sharp  and 
painful  conviction.  A  conviction  that  never  produced  humility, 
never  siglicd,  never  wept,  never  "  wept  apart."  a7id  never  soucht 
solitude  for  the  purpose  of  prayer  and  reflection,  is  not  that 
which  is  an  element  of  true  repentance.  It  is  a  serious  and 
painful  ajiprehension  of  danger.  Hence  John  asked  the  Pharisees 
and  Sadducees  that  came  to  his  baptism,  "  Who  hath  warned  you 
to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come  ? "  Repentance  is  an  humble 
confession  of  sin.  The  people  confessed  g'enerally  to  John  ;  for 
it  was  impossible  for  him  to  enter  into  the  particulars  of  each 
case ;  but  to  Ood  they  confessed  their  sins  in  detail.  Repentance 
is  fruitful.  Under  its  influence  the  churl  becomes  liberal  :  the 
unjust  becomes  righteous  :  and  those  who  had  formerly  been 
careless  of  their  spiritual  interests  wait  upon  God  in  the  use 
of  every  means  of  grace.  Repentance  is  des])airing.  but  hopeful. 
The  people  who  were  awakened  under  John's  mini.-^try  felt  that 
in  themselves  there  was  no  help  ;  and  he  taught  the  whole  of 
them  to  wait  for  Christ  the  Saviour.'^ 

82 — 34.  (32)  valley  of  slaughter,  bee.  the  enemies  coming 
upon  Jerusalem  would  make  so  great  a  slaughter  of  the  people 
there,  bury,  the  dead  of  the  siege.  (33)  carcases,  dead 
bodies  cast  out,  wh.  none  should  trouble  to  bury,  fray  them 
a"way,  no  passer  by  to  drive  off  the  birds.  (34)  cease,  etc., 
silence  shall  fall  upon  the  utterly  desolated  and  deserted  city." 

Silence  of  sorrow. — "  Then  will  I   cause   to  cease  from  the 


Cap.viii.1-3.] 


JEREMIAH. 


87 


cities  of  Judah.  and  from  the  streets  of  Jerusalem,  the  voice 
of  mirth,  and  the  voice  of  gladness,  the  voice  of  the  bridegroom, 
and  the  voice  of  the  bride  ;  for  the  land  shall  be  desolate.'' 
It  was  the  custom  in  the  East,  even  in  modern  times,  to  conduct 
the  bride  and  bridegroom  through  the  streets,  with  the  loudest 
demonstraiions  of  joy.  Rauvvolf  found  this  custom  also  pre- 
valent in  Aleppo.  "  When  a  Turkish  woman  is  going  to  be 
married,  and  the  bridegroom  is  conducted  to  her  house,  their 
relations  and  friends,  who  are  invited  to  the  wedding,  as  they  go 
along  through  the  streets  cry  with  such  a  loud  voice,  which  they 
gradually  raise  as  they  advance,  that  they  can  be  heard  from 
one  street  to  the  other."  When  the  Prophet  paints  a  period 
of  jiublic  distress,  he  says  among  other  things,  •'  The  voice  of 
the  bride  and  the  bridegroom  shall  no  longer  be  heard."  Thus, 
in  Persia,  no  marriages  are  celebrated  during  Lent  (the  month 
of  Eamadan),  and  the  solemnities  of  mourning  in  memory  of 
Hossein  ;  because  everything  must  then  be  still  and  mournful. 
(Olearius.) — Rosenmullee. 


CHAPTER  THE  EIGHTH. 

1—3.  (1)  at  that  time,  when  the  city  shall  be  taken, 
tiring  .  .  bones,  ransacking  even  the  very  tombs,  in  hope  of 
finding  treasure."  (2j  spread,  etc..  or  toss  them  out.  exposing 
them  openly  to  view,  loved  .  .  served  .  .  walked  .  .  wor- 
Sllipped,  '•  there  is  great  force  in  the  piled  up  verbs  by  wh.  their 
worship  of  the  heavenly  bodies  is  described."*  The  point  is,  that 
these  gods  prove  utterly  unable  to  prevent  such  desecration. 
"  They  are  unconcerned  spectators  of  the  indignity  offered  to 
their  former  worshippers."  (3)  residue,  or  survivors  of  the 
great  calamity,     evil  family,  ch.  i.  ].5. 

Death  of  Despair. — So  Mr.  Great-heart,  old  Honest,  and  the 
four  young  men,  went  to  go  up  to  Doubting  Castle,  to  look 
for  Giant  Despair.  When  they  came  at  the  castle  gate,  they 
knocked  for  entrance  with  an  unusual  noise.  At  that  the  old 
Giant  comes  to  the  gate,  and  Diffidence,  his  wife,  follows.  Then 
said  he.  Who  and  what  is  he  that  is  so  hardy  as  after  this  manner 
to  molest  the  Giant  Despair  ?  Mr.  Great-heart  replied.  It  is 
I,  Great-heart,  one  of  the  King  of  the  Celestial  country's  con- 
ductors of  pilgrims  to  their  place  ;  and  I  demand  of  thee  that 
thou  open  thy  gates  for  my  entrance  ;  prepare  tliys^f  also  to 
fight,  for  I  am  come  to  take  away  thy  head,  and  to  demolLsh 
Doubting  Castle.  Now  Giant  Desjiair.  because  he  was  a  giant, 
thought  no  man  could  overcome  him  :  and  again,  thought  he, 
Since  heretofore  I  have  made  a  conquest  of  angels,  shall  Great- 
heart  make  me  afraid  ?  So  he  harnessed  himself,  and  went  out : 
be  had  a  cap  of  steel  upon  his  head,  a  breastplate  of  fire  girded  to 
him,  and  he  came  out  in  iron  shoes,  with  a  great  club  in  his  hand. 
Then  these  six  men  made  up  to  him,  and  beset  him  behind  and 
before  ;  also  when  Difiidence,  the  giantess,  came  up  to  help  him, 
old  Mr.  Honest  cut  her  down  at  one  blow.  Then  they  fought 
for  their  lives,  and  Giant  Despair  was  brought  down  to  the 
ground,  but  was  very  loth  to  die.  He  struggled  hard,  and  had, 
as  they  say,  as  many  lives  as  a  cat  ;  but  Great-heart  was  hi.s 


the  streets,  ac- 
companieii  by 
bands  of  singers 
and  musicians."- 
Ilenderson. 

""Wlicn  Greeks 
joined  Greeks, 
then  was  tlie  tug 
of  war.  The  la- 
boured battle 
sweat  and  con- 
quest bled." — D. 
K.  Lee. 


a  "  Josephiis  saj^ 
that  iramensa 
riches  were  de- 
posited  in 
David's  sepul- 
chre by  his  son 
Solomon,  wliich 
were  never  taken 
away  till  Hyr- 
canus's  time." — 
Antiq.  vii.  15. 

b  Spk.  Com. 

"  The     Prophet, 
beginning     with 
I  the      heart,     de- 
!  scribes  their  wor- 
I  ship  in  the  vari- 
I  ous  stages  of  its 
j  d  e  V  e  1 0  p  m  e  nt, 
j  and    then     con- 
trasts its  fulness 
witli   tlje   niiser- 
j  able  reward  that 
I  ensues." — HiUig. 

"  He  that  de- 
spairs, degrades 
'  the  Deity,  and 
;  seemstointiuinte 
that  He  is  insuf- 
ficient, or  not 
just  to  His  wonl  ; 
J  and  in  vain  lialli 
read  the  Scrip- 
tures, tlie  world, 
and  man," — i\it' 
)ut  in. 


38 


JEnEMIAH. 


[Cap.  viii.  4—12. 


c  Bunyan. 

a  "  An  expostu- 
]ati(m,  iiiiiiljing 
that  men  are 
selilom  so  far 
gone  in  wicked- 
ness as  not  to  be 
touclietl  with 
some  remorse  for 
their  evil  doings, 
and  make  some 
general  resolu- 
tions of  amend- 
ment ;  whereas 
this  people  are 
guilty  of  one  per- 
petual apostasy, 
as  if  they  couiil 
deceive  (iod  by 
their  hypocritical 
pretences,  with- 
out making  any 
steps  towards  a 
reformation."— 
Lotcl/i. 

Je.  vii.  24. 

b  "A  double 
metaphor  :  fir.st, 
the  determined 
persistence  of  tlie 
people  in  sin  is 
compared  to  the 
blind  fury  wliioli 
at  the  sound  of 
tlie  trumpet 
seizes  vipou  the 
warhorse  ;  and 
then  its  im- 
petuous rush  into 
the  battle  is 
likened  to  the 
overtiowing  of  a 
torrent  (tlie  word 
rusltinrj  is  lit. 
ovfr/lnirijig),  wh. 
notiiing  can  stop 
in  its  destruc- 
tive com-se." — 
Spi:  Com. 

e  Dr.  IT.  Bonar. 

d  Knollcs. 

"As  well  the 
soldier  dieth  who 
stamletli  still,  as 
he  that  gives  the 
bravest  onset." — 
Sir  f.  aiiiiiei/. 

e  Dr.  Philip. 


p  Ezr.  vi.  6  ;  Ne. 
Viu.  9,  13. 


death,  for  he  loft  him  not  till  he  had  severed  his  head  from  hia 
shoulders.' 

4 — 7.  (4)  moreover,  repunption  of  the  main  prophecy  fr.  eh. 
vii.  28.  not  arise,  or  try  to  got  up  ajrain.  turn  away,  i.e. 
wander  fr.  his  path,  return,  or  try  to  find  his  path  ag-aiu.  (.">) 
perpetual  backsliding,  keeping-  on  wandering-  further  and 
further,  with  no  attem))ts  to  return."  (C)  as  the  horse,  at  lull 
speed,  that  cannot  be  checked.*  (7)  stork.  Is.  i.  'S.  A  migra- 
tory bird,  turtle,  a  kind  of  dove,  Cant.  ii.  12.  crane  .  .  S-wal- 
lo-w,  Is.  xxxviii.  14.    judgment,  or  ordinances. 

llinnan  rejection  of  Divine  lore  (v.  t>). — I.  God's  love.  II. 
Man's  rejection  of  it.  1.  The  wrong  words  ;  2.  The  impenitence  ; 
3.  The  recklessness  ;  4.  Stupidity." 

JIorxe.i  in  hattlc. — "  The  Marmalukes,  -n-earing  their  beards 
long  and  rough,  with  graue  and  sterne  countenance,  hauing 
strong-  and  able  bodies,  vsed  such  cunning  in  all  their  fights  and 
battels,  that  after  they  had  giuen  the  first  charge  with  their 
lannces,  they  would  by  and  bye,  with  wonderful  actiuitie,  vse 
their  bows  and  arrows,  casting  their  targuets  behind  them  ;  and 
forthwith  the  horseman's  mace,  or  crooked  scimitar,  as  the 
manner  of  the  battel  or  place  required.  Their  horses  were  strong- 
and  couragious,  in  making  and  swiftnesse  much  like  unto  the 
Spanish  jennets  :  and  that  which  is  of  many  hardly  bclecued,  so 
i  docile,  that  at  certaine  signcs  or  speeches  of  the  rider  they  would 
I  with  their  teeth  reach  liim  up  from  the  ground  a  launcc,  an 
!  arrow,  or  such  like  thing  :  and  as  if  they  had  knov\-n  the  enemie, 
I  run  vpon  him  with,  open  mouth,  and  lash  at  him  with  tlieir 
j  heeles,  and  had  by  nature  and  custom  learned  not  to  be  afraid  of 
'  anything.  These  courageous  horses  were  commonly  furnished 
with  siluer  bridles,  gilt  trappings,  rich  saddles,  their  necks  and 
brests  armed  with  plates  of  yx-on  :  the  horseman  himselfe  was 
commonly  content  with  a  coat  of  mailc,  or  a  brest  plate  of  yron. 
The  chiefe  and  wealthiest  of  them  vsed  head  pieces  :  the  rest  a 
liunen  covering  of  the  head,  curiously  folded  into  manie 
wreathes,  wherewith  they  thought  themselves  safe  ynough 
against  any  handie  strokes  :  the  common  souldiers  vsed  thrumb'd 
caps,  but  so  thicke  that  no  eword  could  pierce  them."'' — Here  tve 
are  like  hirih  ofj)a-i.<:affe. — ••  It  is  stated  in  the  history  of  England 
that  when  the  first  missionary  wKo  arrived  at  Kent  presented 
himself  before  the  king,  to  solicit  permission  to  preach  the 
Go.sj:)el  in  his  dominions,  after  long  deliberation,  when  a  negative 
was  about  to  be  put  upon  his  apjilicatiou,  an  aged  councillor, 
with  his  I!ead  silvered  over  with  grey  hairs,  rose,  and  by  the 
following  speech  obtained  the  permission  which  was  requested. 
'  Here  we  are,'  said  the  orator.  '  like  birds  of  passnge  :  we  know 
not  whence  we  come,  or  whither  we  are  going  ;  if  this  man  can 
tell  us,  for  Ood's  sake  let  him  speak,'  I  say,  if  there  are  six 
hundred  niillions  of  our  fellow-creatures  who,  like  birds  of 
passage,  know  not  whence  they  came,  nor  whither  they  are 
going,  for  God's  sake  let  us  send  them  the  Gospel,  which  will  tell 
them  whence  they  came,  and  which  is  able  to  make  them  wise 
unto  salvation.'"' 

8—12.  (8)  law  .  .  -uath  us,  fr.  this  it  appears  that  copies  of 
the  law  were  multiplied,  in  vain,  if  they  failed  to  order  and 
guide  tlieir  lives  by  its  precepts-,    scribes,  or  copyists."    Trans. 


Cap.  viii.  13—17.] 


JEREMIAH. 


39 


"the  lying  pen  of  the  scribes  hath  made  it  into  a  lie,"  wh.  suj?- 
gests  that  they  were  unfaithful  in  copying.*  (9)  wise,  evidently 
meaning,  they  who  think  themselves  wise,  rejected  .  .  Lord, 
by  persisting  in  false  interpretations  of  the  "Word.  (10 — 12) 
wives,  etc.,  comp.  ch.  vi.  12 — 15. 

Ditficultii's  and  (hnufcrit  of  injidditi/  (r.  9). — The  text  includes 
three  classes  of  men  who  do  not  believe  the  Scriptures.  I. 
Sceptics,  those  who  profess  to  be  in  uncertainty.  1.  When  sincere 
they  must  be  miserable  ;  2.  Wretched  ;  3.  Continual  mental  conflict 
must  be  torment.     II.  Atheists.     III.  Deists.'' 

13—17.  (13)  consiime  them,  by  the  destructive  power  of 
the  Chalda3ans  :  '"gather  and  sweep  thera  away."  "Judahisa 
vine  wh.  bears  no  fruit,  a  tree  which  makes  even  no  profession 
of  life,  for  her  leaf  is  dry.""  (14)  why  .  .  still?  making  no 
effort  to  prepare  against  the  threatened  calamity.  Jeremiah  tells 
the  attitude  wh.  the  nation  ought  to  take,  water  of  gall, 
joison,'  De.  xxix.  18.  (15)  health,  or  rest.  (l(j)  his  horses, 
those  of  the  on-coming  enemy.  Dan,  ch.  iv.  1.5.  strong  ones, 
chargers.  (17)  will  send,  better, '-am  sending."  cockatrices, 
or  lci.<iili/,-7,'g,'^  types  of  dangerous  enemies. 

SiTjJcnts. — Few  animals  excite  more  hon'or  on  their  first 
appearance  than  these  common  enemies,  both  of  man  and  beast. 
The  possibility  of  some  being  made  subject  to  certain  incanta- 
tions or  charms  is  remarkable,  and  is  often  referred  to  in  Scrip- 
ture. The  Hindoos,  or  at  least  the  serpent-charmers,  pretend  to 
handle  all  sorts  of  snakes  with  impunity,  to  make  them  come 
and  go  at  pleasure,  and.  in  short,  to  have  a  cabalistic  authority 
over  the  whole  race.  The  cobra  is  the  only  serpent  used  for 
display  by  jugglers.  When  caught,  it  is  held  at  arm's  length  by 
the  tail,  and  as  often  as  it  attempts  to  strike,  it  is  beaten  off.  It 
is  then  seized  by  the  head,  thrown  on  the  ground,  and  its  fangs 
knocked  out  with  a  hammer ;  after  which  its  poison  bag  is 
squeezed  dry.  By  these  means  the  cobra  is  rendered  harmless, 
though  it  may  be  easilj^  excited,  and  made  to  raise  itself  in  answer 
to  the  sounds  of  music  (Ps.  Iviii.  4,  5).  A  gentleman,  having 
visited  Bladras,  writes  :  "  One  of  the  most  noted  serpent-charmers 
about  the  district  chanced  one  morning  to  get  hold  of  a  cobra, 
of  considerable  size,  which  he  got  conveyed  to  his  home.  He 
was  occupied  abroad  all  day,  and  had  not  time  to  get  the  danger- 
ous fang  extracted  from  the  sei-pent's  mouth.  In  the  evening 
he  returned  to  his  dwelling,  considerably  excited  with  liquor,  and 
began  to  exhibit  his  snakes  to  various  persons  who  were  around 
him.  The  newly-caught  cobra  was  brought  out  with  the  others, 
but  it  darted  at  the  juggler's  chin,  which  it  bit,  leaving  two  or 
three  little  marks.  The  poor  juggler,  who  was  immediately 
sobered,  exclaimed,  'I  am  a  dead  man  !  Nothing  can  save  me.' 
Well  did  he  know  the  deadly  character  of  the  bite,  for  in  two 
hours  he  was  a  corpse  !  Some  of  his  friends  and  companions  in 
art  vehemently  assorted  that  it  was  nob  the  envenomed  bite 
which  had  killed  him.  '  No,  no  ;  he  only  forgot  one  little  Avord 
— one  small  portion  of  the  charm.'  Ilis  death,  however,  gave  a 
severe  blow  to  the  art  and  practice  of  snake-charming  in  Madras." 
The  basilisk  is  frequently  mentioned  in  Scripture,  but  no  descrip- 
tion is  given  further  than  that  it  cannot  be  charmed.  The  Greek 
text  calls  it  basilisc,  and  the  Hebrew  tacplia,  while  the  English 
impropsrly  renders  it  cockatrice,  a  fabulous  animal  that  never 


6  t^c/ioh  supjrests 
tliat  tliereis  liere 
a  reference  to  a 
corniptioii  of  tlie 
text,  by  .111  omis- 
sion of  tliose  i^as- 
saprs  whicli  de- 
nounceil  idolatry. 
V.  8.  A'.  M.  Clonl- 
burn,  129 ;  Dr. 
N.  Carter,  87. 
V.  9.  T.  Dicight, 
1.  482  ;  C.  Benson, 
IIuls.  Lee.  90. 
f.  11.  J.  //.  New- 
rr.;in.?>Q. 
c  Dr.  Bennett, 

a  Spt.  Com. 

"Tlie  vintafre  and 
liarvest  are  fre- 
queiitlyrmployed 
figuratively  as 
images  of  com- 
Iilete  destmc- 
tion  ;  but  liere 
the  terms  are  to 
be  taken  in  their 
literal  applica- 
tion." —  liender- 
son. 

b  "  Lit.  water  of 
the  poisonous 
plant,  perhaps 
the  poppy."— 
l-'a  asset. 

Je.  ix.  15,  xxiii. 
15. 

c  Is.  xi.  8. 

"  Serpent  char- 
mers in  the  East 
entice  serpents 
b}'  music,  and  by 
a  particular  pres- 
sure on  the  neck 
render  them  in- 
capable of  dart- 
ing."— Fausset. 

"  No  part  of 
conduct  asks  for 
skill  more  nice, 
though  none 
more  common, 
than  to  giv9 
advice ;  misers 
themselves  in 
this  will  not  be 
saving,  unless 
their  knowledge 
m.^kes  it  worth 
the  having  ;  and 
wlK-re's  the  won- 
der, when  we  ivill 
obtrude  a  useless 
gift,  it  nieeta 
ingratitude  ?  "— 
Siilliii'jJkeU 


40 


jEJiEmAn. 


[Cap.  viii.  18-22. 


d  Bib.  Treus. 


n  "  Slimmer  is 
the  fruit-patlier- 
iiig,  wliicli  fol- 
lows the  coni- 
harvost.  . .  I)o- 
spair  seized  tlie 
people  when  they 
saw  oppdrtuiii- 
ties  for  their  de- 
liverance again 
and  a-jaia  pass 
by,  till  God 
seemed  utterly 
to  have  forgotten 
til  em."  —  is  J)/:. 
Com. 

6  "In  an  old  ver- 
sion this  word  is 
translated 
t  r  ea  c  i  e." — //. 
ilacmillan. 

e  "  Jeremiah  im- 
plies that  the 
fault  lay  wholly 
in  the  patients 
themselves,  who 
refused  to  submit 
to  the  preicrip- 
tions." — Lowlii. 

V.  20.  //.  Kiii'T, 
311;  /)/•.  J.  Du- 
pri,  i.  1  ;  K 
Ci'uper.  iii.  126  ; 
E.  Hiuclui;  315  ; 
J.  Miller,  423. 

V.  22.  T.  Adfim.i, 
210  ;  J.  S'cull, 
123;  J.  W,'sleij, 
vii.  281  ;  \V.  tin- 
main,  iii.  353  ;  /;•. 
Con/tfr.  V.  361  ; 
G.  ir.  WondlKHixr, 
ii.  271;  F.  CI  use, 
LS19. 

a  a.  s.   Doii-cs, 

B.A. 

e  Dr.  T.  Divighl. 

Some  one  oiice 
asked  a  venerable 
minister  of  the 
Gospel  this  ques- 
tion : — •'  What  is 
the  hardest 
(meaning  the 
most  dreadful) 
text  in  tlie 
Bible?"  The 
minister  referred 
to  a  text,  saying, 
"  I  know  of  no 
harder  text  than 
thi^,  and  yet 
there  is  nothing 
about  ilamnalion 
or   bell    iu    it." 


existed.  Tlie  eggs  of  the  basilisk  are  referred  to  in  Isa.  li.x.  .5  ; 
hence  it  would  appc^ar  to  be  asuake,  and  not  a  viper,  as  the  latter 
brings  foi-th  its  young  alive.'' 

18—22.  (18)  comfort  myself,  try  to  find  some  g-round  of 
consolation,  faint  in  me,  it  misg-ives  me.  Fear  prevails  over 
hopes.  ( 1'.))  "behold,  rfc.  Ileb.  is  better  rend.,  '■  The  voice  of  the 
cry  of  the  daughter  of  my  people  from  a  land  afar  olf."'  Jer.  anti- 
cipates the  complaints  of  the  captive  Jews.  (20)  harvest  is 
past,  harvest  and  summer  being  times  of  opportunity."  (21) 
hurt,  or  breaking,  black,  "look  ghastly,  as  those  who  are 
dying."  (22)  halm,*  Ge.  xxxvii.  2.").  Gilead,  ch.  xlvi.  11  : 
this  district  was  famous  for  balm,  turpentine,  and  similar  healing 
gums  ;  therefore  physicians  and  surgeons  resorted  thither."^ 

Thi'  day  of  grace  (r.  20). — I.  A  short  time,  and  therefore 
requires  diligence :  the  King's  business  requires  haste.  II.  A 
limited  time,  as  summer  days  are  longer  than  winter  days.  III. 
A  varying  time  :  rainbow  of  mercy  seen  only  in  the  day  of 
grace. ■' — T/ic  harrcKt  jiast. — I.  Every  person  who  still  remains  in 
sin  may,  at  the  close  of  the  year,  usefully  adopt  this  lamentation. 
II.  A  season  in  which  religion  prevails  is  also  eminently  a  time 
of  harvest,  and  such  as  lose  this  season  may  well  adopt  the  lamen- 
tation of  the  text.  III.  Another  situation  to  which  this  melan- 
choly reflection  is  peculiarly  applicable  is  that  of  a  dying  sinner.' 

"  Too  late  '.  lout,  and  for  rrcr  !  ' — Such  were  the  ominous  words 
of  a  dying  friend.  I  ha*l  known  him  long  :  he  was  -what  the 
world  calls  "  a  moral  man."  He  was  imlustrious,  honest,  kind, 
and  generous,  ever  ready,  when  an  opportunity  offered,  to  do  his 
neighbour  a  favour,  and.  consequently,  gathered  amund  him  a 
large  circle  of  warm  friends.  What  lacked  he  still  ?  He  was 
not  a  Christian  ;  often  had  the  claims  of  religion  been  urged 
upon  him,  but  he  invariably  took  refuge  iu  the  evasion,  "I  will 
think  about  it.  I  mean  to  become  a  Christian  before  I  die." 
Some  time  since,  he  was  taken  suddenly  ill.  and  sent  for  me  to 
come  and  see  him  die.  I  went.  What  a  change  a  week  had 
wrought  iu  that  strong  man !  There  he  lay,  an  emaciated 
skeleton,  scorched  with  fever,  and  sitffering  the  most  excruciating 
pain.  His  wife  and  children  were  weeping  around  his  bed.  for 
he  was  evidently  near  his  last,  yet  could  speak  very  distinctly. 
I  sat  down  upon  the  bedside  and  tried  to  talk  to  him  :  he  was  all 
attention  ;  but  when  I  had  iinished  what  1  had  to  say,  he  fixed 
his  eyes  upon  me.  and  then  upon  his  wife  and  children,  and  said, 
"  I  am  dying,  and  am  going  to  hell !  Too  late  I  too  late  I  Lost, 
and  for  ever !  "  If  ever  I  saw  horror,  and  gloom,  and  a  counte- 
nance from  which  the  last  ray  of  hope  had  faded  away  into  the 
blackness  of  despair,  it  was  there.  AVe  were  stupeSed  ;  the  house 
was  bathed  in  tears.  IVlany  a  poor  man  and  woman  that  he  had 
assisted  was  there,  but  their  cries  and  petitions  could  not  save 
him.  His  words,  as  to  dying,  were  true  ;  and  turning  over,  as  if 
to  hide  his  face  from  us,  in  a  violent  convulsion,  he  burst  a  blood- 
vessel, and  was  a  dead  man. — 1(7///  mm  prrliih — Thi-  pJii/.iician 
.ynirnrd. — Two  gentlemen  were  fellow-passengen?  in  a  vessel 
bound  to  a  distant  port.  One  was  in  vigorous  health,  and  the 
other  emaciated  with  disease,  and  maiiifesting  iiremonitorj'  symp- 
toms of  a  speedy  dissolution.  He  was  young  and  intelligent,  but 
had  not  made  what  he  knew  to  be  the  necessary  preparation  for 
the  event  which  was  rapidly  approaching.  His  fellow-passenger, 


Cap.ix.  1-3] 


JEREmAIT. 


41 


as  they  were  diawinp:  near  the  port  -u-hither  they  were  bound, 
advised  him  to  consult  an  eminent  physician  who  resided  there. 
"  No,"  he  replied.  "  I  shall  not  consult  hiin."  He  was  asked  why. 
To  which  he  answered.  "  It  is  not  because  I  do  not  entertain  the 
highest  opinion  of  his  skill,  but  he  will  honestly  tell  me  that  my 
disease  is  incurable,  that  I  must  die  ;  and  I  do  not  wi.'^h  to  receive 
the  announcement  from  such  a  source.'" — The  lahn  of  life. — 
"Alexander  the  Great  was  dying-  of  a  wound,  which  did  not 
seem  very  dangerous  at  first,  but  it  bafiled  his  physicians,  and 
■was  rapidly  becoming  mortal.  One  night,  however,  it  is  said  he 
dreamed  that  some  one  had  brought  him  a  peculiar-looking  plant, 
which,  when  applied  to  the  festering  sore,  had  cleansed  and 
closed  it.  In  the  morning,  when  he  awoke,  he  described  the 
plant :  and  the  historian  informs  us  that  it  was  sought  for  and 
found,  and  when  applied  to  the  wound,  the  fiery  paiu  sub.-ided, 
and  he  was  speedily  healed.  Now  your  soul  has  received  a  deadly 
hurt :  it  has  been  stung  by  the  old  serpent,  the  devil.  The  wound 
gets  worse.  There  is  a  tender  plant  which  is  able  to  heal  you  ; 
it  is  the  Balm  of  Gilead.  They  used  to  wound  the  balsam  tree, 
in  order  to  obtain  its  healing  essence  :  and  so  for  our  transgres- 
sions the  Saviour  was  wounded,  and  '  by  His  stripes  ye  are 
healed.'  "'•'^ — I'ci.soii  and  aniUlote.- — There  is  a  tree  called  the  man- 
chaneel.  which  grows  in  the  West  Indies  ;  its  apjiearance  is  very 
attractive,  and  the  wood  of  it  peculiarly  beautiful  ;  it  bears  a 
kind  of  apple,  resembling  the  golden  pippin.  This  fruit  looks 
very  tempting,  and  smells  very  fragrant :  but  to  eat  of  it  is 
instant  death  :  and  its  sap  or  juice  is  so  poisonous,  that  if  a  few 
droits  of  it  fall  on  the  skin  it  raises  blisters,  and  occasions  great 
pain.  The  Indians  dip  their  arrows  in  the  juice,  that  they  may 
poison  their  enemies  when  they  wound  them.  Providence  hath 
so  appointed  it  that  one  of  these  trees  is  never  fouiid.  but  near 
it  there  also  grows  a  white  wood,  or  a  fig  tree,  the  juice  of  either 
of  which,  if  applied  in  time,  is  a  remedy  i'or  the  diseasses  produced 
by  the  manchaueel.  8in.  like  this  poisonous  apple,  looks  jjleasant 
to  the  eye.  and  men  desire  it.— eat  of  it.  and  die.  But  there  is  a 
remedy  at  hand  ;  it  is  the  precious  blood  of  the  Son  of  God.  which 
soothes  the  troubled  conscience,  and  cleanses  it  from  all  sin. 
"  Not  balm,  new  bleeding  from  the  wounded  tree, 
Nor  bless'd  Arabia  with  his  spicy  grove, 
Such  fragrance  yields." 


CIIAFTER  THE  NINTH. 

1 — 3.  CD  fountain,  or  reservoir,  fr.  wh.  tears  might  freely 
flow,  slain,  in  the  great  coming  calamity .«  (2)  wilderness, 
far  away  fr.  the  abodes  of  men  who  will  not  heed  my  message, 
lodging  place,  or  cararansevai  '>  assembly,  or  gang.  (3) 
like  tlieir  bow,'"  or  just  as  soldiers  before  battle  bend  their 
bows,  so  they  prepare  to  shoot  out  lying  words,  like  arrows. 
'■  The  tongue  is  here  aptly  compared  to  the  bow,  and  deceit  to 
the  arrow  shot  from  it.'"'^ 

J.'eJifi'iovx  cniiaolat'ion  {v.  1). — I.  Religion  affords  ample  solace 
to  the  afiflicted.  1.  The  poor;  ?.  The  bereaved;  3.  The  sick. 
II.  The  Gcspel  bestows  healing  on  the  patient.    III.  Ilcligion 


The  words  which 
he  repoateil  were 

these  :  — "  The 
liarvest  is  past, 
tlie  summer  is 
enricil.  ami  we  are 
not  saved." — 
Jeremiah  viii.  20. 
Cer::;inly  there 
are  in  tlK>  JBibie 
no  words  more 
fearful  than 
these.  Wh.it  can 
be  more  dreadful 
than  the  wail  of 
a  lost  soul  ? 

'■  Has  a  man  lost 
a  good  situalidn, 
it  is  said,  '  His 
harvest  is  past.' 
Is  a  person 
amassinj?  much 
nioney,  it  is  ;aid, 
'He  is  gathering 
in  his  harvest.'  "- 
liubfi-ts. 

f  Dv.J.  Uamlllon. 

"  The  most  tri- 
fling actioriS  that 
affect  a  man's 
credit  are  to  bs 
regarded.  The 
S(jund  of  your 
haunner  at  five 
in  the  morning, 
or  nine  at  night, 
heard  by  a  civdi- 
tor,  makes  him 
easy  six  months 
longer;  but  if  he 
sees  you  at  a  bil- 
liard table,  or 
hears  yom'  voice 
at  a  tavern,  when 
you  -should  be  at 
work,  he  sends 
for  his  money  the 
next  day  ;  de- 
mands it  bpfura 
he  c\\\  receive  it 
in  a  lump."  — 
Franklin. 


a  This  r.  is  by 
many  joined  to 
the  previous 
chapter. 

Is.  -xxii.  4  ;  La. 
ii.  11,  iii.  4S. 

6  "  This  lodge 
gonerallyconfists 
of  a  largo  sq'.iare 
building,  enclos- 
ing a  court  ri)en 
above,  round  the 
sides    of     which 


42 


JEREiflAH. 


[Cap.  Ix.  4-8. 


ore  small  arclies. 
Mill  witliiii  each 
of  these  is  aJ;irk 
cell  orilormitury, 
wiUiout  fiirni- 
tufo  oraccommo- 
daiion  of  any 
kiiitl."  —  Ilcnder- 
sun. 

c     "  The      word 
b,')},l.    lit.    tr,;i,l. 
nieain  to  strin<;,  j 
tlie    bow     being 
heM    firmly     by  | 
one   foot     while  | 
the      string      is 
pusheil  up  to  the  1 
notch.       T  li  e  | 
Assyrians  hehl  it 
witli  tlie  kuee."- 
Sjii.  Com. 

d  Ps.  Wiv.  3,  4.- 

©('.  1—4.  Dr.  G. 
To'jnsend,  13G. 

V.  3.  Dr.  A. 
Geivrd,  ii.  1  ;  J. 
Gaskiii,  3U8. 

e  Pulpit  Studies. 

f  Roberts. 


a  Ge.  XXV.  2G. 
xxvii.  36 ;  Ho. 
xii.  3. 

6  "  The  arrow 
Bhotout  "may  be 
trans,  "murder- 
ous arrow." 

e  "  '  Layeth  his 
ambush.'  "-Hen- 
derson. 

V.  5.  P.  Siellon, 
U.  431. 

d  S.  U.  Tyng. 

V.  1.  "Eacli  of 
the  negroes  took 
from  his  quiver  a 
biindl'ul  of  arrows 
and  putting  two 
between  his 
teeth,  and  one 
iu  liis  bow,  waved 
to  us  with  his 
hand  to  keep  at 
a  distance." — 
Murujo  Park. 

e  Jip.  Hopkins. 


affords  solid  comfort  to  those  mourniugf  over  their  own  cor- 
ruptions. 1.  The  Word  of  God  teaches  them  that  the  painful 
consiciousness  of  their  owii  imperfections  has  ever  been  a  charac- 
teristic of  the  most  eminent  sainls  :  2.  And  assures  every  believer 
of  a  final  triumph  over  liis  corruptions.' 

A  lodf/c  ill  ilie  n-ihlfnir.-m. — People  in  the  East,  on  their  journeys 
to  other  towns  or  countries,  are  obliged  to  travel  throng-h  the 
most  lonely  wilds.  On  this  account  the  native  sovereigns,  or 
opulent  men,  erect  what  are  called  '•  rest-houses,"  or  choidfrict. 
where  the  travellers  or  pilgrims  reside  for  the  night.  '•  In  the 
wilderness,"  too,  devotees  and  ascetics  live  retired  from  men  : 
there,  either  for  life,  or  for  a  short  period,  they  perform  their 
austerities,  and  live  in  cynical  contempt  of  the  rest  of  mankind. 
When  a  father  is  angry  witli  his  family,  he -of  ten  exclaims,  '■  If  I 
had  but  a  shade  in  the  wilderness,  then  should  I  be  happy.  I 
will  become  a  pilgrim  and  leave  you."  Nor  is  this  mere  empty 
declamation  to  alarm  his  family  ;  for  numbers  in  every  town  and 
village  thus  leave  their  homes  and  are  never  heard  of  more. 
There  are,  however,  many  who  remain  absent  for  a  few  months 
or  years,  and  then  return.  Under  these  circumstances,  it  is  no 
wonder,  ■s\'hen  a  father  or  husband  threatens  his  family  to  retire 
to  the  liufii,  that  is,  "  wilderness,"  that  they  become  greatly 
alarmed.  But  men  who  have  been  reduced  in  their  circumstances 
become  so  mortified,  that  they  also  retire  from  their  homes,  and 
all  their  future  days  wander  about  as  pilgrims.  •■  Alas  !  alas  1 
I  will  retire  to  the  jungle,  and  live  with  wild  beasts  !  "  says  the 
broken-hearted  widow. 

"  Oh  for  a  lodge  in  some  vast  wilderness. 
Some  boundless  contiguity  of  shade  !  ''-f 

4 — 8.  C4)  take  ye  heed,  etc..  in  such  a  state  of  society  no 
man  could  trust  his  brother,  supplant,  as  Jacob  did."  (5) 
weary  themselves,  through  taking  such  pains,  and  making 
such  efforts.  ((1)  thine  habitation,  addressed  to  the  Prophet. 
Some  regard  it  as  the  continuation  of  the  warning  of  r.  4.  Trust 
no  one,  for  deceit  is  all  round  thee.  (7)  melt  them,  in  refining 
fires  of  national  calamity,  how,  etc.,  i.e.  how  other.wise.  (8) 
arrow,''  r.  3.     his  wait,  or  a  trap  to  catch  him.' 

JJiJfk- 111  tics  of  old  age  tritliout  religion  (c.  4). — I.  That  period 
of  life  during  which  the  Saviour  grants  to  men  the  privileges  of 
the  Gospel  is  known  under  the  appellation  of  a  day  of  grace  ;  a 
day  in  which  He  waits  for  the  sinner's  repentance,  and  is  pecu- 
liarly eager  to  aid  his  efforts.  II.  But  a  short  portion  of  the  day 
of  grace  is  now  left  to  him.  III.  The  heart  has  become  in- 
creasingly hard.  IV.  The  pride  of  character  which  attends  the 
advanced  periods  of  life. 

iSelf-rcitpcct  in  old  age. — If  reverence  is  due  from  others  to  the 
old,  they  ought  also  to  respect  themselves  :  and  by  grave,  and 
prudent,  and  holy  actions,  to  put  a  crown  of  glory  upon  their 
own  grey  heads.  They  ought  not  to  be  vain  and  light  in  thinr 
converse  ;  nor  children  of  a  hundred  years  old  ;  nor.  bj'  the  felly 
and  wickedness  of  their  lives,  expose  themselves  to  that  contempt 
which  will  certainly  be  cast  upon  them,  where  age  is  not  accom- 
panied with  gravity  and  prudence.  And  therefore  we  find  it 
(Prov.  xvi.  31).  "The  horuy  head  is  a  crown  of  glory,  if  it  be 
found  in  the  way  of  righteousness  ;  "  otherwise,  instead  of  being 
a  glory,  it  is  but  a  double  shame  and  reproach.* 


Cap.  Ix.  9-22.] 


JEREMIAB. 


4^ 


9—11.  (0)  not  visit,  ch.  v.  9.  29.    (10)  habitations,  or 

pasture-lands:"  ■n-ith  poss.  allu^^ion  to  the  temporary  eucamp- 
ments  of  the  shepherds,  'burnecl  up,  marg.  deflate.  (11) 
Jerusalem,  the  city,  as  well  as  the  country,  was  thus  to  be 
overwhelmed,     dragons,  or  jackals.'- 

Emhlem  of  drpraviti/. — In  a  vessel  filled  with  muddy  water,  the 
thickness  visibly  subsided  to  the  bottom,  and  left  the  water  purer 
and  ])urer,  until  at  last  it  seemed  perfectly  limpid.  The  slightest 
motion,  however,  brought  the  sediment  again  to  the  top  ;  and 
the  water  became  thick  and  turbid  as  before.  "  Here,"  said 
Gotthold,  when  he  saw  it,  "  we  have  an  emblem  of  the  human 
heart.  The  heart  is  full  of  the  mud  of  sinful  lusts  and  carnal 
desires  ;  and  the  consequence  is,  that  no  pure  water — that  is, 
good  and  holy  thoughts — can  flow  from  it.  It  is,  in  truth,  a 
miry  pit  and  slough  of  sin,  in  which  all  sorts  of  ugly  reptiles^ are 
bred  and  crawl.  Many  a  one,  however,  is  deceived  by  it,  and 
never  imagines  his  heart  half  so  wicked  as  it  really  is,  because 
sometimes  its  lusts  are  at  rest,  and  sink  to  the  bottom.  But  this 
lasts  only  so  long  as  he  is  without  opportunity  or  incitement  to 
ein.  Let  that  occur,  and  worldly  lusts  rise  so  thick,  that  his 
whole  thoughts,  words,  and  works  show  no  trace  of  anything  but 
slime  and  impurity.  One  is  meek  as  long  as  he  is  not  thwarted  : 
cross  him,  and  he  is  like  powder  ignited  by  the  smallest  spark, 
and  blazing  up  with  a  loud  report  and  destructive  effect.  Another 
is  temperate  so  long  as  he  has  no  jovial  companions ;  a  third 
chaste  while  the  eyes  of  men  are  upon  him." 

12 — 16.  (12)  wise  man,  able  to  trace  the  connection  bet. 
suffering  and  sin.  (13)  Lord  saith,  speaking  Himself,  bee. 
the  wise  men  failed,  set  before  them,  made  plainly  and  pub- 
licly known  to  them.  (14)  im.agination,  as  before,  better  rend. 
sfuhbornnivscs.  Baalim,  ch.  ii.  8,  23.  (l'>)  'wormwood, 
De.  xxix.  18.  water  of  gall,  ch.  viii.  14.  (16)  scatter  them, 
Le.  xxvi.  33. 

,'^i'lf-madc  miser ]!. — Men  are  too  often  ingenious  in  making 
themselves  miserable,  by  aggravating  to  their  own  fancy,  beyond 
bounds,  all  the  evils  which  they  endure.  Thej'  compare  them- 
selves with  none  but  those  whom  they  imagine  to  be  more  happy  : 
and  complain  that  upon  them  alone  has  fallen  the  whole  load  of 
human  sorrows.  '•  I  will  restore  thy  daughter  again  to  life," 
eaid  an  Eastern  sage  to  a  prince  who  grieved  immoderately  for 
the  loss  of  a  beloved  child,  "  provided  thou  art  able  to  engrave 
on  her  tomb  the  names  of  three  persons  who  have  never  mourned." 
The  prince  made  inquiry  after  such  persons  ;  but  found  the  in- 
quiry vain,  and  was  silent. 

17 — 22.  (17)  mourning  women,  who  attended  funerals  to 
help  the  wailing."  cunning,  or  skilled  in  wailing.*  (18) 
make  haste,  intimating  that  the  calamity  was  near  at  hand, 
for  us,  who  mourn  over  Jerusalem  as  spiritually  dead.  (19) 
cast  us  out,  spewed  us  out,  Le.xviii.  28.  (20)  hear,  cic,  even 
the  younger  women  must  join  the  wailing,  for  the  number  of 
dead  would  bs  so  great.  The  women  were  to  wail  while  ttie  men 
resisted  the  besieger.  (21)  into  our  windows.  I.e.  the  besiegers 
burst  in  at  the  windows,  from  without,  or  from  being  able  to 
go  out.     (22)  handful,  laid  on  the  ground  to  make  up  a  sheaf. 

JJ.ath  (f.  21). — Death  as  an  enemy  is — I.  Cruel,     1.  Strikes  at 


(I  "  The  wilder- 
ness sometimes 
signifies  tlie  plain 
or  clianipuign 
countj-y,  anil  is 
opposed  to  the 
mountaius."— 
Loiclh. 

b  Ps.  bciv.  19;  Is. 
xiii.  22,  xxxiv. 
13  ;  Je.  li.  37. 
Northern  my- 
thology tells  "of 
the  Jligdard  ser- 
pent, whom  Oilin 
feared  would 
bring  m  u  c  li 
trouble  to  the 
gods.  He  caused 
it  to  be  brought 
to  him,  wlien 
he  hurled  it  into 
the  deep  ocean. 
But  the  monster 
grew  to  such 
enormous  size, 
that  it  could 
hold  its  tail  iuit3 
mouth,  thus  en- 
circling the 
whole  earth.  So 
extensive  is  that 
depravity  which 
follows  the  ser- 
pent's trail  from 
Eden. 

"  The  carnal 
mind,  which  is 
enmity,  fortifies 
the  soul  against 
God,  as  with  bars 
and  doors; 
averts  it  from 
Him,  carries  with 
it  a  horrid,  guilty 
c  o  n  s  c  i  o  usness, 
which  fills  it  with 
eterual  despair 
and  rage  ;  and 
inwraps  it  in  the 
blackness  of 
darkness  for 
ever." — Howe. 


a  "Those  wliosf 

business  it  was 
to  attend 
funerals,  and  by 
their  skilled 

wailings  aid  the 
real  mourners  iu 
giving  vent  to 
their  grief.  Hired 
mourner.- are  still 
employed  ia 

Egypt."  —  SfK 
Cum. 


44 


JERE.VIAB. 


[Cap.  ix.  23-26. 


2  Chr.  XXXV.  25  ; 
Ec.  xii.  5 ;  Am. 
V.  16;  SUit.  ix. 
23  ;  Mk.  V.  38. 

b  Skilful  in  la- 
meiilatiju. 

c  Dr.  T/fmas. 

"  Of  the  twpii^y- 
five    barons  who 
were     appnin'ol 
to     enforce    the 
observance        of  I 
Magna    Ch.arta," 
says  Sir  Bernard 
B"rkes     secoml 
series  of    VicUsi- 
tuil'S  of  Families, 
"  tliere     is      not  1 
now       «n       tlie  I 
House  of  Peers  a  ; 
sin:^lrt    male    de-  I 
sceudaiit."  : 

d  Dr.  Thompson,    j 

"If  there  be  a  ' 
regal  solitude,  it  i 
is  a  side  bed.  \ 
How  tlie  patient 
lords  it  there ! 
wliat  caprices  he 
acts  without 
control  I  how- 
kin  g-1  i  Ic  e  he 
Bways  liis  pillow 
—  tumbling,  and 
tossing,  and 
shifting,  anil 
lowering,  and 
thumping,  and 
flatting,  anil 
moulding  it,  to 
the  ever- varying 
requisitions  of 
his  throbbing 
temples."  -L  )nl}. 

e  Duke  of  Man- 
eheslcr. 


a  "  Wisdom  here 
is  political  saga- 
city. Mitjht  is 
miiit.ary  prow- 
e.ss." — Fausset. 

b  "  Because  tlie 
Jews  valued 
themselves  so 
much  on  their 
ci  re  umcision, 
Goil  tells  them, 
when  He  sends 
His  juilguien''s 
abroail  in  tlie 
world,  they  sh.all 
fiud     no     mure 


the  dearost  objects  of  our  affections  ;  2.  Robs  us  of  our  most  use- 
ful mcu  ;  ;5.  Drags  us  from  tho  dparost  thin;^s  of  the  hca  t :  4. 
Reduces  our  bodies  to  the  du.st.  II.  He  is  unremitting.  III.  He 
is  subtle.  IV.  He  is  resistless.  V.  lie  is  ubiquitous.  VI.  He  is 
conquerable.  Christ  has  conquered  di^ath — 1.  In  His  own  resur- 
rection :  2.  In  His  power  u'^on  the  minds  of  His  disciples ' 

J/iiiirniiifj  at  the  (/rare. — I  have  noticed  every  mornins;'  since 
coming  to  Sidon,  that  women  come  forth  very  early  to  visit  tho 
graves.  They  move  about  under  the  trees  and  among  the  tombs 
in  tlie  grey  dawn,  wrapped  up  from  head  to  foot  in  their  white 
sheets,  and  looking  for  all  the  world  like  veritable  ghost'^.  Some- 
times I  hear  the  voice  of  prayer  ;  some  weep  and  sob.  Avhile 
others  sing  or  chant  in  a  low,  monotonous  tone.  In  ninety-nine 
cases  out  of  a  hundred  this  jiublic  manifestation  is  the  work  of 
that  arch-tyrant,  custom,  and  nothing  more.  .  .  .  Home  of  these 
mourners  have  tents  pitched  above  the  gi'aves  which  require  to 
be  wept  over.  These,  however,  afford  but  slight  protection 
against  the  pitiless  storm  and  piercing  wind.  The  great  majority 
have  no  cover,  and  the  mourners  go  home  to  nurse  rheumatisms, 
burn  in  fevers,  or  go  blind  with  ophthalmia.  The  real  weeping 
is  in  the  houses.  And  when  you  further  know  that  many  of 
these  mourners  and  chanters  are  hired,  and  weep,  howl,  beat 
their  breast,  and  tear  their  hair,  according  to  contract,  your  com- 
passion will  fail  fast,  take  another  direction,  and  sigh  for  the 
victims  of  folly  and  fashion.'* — Death  in  oitr  pahiccx — l^iwcn 
Eihahctlia  cliriiitcning. — The  very  christening  of  this  little  lady 
looks  now  like  a  gorgeous  dance  of  death.  Nearly  all  the  noble- 
men who  figured  officially  at  it  came  to  as  violent  an  end  as  tlie 
baby's  mother,  or  were  otherwise  gloomily  distinguished.  Essex, 
who  carried  the  basins,  was  the  last  of  the  earls  of  the  line  of 
Bouchier.  Exeter,  who  carried  the  wax,  the  first  marquis  of  the 
house  of  Courcenay,  was  beheaded.  Dorset,  who  bore  the  salt — 
the  Grey  who.  like  the  king,  repudiated  his  first  wife,  Catharine 
Fitz-Alan,  and,  by  King  Henrj^'s  niece,  became  the  father  of 
Lady  Jane  Grey — also  passed  under  the  axe.  Lord  Rochford.  a 
graceful  rhymer  and  clever  sonneteer,  and  Lord  Hussey.  who 
swelled  the  train,  tasted  soon  after  the  scaffold.  Cranmer,  the 
young  princess's  godfather,  came  to  a  more  painful  end  by  fire  ; 
while  the  Earl  of  NV'iltshire,  worse  than  submitting  to  the  heads- 
man himself,  saw  his  son  undei'go  that  bloody  submission  :  and 
the  Early  of  Derby,  the  luckiest  man  of  this  awfully  splendid 
group,  came  off  with  no  worse  fortune  than  having  a  daughter 
married  to  the  Lord  Stourton,  who  was  hanged.' 

23 — 26.  (23)  wiss  . .  mighty.  .  rich,"  the  three  classes  that 
might  expect  to  defend  and  preserve  themselves  and  their  city 
in  times  of  national  distress.  (24)  knoweth  me,  1  Cor.  i.  31  ; 
2  Cor.  x.  17.  The  true  knowledge  of  God  leads  to  practical 
obedience  of  His  will.  (2."i)  piinish,  Heb.  rix]f  vpon.  circum- 
cised, etc..  confidence  in  their  being  circumcised  would  not  avail 
the  unfaithful  Jews,  but  the  judgments  of  uncircumcised  sinners 
shall  come  upon  them.'  (2())  Egypt,  etc..  comp.  list  in  ch.  xxv. 
corners,'"  lit.  corners  of  their  hair  shorn.  A  peculiarity  of  cer- 
tain Arabs  (Le.  xix.  27). 

The  (jloyy  i>f  mini  {v.  2.3\ — T.  The  glory  forbidden.  1.  In 
wisdom  :  2.  In  might ;  .3.  In  riches.  II.  The  glory  enjoinca. 
1.  The  knowledge  that  there  is  a  God  ;  2.  The  knowledge  of  God 


Cap.  X.  1—5.] 


J  ERE  MI AB. 


45 


as  the  moral  Govprnor  of  the  universe  ;  3.  The  knowlcdcre  of 
God  as  the  God  of  redemption.  Apply: — (1)  Let  us  avoid  all 
forbidden  gfrounds  of  glorying:  ;  (2)  Let  us  understand  what  is 
the  enjoined  grounds  of  glorying  ;  (3)  Let  us  acknowledge  the 
superiority  of  the  Christian's  ground  of  glorj-iug.'* 

Clalvant. — Clairaut  was  born  in  France  in  1713,  and  began 
the  study  of  mathematics  as  soon  as  he  could  lisp  his  ABC;  for 
the  first  book  which  was  put  into  his  hands,  and  from  which  his 
father  taught  him  to  read,  was  Euclid's  Elements.  When  only 
nine  years  of  age.  algebra  and  geometry  were  familiar  to  him, 
and  the  solution  of  the  most  difficult  problems  he  considered  as 
an  amusement.  At  eleven  years  old  he  understood  the  most 
abstruse  parts  of  the  science  ;  and  at  his  twelfth  year  he  com- 
posed a  treatise  on  some  discoveries  he  had  made  in  mathematics, 
which  was  published  in  1724,  with  an  honourable  certificate 
from  the  Acadejny  of  Sciences.  In  1730  he  wrote  an  ingenious 
treatise  on  "  Curves  of  a  Double  Curvature,"  which  would  have 
done  honour  to  the  ablest  geometrician.  The  Academy  of  Sciences 
at  Paris,  equally  delighted  and  surprised  at  the  exhibition  of  such 
wonderful  talents  in  such  a  youth,  departed  from  their  rule,  by 
receiving  him  into  their  Society  before  he  had  attained  the  age 
required  for  the  admission  of  members.  He  was  received  when 
only  in  his  eighteenth  year.' 


CHAPTER  THE  TENTH. 

1 — 5.  (1,  2)  signs  of  heaven,  eclipses,  comets,  etc.,  which 
hea' hen  peoples  greatly  fear."  (3)  customs,  established  insti- 
tutions, one  cuttetli,  i.e.  anybody  can  do  it.  (4)  d.eck,  etc.. 
covering  the  wooden  body  with  platings  of  gold  and  silver.* 
with  nails,  to  secure  it  from  falling  down.  (5)  upright, 
etiff  and  straight. <^     do  evil.  Is.  xli.  23. 

Ilenrinp  the  M  ord  of  the  Lord  (r.  1).— I.  What  is  the  Word  of 
the  Lord?  His  Law  and  Gospel.  II.  What  is  implied  in  hearing 
the  Word  of  God  ?  1 .  That  we  attend  His  ordinances  ;  2.  That  we 
observe  what  we  hear  :  3.  That  we  understand  what  we  observe  : 
4.  That  we  believe  what  we  understand  ;  B.  That  we  remember 
what  we  believe  ;  6.  That  we  practise  what  we  remember  ;  7. 
That  we  continue  in  what  we  practise.  III.  Why  shoiild  we 
hear?  I.  Because  God  has  commanded  it  ;  2.  Because  it  is  for 
our  great  interest,  it  being  the  means  of  repentance,  faith,  light, 
comfort,  and  leads  to  eternal  happiness.  IV.  How  worthy  of 
reproof  are  they — 1.  Who  do  not  come  to  hear  ;  2.  Who  do  not 
hear  when  they  are  come  ;  3.  Who  do  not  mind  what  they  hear 
if  they  do  come  :  4.  Who  do  not  understand  what  they  give 
attention  to  ;  5.  Who  will  not  believe  what  they  understand ;  C. 
Who  will  not  practise  what  they  believe.  V.  Exhortation.  1. 
Hear  God's  Word  vv'ith  reverence  ;  2.  Caution  ;  3.  Attention ;  4. 
Inten'ion'' 

'•  Sif/ii.'!  of  hrnren.'^ — Heathenism  in  all  ages  has  l>een  a  prolific 
system  of  doubt  and  dismay  to  its  million'.;  of  votaries.  It  has  laid 
prostrate,  or  warped  aside,  the  finest  intellects  ;  and  made  created 
and  lifek  ss  objects  the  controllers  of  human  hope  and  fear,  rather 
than  tlie  great  Creator.  How  lamentable  that  it  was  necessary 
for  this  holy  patriot  and  prophet  to  warn  the  Jews  from  foUow- 


f  avou  r      tlian 
I  Ihiise    Avho     iire 
I  not       c  i  r  c  n  in- 
cise J." — Louth. 

c  Cut  as  to  t>ie 
corners  cf  the 
beard. 

"  SeveralAraliian 
tribes  livinp  not 
far  from  the  Holy 
Land  adopted  tlie 
custoui,  as  a  sign 
of  tlieir  special 
religion,  of  shav- 
ing the  hair  of 
tlitir  heads  in  an 
extraordinary 
fashion,  viz., 
either  on  the 
crown  of  the 
head,  or  towards 
the  temples,  or 
eloe  of  disfignring 
a  portion  of  the 
beard."  —  Hero- 
dotus. 


Dr.     J. 

Boyle 


V.  24. 
Harris, 
Lee. 

d  G.  Brooks, 
e  R.  T.  S. 


a    "  The     Feb., 
living,    as    they 
are   supposed  to 
do,  in  the  midst 
of  idolaters,  were 
more  or  less  ex- 
posed    to    their 
fi>ductive    influ- 
ence.    The  Chal- 
da?ans    specially 
employed     their 
arts      for      the 
j  purpose  of  work- 
I  ing  on  the  super- 
1  sfitinus  fears   of 
mankind." -i/tn- 
de7-son. 
1 
6  Is.  zlir.  10, 11. 

c  "  Like  one  of 
those  stiff,  in- 
elega'it  pillars, 
soniithing  like  a 
palm  tree,  wl.ic'i 
luay  be  seen  In 
Oriental  archi- 
tecture, anil  to 
wli.,  with  their 
arms  and  legs 
clns3  to  their 
sides,  and  their 
legsandfeet  mere 
unsliiippii  bkicks, 
tliey  niiglit  well 
be  compared."— 


^6 


JEREMIAn. 


[Cap.  -z.  6— lO. 


Hab.    IL    19  ;    1 
Cor.  xii.  2. 
d  ir.  Stevens. 

"  Su)  erstition  is 
the  jioesy  of 
practical  life. 
Hence,  a  poet  is 
niine  tlie  wfirse 
for  being  siiper- 
stitious."-Goelhe. 

t  Robert!. 


a  Ee.  XV.  4. 

b  Is.  xli.  29 ;  Ha. 
ii.  18. ;  Zee.  x.  2. 

c  Ge.  X.  4. 

d  Poss.  the  Paz 
of  Job  xxvili.  17, 
"  Jewels  of  Paz." 

V.  7.  /.  Saurin,  i. 
SU9. 

e  Pulpit  Studies. 

/  Bib.  Treas. 

"  Take  away  a 
toy  from  a  cliilil, 
and  give  him 
another,  and  he 
is  satisfied  ;  but 
if  he  be  linngry 
no  toy  will  do. 
As  new  -  born 
babes,  true  be- 
lievers desire  the 
sincere  milk  of 
the  Word  ;  and 
the  desire  of 
grace  in  this  w.ay 
is  pri\ce."—Julin 
Kficlon. 

Wonderful  al- 
chemy of  Cod's 
grace  it  ij  wliicli 
transmutes  tri- 
bulation into 
triumph,  turns 
■waters  of  Jlarah 
into  a  licalthful 
fountain,  euiibles 
one  to  pal  her 
grapes  of  thorns 
and  ligs  of  this- 
tles, causes  tlie 
rose  to  lilooni 
through  a  whole 
winter  of  trials, 
and  lielps  the 
EC>U  to  regard 
afllictions  as  i)ro- 
niisos,  notthreat- 
eiiiugs  1 


j  ing  the  practices  of  the  idolaters  !  and  how  vividly  correct  at  this 
I  day  are  his  descriptions  of  that  soul-destroying-  system  !  Should 
a  supposed  malijjnant  begin  to  rule  in  any  given  month,  multi- 
tudes are  in  a  state  of  terrible  agitation,  and.  with  the  priests  at 
their  head,  are  devising  a  thousand  plans  to  avert  its  direful 
potency.  Though  their  astronomers  can  calculate  with  tolerable 
accuracy  the  time  when  an  eclipse  will  occur,  yet  this  will  not 
serve  in  the  least  to  pacify  the  vast  tribes  of  the  East.  During- 
its  continuance  they  are  all  in  a  state  of  complete  consternation  ; 
they  abstain  from  their  food  and  usual  occupations,  and  yield 
themselves  up  to  all  the  foolish  impositions  and  absurd  fantasies 
of  their  wily  priests.* 

6-10.  (C)  like  .  .  thee,  Ps.  Ixxxvi.  8, 10,  (7)  king  of 
nations,  i.r.  all  nations,"  (8)  brutish,  debased,  almost  like 
mere  animals  *"  stock,  contemptuous  word  for  their  idol.  (9) 
Tarsh.isla,<^  port  on  Spanish  coast.  Uphaz,  Da.  x.  :>.<'■  blue 
and  purple,  expensive,  as  dyed  with  the  valuable  vnircx.  or 
shell-fish.  (10)  true  God,  lit.  a  God  who  is  truth  ;  who  is  a 
real  God,  not  a  sham  figure. 

T/ie  trite  and  lirhirj  God  (r.  10). — T.  The  Lord  is  the  true  God. 
This  is  proved — I.  By  His  Word  ;  2.  His  dealings  ;  8.  His  pur- 
poses ;  4.  His  manifestations.  II.  The  Lord  is  the  living  God, 
hence  we  should  seek  our  spiritual  life  from  Him.  III.  He  is 
the  everlasting  King,  hence  we  should  inriuire  into  and  submit  to 
His  laws.* 

FoJhj  of  idolatry  and  iwwnr  of  the  (Joupcl. — It  was  related  at  a 
public  meeting  that  several  missionaries  once  landed  in  India, 
who,  anxious  to  lose  no  time  in  proclaiming  the  glad  tidings 
of  salvation,  stopped  at  the  first  large  village  on  their  route,  and, 
taking  their  stand  under  the  shade  of  some  large  trees  while  the 
natives  collected  round  them,  they  began  to  preach  unto  them 
Jesus.  There  was  profound  attention  for  more  than  an  hour, 
when  first  one  voice  was  raised  and  then  another.  '•  Jesus  is  tha 
true  God,"  "  Jesus  is  the  true  God,'  they  cried.  "  Come  with  us, 
and  pull  down  our  temples,  and  throw  our  gods  down  the  hills." 
Then  they  led  the  way,  and  soon  bore  their  wretched  idol,  which, 
though  it  had  legs,  could  not  walk,  to  the  brow  of  a  neighbouriuj* 
hill,  where  they  contemptuously  flung  it  over.  But  the  words  of 
the  text  may  be  applied  to  other  idols  besides  those  of  heathen 
nations.  It  is  a  fact,  and  a  sight  to  be  met  with  any  day  in 
Madras  and  other  large  Eastern  cities.  A  set  of  bearers  are  hired 
one  day  to  bear  on  their  shoulders  a  hideous  idol,  ornamented 
with  gold  and  gems  :  and  the  next,  the  same  set  of  men  carry 
forth  in  state  the  Virgin  ^lary.  One  form  of  idolatry  is  perhaps 
a  little  more  refined  than  another  :  but  how  truly  may  it  be  said 
of  them  all,  "  They  that  make  them  are  like  unto  them  ;  so  is 
every  one  that  trusteth  in  them!"/ — M'ind-.'ttorm  in  Avirr'wn. — 
AVhile  at  "Washington,  I  first  witnessed  the  wnid-storm.  which  is 
common  in  this  country.  It  is  peculiar,  sometimes  awful.  The 
morning  had  been  hot.  the  sky  fair  :  I  had  been  to  the  Senate,  and 
was  now  resting  and  writiu'jf  in  my  chamlier.  Quietly  the  soft  and 
refreshing  breezes  went  down  ;  a  haze  came  over  the  sun.  so 
that  it  shone  as  behind  a  gauze  curtain.  Every  noise  was  stilled, 
except  that  of  the  frog,  which  was  unpleasantly  audible.  The 
sky  got  silently  darker,  the  atmosphere  became  oppressive,  and 
not  a  breath  of  air  was  felt.      Suddenly  in  the  distance  you 


Cap.  X.  11—16.] 


JEREMlAn. 


47 


M'ould  see  things  in  commotion  ;  and,  -while  everything-  was  yet 
quiet  about  you,  you  might  hear  the  distant  roaring  of  the  wind. 
Then  the  cattle  run  away  to  their  best  shelter  ;  then  the  mother 
calls  on  her  heedless  children:  and  the  housewife  flies  from 
Btory  to  story  to  close  her  windows  aiid  shutters  against  the 
entrance  of  the  coming  foe.  Xow  the  dust,  taken  up  in  whirl- 
winds, would  come  flyir.g  along  the  roads  ;  and  then  would  come 
the  gust  of  wind,  which  would  make  everything  tremble,  and 
set  the  doors,  windows,  and  trees  flying,  creaking,  crashing 
around  you.  You  would  expect  the  torrent  to  fall  and  to  roll  : 
but  no.  there  was  neither  rain  nor  thunder.  It  was  wind,  and 
wind  alone  :  and  it  wanted  nothing  to  increase  its  power  on  the 
imagination.  It  raged  for  a  few  minutes,  and  then  passed  as 
suddenly  away,  leaving  earth  and  sky  as  tranquil  and  as  fair  as 
it  found  them.  It  is  not  easy  to  account  for  this  very  sudden 
destruction  and  restoration  of  an  equilibrium  in  nature.  The 
phenomenon,  however,  supplies  a  iine  illustration  of  some 
striking  passages  in  Holy  Scripture.? 

11—13.  (11)  made  .  .  earth,  this  is  the  sole  claim  of  Jehovah. 
(12)  he  hath  made,  Ge.  i.  6.  (13)  waters,  ttc,  comp.  the 
account  of  the  creation." 

Gods  of  the  heathen. — An  Indian  chief,  having  sent  for  Hia- 
coomes,  a  converted  native,  with  the  view  of  receiving  religious 
instruction  from  him,  after  some  conversation,  the  chief  asked 
him  how  many  gods  the  English  worshipped.  Hiacoomes 
answered,  "  One  and  no  more."  On  which  the  chief  reckoned 
up  about  thirty-seven  principal  gods  which  he  had.  "  And  shall 
I,"  said  he,  "  throw  away  all  these  thirty-seven  for  the  sake  of 
one  only.'"  "^Vhat  do  you  yourself  think?"  said  Hiacoomes; 
"  for  my  part,  I  have  thrown  away  all  these,  and  many  more, 
some  years  ago,  and  yet  I  am  jireserved,  as  you  see,  to  this  day." 
"You  speak  true,"  said  the  chief,  "and  therefore  I  will  throw 
away  all  my  gods  too,  and  serve  that  one  God  with  you." 
Hiacoomes  proceeded  more  fully  to  instruct  him.  and  the  rest  of 
the  company  with  him :  and  the  chief  having  promised  to 
worship  the  true  God,  and  serve  Him  only,  was  as  good  as  his 
Avord,  for  he  carried  himself  as  a  true  servant  of  God,  all  the 
days  of  his  life  after.* 

14—16.  (1-t)  brutish,  v.  8.  founder,  man  who  casts  the 
metal  idol.  (15)  work  of  errors,  or  deluded  notions  that 
til  III  (in  can  ever  be  gods.  They  deserve  only  ridicule.  (IG) 
portion  of  Jacob,  a  term  for  Jehovah."  rod  . .  inheritance, 
"  an  expression  taken  from  the  first  division  of  the  land  of 
Canaan,  when  the  inheritance  of  each  tribe  and  family  was 
meted  out  with  a  line  or  a  rod."* 

Univrr.sal  depranty. — If  the  words  which  the  Apostle  uses 
(Rom.  iii.  10 — 19)  do  not  most  fully  and  determinately  signify  a 
universality,  no  words  ever  used  in  the  Bible,  or  elsewhere,  are 
sufficient  to  do  it.  I  might  challenge  any  man  to  produce  any  I 
one  paragraph  in  the  Scripture,  from  the  beginning  to  the  end, 
whei'e  there  is  such  a  repetition  and  accumulation  of  terms,  so  j 
strongly,  and  emphatically,  and  carefully  to  express  the  most  | 
perfect  and  ab.solutely  universality,  or  any  place  to  be  compared  ; 
to  it.  What  instance  is  there  in  the  Scripture,  or  indeed  any  I 
other  writing,  when  the  meaning  is  only  the  much  greater  part, ' 


"  Liberal  minds 
are  open  to  con- 
viction. Lil)eral 
doctrines  are  ca- 
pable of  iin- 
IjroTement. 
Tliere  are  prose- 
lytes from  atlie- 
ism,  but  nrne 
from  supersti- 
tion."— Junius, 

g  Dr.  Reed. 


a  Job  x.\xviii.  25, 
26. 

1'.  11.  J.  Medf, 
i.  249  ;  Dr.  J. 
Jortin,  iv.  193. 

r.  12.  Oi-igen,  Op. 
iii.  169. 

"Neman  is  born 
wise  ;    but   wis- 
dom  and   virtue 
1  require   a  tutor, 
I  though    we    can 
I  easily     learn    to 
I  be  vicious  with- 
out a  master."— 
Se?iica. 

b  Whitecrou, 


Comp.  T>e. 
\  xxxii.  9  ;  I's, 
{  Ixxiv.  2. 

I  b  Loiclh. 

!  A 11        man's 

■  thoughts,  all  his 
desires,  all  his 
[  purposes  are  evil, 
expressly  or  by 
implication  ;  be- 
cause the  subject 
of  them  is  avow- 
edly sinful,  or 
because  they  do 
not  jiroceed  from 
a  holy  principle, 
and  are  not  di- 
rected to  a  proper 
cnil.  It  is  not  oc- 
casionally tlifit; 
the  human    eoul 


48 


jEnr.MiAU. 


[Cap.  X.  17-22. 


is  thus  untipr  the 
in3ii-nee  of  ile- 
piMviry,  but  tliis 
is  its  habil  anil 
ttalc.  It  seems 
impossible  to 
cnnstnict  a  sen- 
tence wh.  sliouM 
more  <listincfly 
cxjiro-ss  its  toUd 
corruption  tlinn 
this.  (Gen.  viii. 
21.; 
c  Jon.  EJicards. 

a  Movable  pro- 
perty. 

6  Is.  xxii.  IS. 

"  Despair  defies 
even  deripotisnx ; 
there  is  tliat  in 
1»y  heart  wouM 
make  its  way 
tliro'  hosts  with 
levell'd  spears." 
— Lord  Bijron. 

"Lean  absti- 
nence, pule  grief, 
anil  hiiRgard 
care,  the  dire 
attenilants  of 
forlorn  despair." 
— I'aliisnn. 
"  To  me  to  live  is 
Christ."  All 
otlier  kind.?  of 
life  will  at  last 
be  found  to  have 
been  only  aliving 
death. 

c  S^ulhwcll. 


a  Je.  vi.  22,  ix. 
11. 

"  It  is  asserted 
that  a  fa.5hion- 
able  preaolier, 
after  having 
taken  for  his 
te.vt  thc.je  words 
of  St.  Paul,  'I 
•will  know  no- 
thing among  you 
Imt  Clirist,  and 
Chri"t  crucified,' 
manajTrori  not  to 
repa-xt  this  name 
a  r,i?i';le  time.  It 
\vas2isy :  instead 
of  speaking  of 
d'JvoMon  to  the 
Rivl'iiir,  bespoke 
of  di^vo'iion  in 
R.»ncral— one  of 
the  favourite 
themes    o£    the 


where  this  meaniner  is  sig-nified  in  sitch  a  manner  by  repeating 
such  expressions.  "  They  are  all,"  "  they  are  all."  "  they  are  al- 
toj^'ethcr,"  '"every  oue."  ''all  the  world;"  joined  to  inulti))lied 
neg'ative  terms,  to  show  the  universality  to  be  without  exception, 
saying,  "  There  is  no  flesh,"  "  there  is  none,  there  is  none,  there 
is  none,  there  is  none,"  foiir  times  over  :  besides  the  addition  of 
"no.  not  one — no,  not  one,"  once  and  again.  ...  So  that  if  this 
matter  [universal  depravity]  be  not  here  set  forth  plainly,  ex- 
pres.sly,  and  fully,  it  must  be  because  no  words  can  do  it :  and  it 
is  not  in  the  power  of  language,  or  any  manner  of  terms  and 
I^hrases,  however  contrived  and  heaped  one  upon  another,  detenni- 
uately  to  signify  any  such  thing." 

17,  18.  (17)  thy  wares,"  If.  the  few  necessary  things  that 
time  permits  you  to  collect  ere  you  are  hurried  into  captivity. 
CIS)  sling  out,  a  fig.  indicating  the  suddenness  and  force  of  the 
desolation  impending.*    may  find,  or  feel  intensely. 
Shun  delays. — 

Shun  delays,  they  breed  remorse  ; 

Take  thy  time  while  time  is  lent  thee  : 
Creeping  snails  have  weakest  force  : 

Fly  their  fault,  lest  thou  repent  thee. 
Good  is  best  when  sooner  wrought, 
Lingering  labours  come  to  nought. 

Hoist  up  sail  while  gale  doth  last, — 
Tide  and  v/ind  stay  no  man's  pleasure  I 

Seek  not  time  when  time  is  past — ■ 
Sober  speed  is  wisdom's  leisure  ; 

After-wits  are  dearly  bought : 

Let  thy  fore-wit  guide  thy  thought. 

Time  wears  all  his  locks  before — 

Take  thou  hold  upon  his  forehead : 
When  he  flees,  he  turns  no  more. 

And  behind  his  scalp  is  naked. 
Works  adjourn'd  have  many  stays  ; 
Long  demurs  breed  new  delays.' 

19—22.  (19)  woe  is  me,  this  is  the  cry  of  the  Prophet,  as 
representing  the  stricken  nation  before  God.  grievous,  or 
mortal,  incurable.  (20)  tabernacle,  poetical  for  dwcUins-s. 
none  to  stretch,  i.e.  the  men  are  all  swept  awa}'.  (21) 
pastors,  as  before,  the  temporal  rulers.  (22)  bruit,"^  sound  of 
the  enemy."     dragons,  or  jackals. 

A  hint  to  ?ii!ni.ite)v. — At  a  ministers'  meeting  at  Northnmpton, 
a  question  was  discussed,  to  the  following  purport :  To  what 
causes  in  ministers  may  much  of  their  want  of  success  be  im- 
puted ?  The  answer  turned  chiefly  upon  the  want  of  personal 
religion  :  particularly  the  neglect  of  close  dealing  with  God  in 
closet  pr.ayer.  Jer.  x.  21  was  referred  to  :  '•  Their  pastors  are 
become  brutish,  and  have  not  sought  the  Lord  ;  therefore  they 
shall  not  pr'ospcr,  and  Iheir  flocks  shall  be  scaltercd."  Another 
reason  assigned  was  the  want  of  reading  and  studying  the  Scrip- 
tures more  as  Christians,  for  the  edification  of  their  own  souls. 
"  We  are  too  apt  to  study  them,"  adds  Mr.  Fuller,  "  merely  to  find 
out  something  to  say  to  others,  without  living  upon  the  truth 
ourselves.     If  we  eat  not  the  book  before  we  deliver  its  contiinte 


Cap.  xi.  1—5.1 


JEREmAB. 


49 


to  others,  we  may  expect  the  Holy  Spirit  will  not  much  accom- 
pany us.  If  we  study  the  Scriptures  as  Christians,  the  more 
l'amili;ir  we  are  with  them  the  more  we  shall  feel  their  iinport- 
auce  ;  but  if  otherwise,  our  familiarity  with  the  Word  will  be 
like  that  of  soldiers  and  doctors  with  death — it  will  wear  away 
all  sense  of  its  importance  from  onr  minds.  To  enforce  this 
sentiment,  Prov.  xxii.  17,  18,  was  referred  to — '  Ajiply  thine  heart 
to  knowledge  :  the  words  of  the  wise  will  be  pleasant  if  thou 
keep  them  within  thee  ;  they  shall  withal  be  fitted  iu  thy  lijjs.' 
Another  reason  was,  our  want  of  being  emptied  of  self-sufficiency. 
In  proportion  as  we  lean  upon  our  own  gifts,  or  parts,  or  pre- 
parations, we  slight  the  Holy  Spirit  ;  and  no  wonder  that,  being 
grieved,  He  should  leave  us  to  do  oiu-  work  alone.'"* 

23—25.  (23)  way  . .  himself,  Pr.  xvi.  1,  xx.  24.  Jeremiah's 
prayer  in  prospect  of  the  national  calamity.  (24)  "witll  judg- 
ment, better,  in  meoftnre :  ch.  xlvi.  28.  bring  .  .  nothing, 
marg.  diriil/ii.><Ji  me.     (2.5)  pour,  etc..  Ps.  Ixxix.  6,  7." 

The  trail  of  man  not  in  Iiini.self  (r.  23). — I.  Let  us  consider  the 
conviction  here  expressed  in  its  sources  :  "  I  know,"  says  he. 
1.  The  nature  of  our  condition  ;  2.  The  limitation  of  our  powers  ; 
3.  Historj^ :  4.  Experience  ;  f).  Scripture.  II.  Consider  its  uses. 
1.  It  should  produce  gratitude  ;  2.  Submission  ;  3.  Check  pre- 
sumption :  4.  Induce  one  to  repair  to  God  in  earnest  prayer.  III. 
Let  us  glance  at  the  encouragements  of  this  conviction.  God 
is — 1.  Able;   2.  'Willing;   3.  Engaged  to  direct  our  steps.* 

The  hand  of  God. — Nothing  was  more  remarkable  than  New- 
ton's constant  habit  of  regarding  the  hand  of  God  in  every  event, 
however  trivial  it  might  appear  to  others.  In  walking  to  his 
church,  ho  would  say,  '•  The  way  of  man  is  not  in  himself,  nor 
can  he  conceive  what  belongs  to  a  single  step.  "When  I  go  to 
St.  llary  Woolnoth.  it  seems  the  same  whether  I  turn  down 
Lothbury  or  go  through  the  Old  Jewry  ;  but  the  going  through 
one  street  and  not  another,  may  produce  an  effect  of  lasting 
consequence.  A  man  cut  down  my  hammock  in  sport ;  but  had 
he  cut  it  down  half  an  hour  later  I  had  not  been  here,  as  the 
exchange  of  the  crew  was  then  making.  A  man  made  a  smoke 
on  the  seashore  at  the  time  a  ship  passed,  which  was  thereby 
brought  to,  and  afterwards  brought  me  to  England."' 


CHAPTER  THE  ELEVENTH. 

1—5.  (1.  2)  covenant,  aee  2  Ki.  xxiii.  3."  (3)  cursed,  eic, 
De.  xxvii.  2G  :  Ga.  iii.  10.  (4)  obey,  etc.,  Le.  xxvi.  3,  12.  (5) 
oath.  De.  vii.  12.  13. 

Fidel itji  to  the  truth. — The  recording  angel,  as  he  writes  down 
the  shortcomings  of  at  least  the  majority  of  those  who  are  pro- 
fessedly Christians,  must  in  our  time  give  prominence  to  the  fact 
that  they  are  not.  and  make  no  effort  to  be,  '■  valiant  for  the 
truth."  It  is  easy  to  be  valiant  in  a  great  many  things,  but  not 
to  ba  valiant  in  living  for  the  truth — not  merely  iu  defending  it 
by  word  of  mouth,  which  is  necessary,  and  yet  only  one  part  of 
the  valour  our  cause  requires.  Lax  modem  notions  on  this  sub- 
ject have  done  mischief,  not  only  in  the  woidd,  but  within  the 
boundaries  of  our  churches,  since  it  has  become  the  fashion  with 

VOL.  IX.     O.T.  D 


t  h  e  o  -  p  h  i  1  a  n- 
thropy  of  the 
day."— ra-'  Prea- 
cher and  the  King. 

"  The  desire  for 
knowlecige.  like 
the  thirst  for 
riches,  increases 
ever  witli  the 
acquisitiouof  it." 
— iSlerne. 

b  WJdtecroM. 


a  "  '  Since  I  (my 
nation)  must  be 
corrected,  I  do 
not  deprecate  all 
chastiscnicnt.but 
pray  only  tor  mo- 
dtrationin  it.and 
that  the  full  tide 
of  Thy  fury  may 
be  poured  out  on 
the  heathen  in- 
T,aders  for  their 
cruelty  towards 
Tliy  people.' " — 
Ea  uscet. 

r.  24.  Dr.  M- 
Hole,  i.  43  ;  R. 
A/orehe((d,u.208; 
J.  n.  I'inder,  277. 

V.     25.      Dr.     J. 

Urton,  ii.  69. 

S  W.  Jay. 

"  We  must  fol- 
low,  not  force 
Providence." — 
Uliakespcare. 

c  R.  T.  S. 


a  "\I\Mit  they 
were  specially  to 
com  m  u  u  i  c  ate 
was  tlie  contents 
of  that  portion 
of  the  book  of  the 
law,  which  had 
been  found  in 
the  temple  in 
.Josiah's  time." — 
Hoidarson. 

"  The  Prophet 
puts  the  people 
in  mind  of  tlie 
renewal  of  the 
covenant  lately 
made      in     the 


50 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap,  xl.  &-IOI1 


time  of  Josiali."- 

Lighlfoot. 

rv.  1—10.  Origen, 
Op.  iii.  176. 

t)r.    Peckwell,  a 

I.oiiilou  clcrtry- 
man,  received  in- 
fection from  a 
(lead  body,  and 
knew  that  lie 
must  soon  die. 
He  proaelieil  on 
the  follo\vin}< 
Friilay  evening  a 
toiaching  and 
liowerfnl  sermon, 
tolil  tlie  people  it 
was  his  last,  anil 
bade  tliem  faro- 
well.  So  it 
proved  ;  and  on 
the  Sunday  a 
stranger  filled  his 
place. 

6  Teachers'  Mag. 


a  "2  Ki.  XNiii. 
15,  20.  T'rob. 
Jeremiah  accom- 
panied Josiah  in 
his  progress 
throug-h  the  land, 
evcrj-where  read- 
ing from  tlie 
newly  found 

T)ook."  —  Kagds- 
bach. 

b  Shncham,  the 
verb  used,  is  pro- 
perly applied  to 
loading  a  camel's 
back,  in  one  of  its 
coiijugations,and 
tins  was  done  at 
dawn,  and  hence 
the  metaphor  is 
peculiarly  Orien- 
tal, being  taken 
from  the  daily 
life  of  the  sons  of 
the  desert. 

c  "  They  made 
some  steps  to- 
wards a  reforma- 
tion in  the  time 
of  Josiah,  but 
now  they  have 
agreed  or  con- 
Epired  together 
to  return  back  to 
their  former 
i  d  ol  a  tries."— 

<'omp.  Eze.  xxii. 
25  ;  ilo.  vi.  9. 


many  thinkers  to  laud  all  display  of  energ-y  and  earnestness,  no 
matter  what  the  cause  is  which  leads  to  their  manifestation. 
Valour,  like  charity,  is  made  to  cover  a  multitude  of  sins  :  though 
if  it  is  admirable  and  beautiful  to  see  tlie  truth  valorously 
defended,  it  should  bo  in  the  same  proportion  odious  to  us  to 
witness  what  at  any  rate  has  the  appearance  of  heroism  expended 
in  the  b?>half  of  error.  For  there  are  varieties  of  truth,  as  we 
know  well — truth  moral,  intellectual,  physical  :  truth  which  man 
can  hims'df  discover,  and  truth  which  he  has  only  attaiued 
through  a  Divine  revelation.  But  on  any  clearly  defined  subject 
there  cannot  b^  two  opposite  opinions  which  are  true  :  and  beiore 
we  can  be  valiant  we  must  have  in  our  own  minds  clear  and 
distinct  views  of  what  the  Christian  truth  really  is  for  which  we 
are  going-  to  fight.  A  g-eneral  who  chose  to  clothe  his  troops  iu 
uniforms  closely  resembling-  those  of  the  enemy,  and  had  stan- 
dards almost  identical  v.-ith  theirs,  might  chance  to  achieve  some 
success,  yet  he  could  not  be  surprised  if  he  were  severely  beaten. 
Is  it  not  to  be  feared  that  indolence  lies  at  the  root  of  our  lack 
of  valour  far  too  frequently .'  "We  do  not  trouble  ourselves  to 
investigate,  and  not  investigating,  we  do  not  feel  as  deeply  as  we 
should  on  many  points  which  concern  Christian  doctrine.  And 
still,  on  the  other  hand,  we  must  be  careful  that  we  do  not  mis- 
take for  a  precious  portion  of  the  truth,  something  which  has 
only  been  attached  thereto  by  the  particular  Church  to  which  we 
adhere.' 

6—10.  (C)  proclaim,  the  word  used  means  also,  read  aJovd, 
and  it  may  refer  to  the  newly-found  book  of  the  law,"  wh.  was 
to  be  made  known  to  the  people.  (7)  earnestly  protested  .  . 
rising  early,  in  Heb.  language,  early  rising  to  do  a  thing  is 
the  sign  of  earnestness  of  purpose.*"  (8)  imagination,  see 
(?h.  iii.  17.  will  bring,  better,  have  IroiKjht :  the  reference 
!)eing  to  the  fact  constantly  illustrated  in  their  history  that  dis- 
obedience always  brought  calamity.  (D)  a  conspiracy,''  or 
general  agreement  in  disobedience  to  God's  covenant.  (10) 
went  after,  or  walked  after. 

Experience  of  depravity. — An  African  said  to  a  missionary, 
"  Yesterday  morning,  when  you  preach,  you  show  me  that  the 
law  be  our  schoolmaster  to  bring  us  to  flirist.  You  talk  about 
j  the  ten  commau<lments.  You  begin  at  the  first,  and  me  say  to 
myself.  '  Me  guilty  ! '  the  second,  •  Ble  euilty  ! '  the  third,  •  Jle 
guilty  ! '  the  fourth,  '  Me  guilty  ! '  the  fifth,  '  Me  guilty  ! '  Then 
you  say  the  sixth.  Thou  shalt  not  kill.  Me  say,  '  Ah  !  me  no 
guilty,  me  never  kill  some  person.'  You  say,  '  I  suppose  plenty 
people  live  here,  who  say,  Me  no  guilty  of  that ! '  Me  say  again 
in  my  heart,  '  Ah,  me  no  guilty ! '  Then  j'ou  say,  '  Did  you 
never  hate  any  person  ?  Did  you  never  wish  that  such  a 
pei'son,  such  a  man.  or  such  a  woman,  was  dead  .' '  JNIassa,  you 
talk  plenty  about  that:  and  what  I  feel  that  time  I  cant  tell 
you.  I  talk  in  my  heart,  and  saj'.  '  ]\Ie  the  same  person  ! '  My 
heart  begin  to  beat ;  me  want  to  ciy  ;  my  heart  heave  so  much 
me  dont  know  what  to  do.  Massa,  me  think  me  kill  tep 
people  before  breakfast !  I  never  think  I  so  bad.  Afterwards 
you  talk  about  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  lie  take  off  our  sin.  I 
think  I  stand  the  same  like  a  person  that  have  a  big  stone  upon 
him  head,  and  can't  walk — want  to  fall  down.  0  m-a.^-'sa  1  I  have 
trouble  too  much  ;  I  no  sleep  all  night.     I  hope  the  I«ord  Jesua 


Cap.  xl.  11-20.] 


JEREMIAH. 


51 


Christ  will  take  my  sins  from  me.     Suppose  He  no  save  me,  I 
shall  go  to  hell  for  ever." 

11 — 14.  (11)  will  bring,  better,  are  alwvt  to  hrinrj.  not 
hearken,  bee.  the  time  for  judgment  has  fully  come.''  (12) 
cry  .  .  gods,  ch.  ii.  28  ;  De.  xxxii.  ."7,  38.  (13)  shameful 
thing,  Heb.  hoxhcth,  shame  ;  the  name  of  contempt  for  Baal.'' 
(14)  pray  not,  ch.  vii.  1(5.'= 
Hope  against  drttpair. — 

l)espair  not,  Virtue,  who  in  sorrow's  hour 
Sigh'st  to  behold  some  idol  overthrown, 
And  from  the  shade  of  thy  domestic  bower 

Some  green  branch  gone,  some  bird  of  promise  flown : 
God  chastens  but  to  prove  thy  faithfulness, 

And  in  thy  weakness  He  will  be  thy  stay  ; 
Trust  and  deserve,  and  He  will  soothe  and  bless  ;^ 

The  darkest  hour  is  on  the  verge  of  day. 
Despair  not,  Man.  however  low  thy  state, 

Kor  scorn  small  blessings  that  around  thee  fall ; 
Learn  to  disdain  the  impious  creed  of  fate. 

And  own  the  Providence  that  governs  all. 
If  thou  art  baffled  in  thy  earnest  will, 

Thy  conscience  clear,  thy  reason  not  astray, 
Be  this  thy  faith  and  consolation  still. — 
The  darkest  hour  is  on  the  verge  of  day.' 

15 — 17.  (15)  lewdness,  light  regard  of  the  marriage  contract. 
or  covenant,  holy  flesh,  poss.  a  fig.  for  their  sacrifices,  wh. 
were  unacceptable  bee.  of  their  immorality  and  hj'pocrisy.  (16) 
green  olive,  comj}.  Ps.  lii.  8."  kindled,  etc.,  fig.  of  the  deso- 
lation wrought  by  the  Chaldaean  army.  (17)  planted  thee, 
and  so  hath  all  rights  in  thee,  evil,  in  the  sense  of  calamity, 
which  should  be  Divine  judgment,  against  themselves,  the 
einner"s  sin  is  always  to  his  own  hurt. 

Oriffinal  depravity. — Now  there  must  be  some  cause  of  this 
constant  and  universal  depravity  :  and  the  sacred  historian  refers 
it  to  our  nature  itself,  when  he  affirms  that  "  the  imagination  of 
man's  heart  is  evil  from  his  j-outh."  The  word  translated 
"youth  '"  is  not  only  used  to  denote  the  period  of  life  commonly 
so  called,  but  comprehend)!  infancy  also,  and  in  the  present  case 
(Gen.  viii.  21)  must  be  thus  understood  ;  for  we  cannot  account 
for  it  that  man  should  be  sinful  "  from  his  youth  "  unless  the 
seeds  of  evil  exist  in  his  constitution — unless  he  be  sinful  from 
the  commencement  of  his  being.  Such  a  description  would  not 
have  been  given  if  we  came  into  the  woi'ld  perfectlj^  pure,  or 
with  merely  a  tendency  to  evil,  which  might  be  checked  in  in- 
numerable cases  by  education  and  a  variety  of  circiimstances. 
The  tree  must  be  corrupted  to  the  core  which  produced  corrupt 
fruit  at  first,  and  continues  to  produce  it  as  long  as  it  stands.* 

18 — 20.  (18)  given  me  knowledge,  i.e.  of  the  evil  designs 
that  were  being  plotted  against  the  Prophet  himself."  (ID)  like 
a  lamb,  the  word  used  means  a  lamb  that  has  been  tamed,  so  as 
to  be  familiar  and  play  with  children,  tree  .  .  fruit,  fig.  for 
Jeremiah  and  his  prophecies.''  (20)  trlest  the  reins,  etc.,  1 
Sa.  xvi.  7,  etc.  thy  vengeance,  in  sense  of  righteous 
judgment. 

d2 


a  Ps.  xviii.  41  ; 
Pr.  i.  28;  Is.  i. 
15  ;  Mi.  iii.  4. 

b  Wordsworth. 

"  Tlie  errch'on  of 
altars  to  Baal  in 
evf-ry  street  of 
Jerusalem,  be- 
tokens a  public 
cstiiblishmrnt  of 
idola'ry,  such  as 
actually  took 
place  in  the  reign 
of  Jlauasseh." — 
f!pt.  Com. 

c  Je.  xiv.  11,12. 

t'.  12.  J.  Weemse, 
i.  82. 

d  Prince. 


a  Ro.  xi.  17. 

A  minister 
travelling 
through  the 

west,  some  time 
ag'o.  asked  an  old 
lady  on  whom  lie 
called,  what  she 
tlionpht  of  the 
diictriiie  of  total 
depravit}'.  "  Oh, 
sir !"  she  replied, 
"I  think  it  is  a, 
good  doctrine  if 
people  would  only 
live  up  to  it." 

"  Our  birth  is 
nothing  but  our 
death  begun,  as 
tapers  waste  that 
instant  they  take 
Are."  —  roung. 

6  Dr.  T.  Dick. 


a  "  Jeremiah  hero 
digresses  from 
his  main  subject, 
in  order  to  take 
special  notice  of 
tlie  attempt  wb. 
had  been  plotted 
upon  his  life  by 
his  own  tciwns- 
mcn.      It   would 


62 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.xli.  1— 4, 


liprrnlrd  (Irprarify. — AVhen  the  lig-ht  of  GofVs  grace  comes  into 
your  heart,  it  is  pometliing'  like  the  opening-  of  the  windows  of 
an  old  cellar  that  has  been  shnt  up  lor  many  days.  Down  in 
Ihat  cellar,  which  has  not  been  ojiened  for  many  months,  ai-e  all 
kinds  of  loathsome  creatures,  and  a  few  sickly  plants  blanched 
by  the  darkness.  The  walls  are  dark,  and  damp  by  the  tiail  of 
reptiles  :  it  is  a  horrid  filthy  )ilace,  in  which  no  one  would 
willingfly  enter.  You  may  walk  there  in  the  dark  very  securely, 
and,  except  now  and  then  for  the  touch  of  some  slimy  creature, 
you  would  not  believe  the  place  was  so  bad  and  filthy.  Open 
those  shutters,  clean  a  pane  of  srlass,  let  a  little  litfht  in,  and  now 
see  how  a  thousand  noxious  things  have  made  this  place  their 
habitation  !  Sure,  'twas  not  the  lig-ht  that  made  this  place  so 
horrible  :  but  it  was  the  liurht  that  showed  how  horrible  it  was* 
before.  So  let  God's  grace  just  open  a  window,  and  let  the  li;jrht 
into  a  man"s  soul,  and  he  -will  stanci  astonished  to  see  at  what  a 
distance  he  is  from  God.*^ 

21—23.  (21)  prophesy  not,  trying  thus  to  frighten  God's 
Prophet  with  thi-ir  threats."  (22)  young  men,  "  those  of  the 
legal  age  for  military  service."  famine,  in  the  time  of  the 
siege.  (2:?)  no  remnant,  of  those  who  thus  sought  the  Pro- 
phefs  life.*     even  the  year,  or  in  the  year. 

Ncrcr  yield  to  dc.yiriir. — 

Art  thou  low,  and  sick,  and  dreary  ? 

Ts  thy  spirit  sunk  and  weary 

■\Yich  its  light  against  the  ills  of  life,  that  seem  to  fill  the  air? 
Gird  thy  loins  once  more,  and  try, — 
The  stout  heart  wiu3  the  victory, 
But  never  dark  despair. 

Does  temptation  strong  approach  thee  ? 
Does  some  secret  wrong  reproach  thee 
With  its  conscious  voice,  accusing  thee  of  more  than  thou 
canst  bear  ? 
Before  high  heaven  cleanse  thy  breast; 
Go  sin  no  more,  and  thou'lt  find  rest, 
But  never  in  despair. 

Has  thy  love  of  man  grown  chary? 
Has  thy  trust  in  him  gi-own.  wary  ? 
Hast  thou  coldly  turn'd  a  deafen"d  ear  to  sin's  repentant  prayer  ? 
Think  that  none  can  enter  heaven. 
Who  has  not  others"  sins  forgiven, 

And  saved  them  from  despair.* 


CHAPTER  THE  TWELFTH 

1 — 4.  (1)  righteous  art  tho-a,  the  general  acknowledgment 
of  God's  justice  and  holiness.  3'-et,  rfc.  the  PiO]ihet  finds  ditli- 
culty  in  dealing  with  a  particular  case."  wherefore  . .  prosper  ? 
the  great  (piestiou  of  tli«-  times  of  the  later  monarchy.'  happy, 
by  reason  of  their  security.  (2)  month,  i.e.  iu  their  professions. 
reins,  regarded  as  the  seat  of  the  affections.'  (i?)  tried  mine 
still  lieM  fast  bis    heart,  .so  as  to  prove  my  sincerity,     pull  .  .  out,  Ileb.  trnr  tlicin 

^Tcluv\Ti'l  ti'ie   ""^•'^     ^"*'  ^^^  •  •  ^"^'  '"^'^  ^'^  ^""^  ^y  ^'^°  peo]ile  who  mock  the 
chftracta-  of  3o-   Prophet,  sure  that  ttej'  shall  outlive  all  his  threatenings.' 


appear  tlmt  lie 
h.iil  not  oiitpr- 
tained  tlioslitrlit- 
est  su?pici(jii  of 
their  intention, 
anil  tliat  lie  must 
liave  remained 
ignorant  of  it,  if 
it  had  not  been 
immediately  re- 
vealed to  him  by 
the  Omnisciciit 
Searcher  of 
hearts,"-i/fwrff/'- 
son. 

h     The       LXX.,  ' 
fender,   "Let  us 
put     wood     (('./■.  ' 
poison)  into   his 
bread."  I 

c  Spurgeon. 


a  "  This  was  the 
usage  the  Pro- 
phets commonly 
met  with  from 
those  who  be- 
came their  ene- 
mies, because 
they  told  them 
those  truths  they 
had  no  mind  to 
bear." — Lowth. 

h  Fr.  Ezr.  ii.  23, 
Ke.  vii.  27,  it  ap- 
pears that  1^8 
men  of  Aiia- 
thoth  returned 
from  exile. 

"  All  hope  is  last 
of  my  reception 
into  grace. 
What  -worse  ? 
For  where  no 
hope  is  left,  is 
left  no  fear." — 
Milton. 

C  Clements, 


a  "However  rlif- 
ficult  Jeremiah 
found  it  to  re- 
concile the  appa- 
rent discreiiaii- 
cies  of  the  Div. 
pcvernnient,    lie 


Cap.  xii.  5—9.] 


JEREMIAH. 


53 


Doctrinal  viyxterii's. — How  unreasonable  it  is  to  reject  any 
doctrine  which  is  revealed  to  us  in  the  Christian  Scriptures,  only 
because  we  are  unable  to  comprehend  how  it  can  be  !  The  words 
may  be  plain  and  evident  where  the  doctrines  which  they  contain 
are  mysterious  ;  and  how  much  safer,  and  wiser,  and  more  be- 
fitting our  present  condition  it  is  to  conclude  that  these  truths 
are  proposed  bj'  the  Author  of  light  to  prove  our  humility  and 
ready  acquiescence  in  His  will,  to  become  subservient  to  the  ends 
of  religion  by  exercising  the  obedience  of  our  reason,  and  pro- 
bably in  other  ways  which  at  present  we  cannot  perceive.  It  is 
not  intended  that  we  should  know  everything  in  this  present 
life  ;  it  is  not  agreeable  to  our  notions  of  a  state  of  trial  that  we 
should.  Many  things  we  must  at  present  take  for  granted,  upon 
the  authority  of  God"s  Word  ;  nor  is  this  any  juster  ground  of 
ccniijlaint  than  it  is  that  a  child  is  less  acquainted  with  the 
rea.-on  of  things  than  one  of  maturer  age.  That  man  acts  most 
agreeably  to  his  character  of  an  imperfect  and  ei-riug  creature, 
placed  in  a  state  of  discipline,  who  first  satisfies  himself  that  the 
Scriptures  are  indeed  what  they  profess  to  be,  the  Word  of  God  ; 
and  then  takes  in  hand  the  sacred  volume  of  truth  with  a  humble 
and  teachable  mind,  prepared  to  believe  all  that  is  therein  stated, 
because  he  finds  it  there  ;  and  to  practise  all  that  is  therein  com- 
manded, because  he  there  discovers  the  sure  will  of  God,  and  the 
motives  to  obedience.  This  it  is  to  receive  with  meekness  the 
engrafted  Word./ 

5,  6.  (.5^  run,  etc..  this  is  a  proverbial  saying,  and  intimates 
that  further  and  higher  indignities  awaited  the  Prophet  in 
Jerusakin."  land  of  peace,  the  open  champaign  country, 
swellings  of  Jordan,  lit.  tlte  pride  of  Jordan,  the  thickets  in 
the  JoiTlan  valley,  abounding  in  wild  l)casts.*  Some  refer  this 
expression  to  the  Jordan  floods.''  (G)  brethren,  ch.  ix.  4.  a 
multitude,  or  called  aloud. 

Gradathxm  of  trial  (r.  .5). — Apply  the  text— 1.  To  those  who 
are  discouraged  in  the  service  of  God  by  trifling  difficulties  :  2. 
To  those  who  have  succumbed  to  feeble  temptations  ;  3.  To  such  as 
have  desponded  at  the  presence  of  slight  afflictions  :  4.  To  the 
large  class  who  have  failed  to  gain  spii-itual  profit  under  favour- 
able providences. — Tie  siri'lliitfi  of  Jordiui. — I.  The  river  Jordan 
an  emblem  of  death.  1.  It  rolled  between  the  desert  and  the 
Promised  Land  :  2.  It  separated  the  Israelites  from  the  people  of 
the  Promised  Land  ;  3.  It  must  be  crossed  before  the  Promised 
Land  be  reached  ;  4.  It  was  subject  to  occasional  rise  and  over- 
flow. II.  The  inquiry  concerning  our  conduct  in  reference  to 
the  river.  1.  Shall  we  refuse  to  enter  ?  2.  Shall  we  rush  recklessly 
on  ?  3.  Shall  we  construct  some  artificial  apparatus  '  4.  Shall  we 
adopt  the  method  of  deliverance  revealed  in  the  Gospel .'  how 
wilt  thou  do  .' '' 

7—9.  (1)  mine  honse,  or  temple,  dearly  beloved,  ch.  xi. 
15.  hand,  Heb.  the  pnlm..  here  especially  with  its  power  to 
Bqueeze  and  crush.  (8)  as  a  lion,  a  savage  beast  of  prey,  roar- 
ing against  Me."  hated  it,  this  term  can  only  be  applied  to 
God  with  qualification.  God  cannot  Jmto  in  the  sense  that  man 
may  hate.  ('.»)  speckled  bird.''  one  differing  in  plumage  from 
the'  others,  which  the  other  birds  peck  to  death.  By  accepting 
heathen  rites  the  Jews  had  acquired  a  mutlcy  appearance. 


hovah."  —  Hen- 
\  derson. 

i  6. Job  xxi.  7 — 17; 
j  Ps.  xxxvii.  1 — 35, 
I  Ixxiii.     3.    5,    7, 

xcii.  7;Hab.i.  13. 

c  Ps.  vii.  9. 

d  "  Ura?  them  by 

ni.iiu    jiirce    oub 

j  of  tlie  flock,  and 

\  make  examples  of 

thorn,    that     all 

men      may      ac- 

1  knowlcilge    ttat 

(  there  is  One  who 

j  u(l  peth      tlie 

1  earth."  —  S^'k. 

Com. 

€   "It    is    mora 

'  than  this  :  it  is 
the  ath(.'istical 
boast  of  the  im- 

'  pious,  in  their 
prosperity,    that 

I  Got!    Himself 

j  would  never  see 
their  destruc- 
tion." —  Woids- 
tcoith. 

f  Dp.  Blomfield. 

n  "If  he  could 
not  bear  with 
the  ill-usage  of 
his  acquaintance 
and  neigiiboura 
at  Anathoth, 
how  would  he  be 
able  to  undergo 
the  hardships  he 
must  expect  to 
meet  with  from 
the  great  men  at 
Jerusalem,  who 
would  unani- 
mously set  them- 
selves against 
him  y" — Lowth. 

b  Henderson. 

c  Wordsicorth. 

d  G.  Brooks. 


a  "  My  people 
have  blasphemed 
Me  and  My  laws, 
just  like  a  wil<i 
beast,  that  opens 
its  mouth  ag.ainst 
every  one  that 
withstands  it." — 
Lowlh. 
b  Heb.  tsabuang. 


54 


JEREiTIAn. 


[Cap.  3ril.  10-13. 


a  term  of  very 
uncertain  sigiiili- 
caiion. 


a  "  Ttcvfniifs  had 
tliis  meaning  in 
olil  time." — Upk. 
Cum. 

•'There  is  a  bitter 
irony  in  '  your 
revenues,'  tliose 
revenues  which 
ye  liave  cliosen 
for  yoursDlves,  in 
opposition  to  Jfy 
command,  and  in 
preference  to  Jly 
service  and  fa- 
vour, the3'  shall 
be  the  cause  of 
your  shame." — 
Wordsworth. 

At  a  communion 
in  the  west  of 
Scotland,  as  a 
verbose  preacher 
was  addressing 
the  congrega- 
tion, one  by  one 
liis  ministerial 
brethren  dropped 
out  of  the  chapel 
into  tlie  vestry. 
As  the  last  one 
who  left  put  his 
head  into  the 
vestry,  those  who 
preceded  him  in- 
quired if  the 
prolix  speaker 
had  not  yet 
finished  his  ad- 
dress. "  Weel," 
said  he,  "  his 
tow's  dune  lang 
syne,  but  he's 
spinniu'  awa' 
yet." 

A  Quaker  once 
discovered  a  thief 
in  his  house;  and, 
taking  down  his 
grandfather's  old 
fowling-piece,  he 
quietly  said, 
"Friend,  thee 
h.ad  better  get 
out  of  the  way  ; 
for  I  intend  to 
fire  this  prun 
riglit  where  thee 
■tauds." 


Kiife  on.  r.  9. — Dr.  Boothroj'd,  "  Ravenous  birds."  The  context 
confirms  this  rendering',  and  also  the  marginal  reading,  "  talons." 
Considering  the  numerous  birds  of  prey  in  the  East,  it  is  no 
wonder  that  there  are  so  many  allusions  in  the  Scriptures  to  their 
ravenous  propensities.  Of  a  ferocious  man  it  is  said,  "  That 
fellow  is  in  every  place  with  his  talons."  "  What  I  wretch,  have 
you  come  hither  to  snatch  with  your  talons  ! "  "  Alas  !  alas  I 
how  many  has  this  disease  snatched  away  in  its  talons  ! "  "  True, 
true,  even  my  own  children  have  now  got  talons."'' 

10 — 13.  (10)  pastors,  as  previously,  ruJiT.t,  here  the  refer- 
ence is  to  the  ChaLlcean  generals.  trodden  .  .  foot,  doin^ 
ruinous  injury  to  the  young  shoots,  pleasant  portion,  romp. 
ch.  xi.  IG.  (11)  it  mournetll,  waileth  in  its  utter  desolation  ; 
the  vei'y  laud  seeming  to  cry  for  inhabitants.  (12)  no  flesh,  as 
Ge.  vi.  3,  mankind  as  A-(«/w';'.?.  (13)  to  pain,  the  extreme  labour 
of  their  idol  service,     raven 'Ues,  or  the  produce  of  the  fields." 

JVotc  on  i\  10. — Besides  successive  invasions  by  foreign  nations, 
and  the  systematic  spoliation  exercised  by  a  despotic  government, 
other  causes  have  conspired  to  perpi^tuate  the  desolation  of  Juda;a, 
and  to  render  abortive  the  substance  that  is  in  it.  Among  these 
has  chiefly  to  be  numbered  its  being  literally  trodden  under  foot 
by  many  pastors.  Volney  devotes  a  chapter,  fifty  pages  in  length, 
to  a  description,  as  he  entitles  it,  *'  Of  the  Pastoral,  or  "Wandering- 
Tribes  of  Syria,"  chiefly  of  the  Bedouin  Arabs,  by  whom  espe- 
cially Juda3a  is  incessantly  traversed.  '•  The  pachalics  of  Aleppo 
and  Damascus  may  be  computed  to  contain  about  thirty  thou.saud 
wandering  Turkmen  (Turcomans),  All  their  jjroijerty  consists  ia 
cattle."  In  the  same  pachalics,  the  number  of  the  Curds  •'  exceed 
twenty  thousand  tents  and  huts,"  or  an  equal  number  of  armed 
men.  "  The  Curds  are  almost  everywhere  looked  upon  as  robbers. 
Like  the  Turkmen,  these  Curds  are  joastors  and  wanderers.  A 
third  wandering  people  in  Syria  are  the  Bedouin  Arabs."  "  It 
often  happens  that  even  individuals  turn  robbers,  in  order  to 
withdraw  themselves  from  the  laws,  or  from  tyranny,  unite  and 
form  a  little  camj),  which  maintain  themselves  by  arms,  and,  in- 
creasing, become  new  hordes  and  new  tribes.  We  may  pronounce, 
that  in  cultivable  countries  the  wandering  life  originates  in  the 
injustice  or  want  of  policy  of  the  government :  and  that  the 
sedentary  and  the  cultivating  state  is  that  to  which  mankind  is 
most  naturally  inclined."  "It  is  evident  that  agriculture  must 
be  very  precarious  in  such  a  country,  and  that,  under  a  govern- 
ment like  that  of  the  Turks,  it  is  safer  to  lead  a  wandering  life 
than  to  choose  a  settled  habitation,  and  rely  for  subsistence  on 
agriculture."  "  The  Turkmen,  the  Curds,  and  the  Bedouins,  have 
no  fixed  habitations,  but  keep  jierpetually  wandering  with  their 
tents  and  herds,  in  limited  districts,  of  which  they  look  upon 
therrtbelvcs  as  the  proprietors.  The  Arabs  spread  over  the  whole 
frontier  of  Syria,  and  even  the  plains  of  Palestine."  Tlius,  con- 
trary to  their  natural  inclination,  the  peasants,  often  forced  to 
abandon  a  settled  life,  and  pastoral  tribes  in  great  numbers,  or 
many,  and  without  fixed  habitations,  divide  the  country,  as  it 
were,  by  mutu.al  consent,  and  apportion  it  in  limited  districts 
among  thems(>lves  b}'  an  as^^nmed  right  of  property,  and  the 
Arabs,  subdivided  also  into  dilTerent  tribes,  spread  over  the  plains 
of  Palestine,  "  wandering  jii-rjietually,"  as  if  on  veiy  puiijose  to 
tread  it  down.    What  could  be  more  unlikely  or  uonatural  in 


Cap.  xlii.  1—5.] 


JEREMIAH. 


55 


Biich  a  land  !  yet  what  more  strikingly  and  strictly  true  !  or  how 
else  could  the  effect  of  the  vision  have  been  seen  !  Many  pastors 
have  destroyed  my  vineyard  ;  they  have  trodden  my  portion 
under  foot.* 

14 — 17.  (14)  evil  neiglilDOiirs,  the  nations  in  the  vicinity 
of  Judah,  who  doubtless  took  evil  advantage  of  the  times  of  her 
weakness  and  peril."  Syrians,  Edomites,  Moabites,  Ammonites, 
and  Philistines,  pluck  .  .  Judah,  by  its  removal  into  captivity. 
(15)  return,  etc.,  or  I  will  again  have  compassion.  These 
neighbours  shared,  in  measure,  with  Judah  in  the  restoration. 
(10)  "ways  .  .  people,  who  then  shall  have  wholly  given  up 
their  idolatry,  the  Lord,  or  Jehovah.'  (17)  not  obey,  Is. 
Lx.  12. 

8inful  companions  to  he  abandoned  hi/  the  Christian. — Some- 
times great  sinners  must  abandon  their  companions.  For  fre- 
quently there  are  sins  which  in  their  very  nature  are  so  wrapjjed 
up  in  companionship  that  no  man  can  be  safe  who  does  not  break 
with  companions  as  well  as  with  courses.  It  is  not  as  a  general 
rule.  I  do  not  say  that  a  young  man,  violating  no  cano/j  of 
morality,  dwelling  in  a  virtuous  home,  and  only  with  his  com- 
panions worldly  and  sinful  by  the  higher  sentiments  misapjaro- 
priated,  ought,  when  he  becomes  a  C'hristian,  to  abandon  those 
companions.  On  the  contrary,  he  ought  to  be  a  better  companion 
than  he  ever  was  before.  But  if  you  have  been  in  lust's  com- 
panionship, if  you  have  been  in  the  fiery  strifes  and  toils  of  the 
passions,  then  the  fire  burning  in  your  companions  will  not  easily 
be  slaked  in  you.  There  must  be  something  more  than  a  simple 
and  barren  attempt  to  turn  away  from  sin.  You  must  break 
with  your  comjjanions.« 


CHAFTER  THE  THIRTEENTH. 

1 — 5.  (1)  unto  me,  in  vision.  Some  think  this  symbolical 
act  was  literally  done  by  Jeremiah  ;  others,  with  more  proba- 
bility, regard  it  as  done  in  vision."  linen  girdle,  i.e.  the  inner 
girdle,  worn  next  the  skin,  put  .  .  water,  i.e.  to  wash  it.  Let 
it  be  in  its  dirtv  stfte  :*  representing  the  "deep-grained  pollu- 
tion of  the  people."  (2— i)  Euphrates,  Heb.  Phrath:  either 
the  river  of  Babylon  f  or  the  original  name  of  Bethlehem. 
Ejihrafh.''  It  is  hardly  possible  to  conceive  that  Jer.  went  twice 
to  the  Euphrates,  a  distance  of  200  miles,  hole,  or  cleft.  Typi- 
cal of  the  Jewish  captivity. 

Note  on  r.  4. — The  girdle  of  the  Orientals  is  sometimes  made  of 
silver  or  gold,  or  embroidered  silk,  or  highly  dyed  muslin.  Its 
uses  are,  to  keep  the  lower  garments  fast  to  the  loins,  to 
strengthen  the  body,  and  to  command  respect.  Chiefs  have 
numerous  folds  of  muslin  round  that  \nvt,  and  they  march  along 
with  great  pomp,  thus  enlarged  in  their  size.  That,  therefore, 
which  was  of  so  much  use,  and  ^^'hich  indicated  the  dignity  of 
the  wearer,  was  to  be  marred,  tyjiifying  the  degradation  of  the 
Jews  in  their  approaching  captivity.  The  Hindoos  have  a  cus- 
tom of  burying  certain  articles  by  the  side  of  a  tank  or  river,  in 
order  to  iutlict  or  prefigure  evil  in  reference  to  certain  obnoxious 
individuals  who  are  thus  jjlaccd  under  the  ban.  Thus  eggs, 
human  hair,  thread,  a  ball  of  saffron,  or  a  little  of  the  earth  on 


b  Keith. 

a  "  During  the 
thirteen  years 
that  the  Bab. 
be.~ieged  Tyre, 
NfbiK'hadnezzar, 
after  subduing 
C  ce  1  a  -  S  y  r  i  a, 
brought  Amnion, 
Moiib,  etc.,  and 
finally  Kgypt, 
into  subjection." 
— Fausuct. 

b  "  The  embrac- 
ing of  the  true 
religion  is  repre- 
sented as  con- 
sisting in  an 
avowal,  with  all 
the  solemnity  of 
an  oath,  that  Je- 
hovah alone  was 
God."  —  Hundtr- 
son. 

r.  15.  Bishop 
O'Bcirne,  ii.  441. 

c  C.  U.  Spui-geon. 


a  "  The  world 
the  Proph.moved 
in  was  not  the 
sensible,  but  the 
spiritual  world. 
Inward  acts 
were,  however, 
wlien  it  was  pos- 
sible and  proper, 
materialised  by 
0  u  t  \v  a  r  d  per- 
formance, bub 
not  ahvaj'S  and 
necessarily  so." 
— /■((  usset. 

b  "  Jeremiah  was 
to  wear  it  con- 
st.antlv,  though 
full  of  the  effects 
of  pcrspinition, 
and  never  to 
wash  it:'— Mau- 


c     f^pl:      Com. ; 
Wordsworth,  etc. 

d  Henderson,  Uit' 
zig,  etOi 


66 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  xill.  6-ia 


e  Roberts. 

a  "To  that  con- 
dition the  Jews 
liail  been  reduced 
by  the  coTupt- 
ing  idoliitries  of 
tlie  heathen. 
They  liad  dis- 
qualified tliem- 
selves  for  acting 
as  witnesses  for 
Jehovali  as  tlie 
only  true  God, 
and  like  a  cast- 
away girdle,  they 
were  to  be  lium- 
bled  and  re- 
jected. "  —  IJeu- 
derson. 

b  Ex.  xix:.  5,  C  ; 
De.    iv.    7  ;     I's. 

CXiCXT.  4. 

c  C.  •Simeon,  J/..4. 

a  Je.  XXV.  15 ; 
Is.  xxviii.  7  ; 
Eze.  xxiii.  31. 

"  God"s  judg- 
ments are  often 
represented 
under  tlie  fig.  of 
a  cup  full  of  in- 
toxicating li- 
quor."—iiiC^A. 
b  '■  As  wine  In- 
toxicates.so  God's 
wrath  and  jmlg- 
Dients  shall  re- 
duce them  to 
that  state  of  help- 
less distraction 
that  they  shall 
rush  on  their  own 
ruin." — Fiiussi-t. 
c  Eze.  V.  10; 
Mat.  X.  21. 

vv.  12—17.  Ori- 
gen,  Op.  iii.  193. 

The  wisest  liabit 
is  the  habit  of 
care  in  the  for- 
mation of  habits. 

d  Clietver, 


ti  "The metaphor 
is  taken  from  the 
dan^^iTs  to  which 
travellers  arc 
exposed  who,  in 
a  drirlc  and 
stormy  night, 
cross  mountain 
regions,  wliere 
they  are  liable  at 
every  step  to 
Etumble   against 


which  the  devoted  person  has  had  his  feet,  are  buried  in  the 
situations  alluded  to.' 

6—11.  (C))  after  many  days,  during'  wh.  the  g-irdlc.  left  iu 
the  damp,  would  become  mouldy,  and  quite  unfit  for  use."  (7) 
digged,  wh.  intimates  that  tlic  girdle  had  b?en  actually  buried 
in  the  soil.  (8.  !))  the  pride,  i.e.  the  temporal  grandeur.  The 
Jews  returned  fr.  Bab.  as  a  very  feeble  folk.  (lOj  evil  people, 
as  being-  self-willed.  The  expression  limits  the  application  of 
this  symbol.  (11)  cleave  to  me,'  the  inner  girdle  is  the  closest 
cleaving  part  of  a  man's  dress. 

Cnnfi'inpt  of  (rod's  mercies  (r.  11). — I.  The  honour  which  God 
has  designed  for  His  people  :  the  primary  use  of  the  girdle  is  to 
bind  up  the  garments  around  the  loins,  but  a  girdle  is  also  of  use 
for  ornament.  II.  The  way  in  which  this  honour  is  contemned 
by  the  Jews.  What  can  be  a  more  just  description  of  ourselves  ? 
Address — 1.  In  the  way  of  appeal;  2.  In  a  way  of  encoui'age- 
ment." 

12—14.  (12)  bottle  .  .  -wine,  bottles  were  used  for  holding' 
various  liquids  :  what  Jer.  asserts  here  is,  that  the  bottle  shall 
be  filled  with  iri/ii;  wn.  is  the  symbol  of  the  ivrnth  of  God." 
certainly  know,  the  language  of  sneering  and  derision.  (13) 
witli  drunkenness,  the  ruin  of  those  who  have  drunk  the 
wrath  of  God.'  (14)  dash  them,  as  drunken  men  tuml)le  one 
against  another.  In  drunkenness  men  will  injure  their  own 
wives  and  children." 

The  drunhdrd  s  thrnhlom. — The  writer  of  the  pamphlet  entitled 
"The  Confessions  of  a  Drunkard,''  say^<.  "  Of  my  condition  there 
is  no  hope  that  I  should  ever  change  :  the  waters  have  gone  over 
me  ;  but  oirt  of  the  black  depths,  covtld  I  be  heard,  I  would  ciy 
aloud  to  all  those  who  have  set  a  foot  in  that  perilous  fiood. 
Could  the  youth  to  whom  the  flavour  of  his  first  wine  is  as  deli- 
cious as  the  opening  scenes  of  life,  or  the  entering  upon  some 
newly-discovered  jiaradise,  look  into  my  desohition.  and  be  m.ade 
to  understand  what  a  dreary  thing  it  is  when  a  man  .shall  feel 
himself  going  down  a  precipica  with  open  eyes  and  a  passive 
will, — to  see  his  destruction,  and  have  no  power  to  stop  it,  and 
yet  to  feel  it  all  the  way  emanating  from  Mmself  :  to  perceive 
all  goodness  emptied  out  of  him.  and  yet  not  able  to  forget  a 
time  when  it  was  otherwise  ;  to  bear  about  the  piteous  spectacle 
of  his  own  ruin  :— could  he  see  my  fevered  eye,  feverL^h  with 
the  last  night's  drinking,  and  feverishly  looking  forward  for 
this  night's  repetition  of  the  follv  :  could  he  feel  the  bodv  of 
death  out  of  which  I  cry  hourly,  with  feebler  and  feebler  outcry, 
to  bo  delivered,  it  were  enough  to  make  him  dash  the  sparkling 
beverage  to  the  earth  in  all  the  pride  of  its  mantling  tempta- 
tion."'' 

15 — 18.  (lo)  not  prond,  so  as  to  reject  the  teaching  of  these 
symljols.  though  they  are  given  in  humiliiting  forms.  (13) 
give  ,glory,  by  makim,"-  confession.  Jos.  vii.  li).  darkness, 
Is.  viii.  2;).  dark  motintains,  where  travelling  is  perilous." 
gross  darkness.  Be.  xxviii.  2'.).  (17)  -weep  in  secret,  in- 
dicating that  he  '«ould.  in  sorrow,  retire  from  jileadiig  any 
longer  with  t1iem.  "  Touching  expressions  of  tender,  hopeless 
grief."  (1^^)  king,  Jehoiaehin.  or  Jeconiah.  queen,  or  queen- 
mother,  Kchuslita.''    principalities,  mars',  hcad-iircs. 


Cap.  xiil,  19—24.] 


JEREMIAH. 


57 


Pride  (v.  15). — I.  Different  kinds  of  pride.  1.  Race  pride — 
pride  in  ancestors  :  2.  Face  pride — pride  in  outward  appearance  ; 
3.  Place  pride — pride  in  social  position  ;  4.  Grace  pride — pride 
in  godliness.  H.  The  warning-.  Be  not  proud — I.  Because  we 
have  nothing  to  be  proud  of  ;  2.  Because  it  is  abhorrent  to  God  ; 
3.  Because  it  is  unlike  Christ ;  4.  Because  it  is  ruinous.  Apply : — 
(1)  Some  are  very  proud  ;  (2)  Some  occasionally  ;  (3)  Some  are 
bravely  struggling  against  pride. <" 

Ante  on  v.  IS. — The  margin  lias  instead  of  "principalities," 
"  or  head  tires."  This  again  alludes  to  the  threatened  judgments 
which  were  to  befall  the  people  and  their  rulers.  Dr.  Boothroyd 
has,  instead  of  ''  ijrincipalities,"  '•  the  diadem  of  your  glory."  Of 
a  proud  man  who  treats  another  with  contempt  it  is  said,  "  Ah  ! 
his  turban  will  soon  fall."  •'  Yes.  imperious  upstart !  thy  head- 
dress will  soon  come  down."  "  Have  you  heard  of  the  proud 
wife  of  Kandan  ?"  '•  No.'  "  Her  head  ornaments  have  fallen  ; 
she  is  humbled."  "  Ah,"  says  the  bereaved  father  over  the  dead 
body  of  his  son,  "  my  crown  is  fallen  !  my  crown  is  fallen." 
When  men  quarrel,  it  is  common  for  the  one  to  say  to  the  other, 
"I  will  beat  thee  till  thy  turban  fall."  When  they  tight,  the  great 
object  of  the  combatants  is  to  pull  off  each  other's  turban  or 
head-dress,  because  it  shows  that  the  individual  is  then  disgraced 
and  humbled.  The  feelings  of  a  man  who  has  his  turban 
knocked  off  his  head  are  probably  something  like  those  which 
are  produced  by  the  knocking  off  of  a  man's  wig.  For  the 
turban  to  fall  off  the  head  by  accident  is  considered  to  be  a  very 
bad  omen.  Jehoiakim  and  his  queen  were  to  have  their  "  head 
tires  "  brought  down  ;  they  were  to  be  humbled  on  account  of 
their  sins." 

19 — 22.  CIO)  cities  .  .  soutll,  i.e.  of  the  Kcgeb,  or  southern 
district  of  Judah.  shut  up,  as  besieged.  This  indicates  that 
the  invader  would  overrun  the  whole  country.  (20)  flock,  tig. 
for  the  cities  grouped  round  Jerusalem.  They  are  suddenly  and 
wholly  s-wept  away  by  the  enemy.  (21)  taugllt  .  .  captains, 
i.e.  thine  own  seeking  aid  from  these  Assyrians  rather  than  from 
thy  God.  has  really  given  them  the  mastery  over  thee."  (22) 
Wherefore,  etc.,  ch.  v.  19,  xvi.  10. 

6W.<(  retrihuttvejv.stice  (r.  21). — I.  Let  us  endeavour  to  estab- 
lish the  doctrine  that  retributive  justice  belongs  to  God.  II. 
This  will  lead  us  to  as.sail  your  hope  of  impunity  from  it.  1.  The 
fir.st  foundation  of  the  sinner's  hope  is  derivable  from  God's 
delay  ;  2.  Prosperity  ;  3.  The  mercy  of  God.  III.  We  proceed  to 
answer  the  question.  1.  Wilt  thou  say,  I  do  not  deserve  the  con- 
demnation .'  2.  Or,  I  was  not  warned  I  3.  Or,  There  was  no  way 
of  escajoe  ?' 

23,  24.  (23)  Ethiopian,  the  African  negi-o,  whose  skin  is 
nearly  black."  accustomed,  practised,  so  that  evil  has  become 
the  f'ettled  habit.  (24)  stubble,  left  from  the  thrashing, 
■wind  .  .  •wilderness,  wh.  lias  nothing  to  hinder  its  full  sweep. 

T/ie  nlanvinfi  pniver  of  xin  (v.  2:0.— -The  long-continued  im- 
penitence of  men  aug-ments  the  difficulties  in  the  way  of  their 
salvation.  I.  The  habits  of  men  are  strengthened  and  confirmed 
by  indulgence.  II.  The  influence  of  this  world,  as  men  advance 
in  life,  usually  becomes  more  perplexing,  and  a  greater  hindrance 
to  their  conversion.     III.  As  years  increase,   men   become  less 


some  projecting 
angle  of  a  roolc, 
and  so  be  procipi- 
tateil  iuto  the 
abyss  below." — 
Henderson, 


b  2  Ki.  xxiv.  8— 
15. 

"  The  Heb.  kings 
generallymarried 
women  who  were 
not  of  royal  race, 
but  were  sub- 
jects; they  had 
also  many  wives. 
Honce  the  posi- 
tion of  a  Qufen 
Consurt  was  an 
inferior  one,  but 
that  of  a  Queen 
Mother  was  one 
of  considerable 
i  n  fl  uen  ce."  — • 
Worii^a-orlh, 
V.  15.  Dr.  N. 
Bnulu,  ii.  129. 
r.  16.  lip.  Till/' 
lot;  V.  4G2;  /{. 
Erskine,  vi.  389  ; 
Dr.  II.  Graves,  iv. 
581  ;  C.  Dullen, 
204. 

c  J.  nmton. 

d  Hjberls. 

a  "  When  Aliaz 
made  himself  tri- 
butary to  the 
king  of  Assyria, 
he  taught  the 
Assyrs.  Uow  they 
mi^'lit  become 
masters  and  con- 
querors over  liis 
own  country, 
whenever  they 
pleased."— ioii7  A. 

6  W.  Jay. 


a  A  Cushite  of 
Africa,  not  of 
Arabia. 

"  Habit  is  second 
nature :  as  tliere- 
fore  it  is  morally 
impjssible  that 
the  Jews  c^iil 
alter  their  in- 
veterate habits 
of  sin,  nothing 
rcmaiui  but  tka 


58 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  xiii.  23,  24. 


infliction  of  tlie 
exireui'st  pun- 
ishment, their 
exp;v  ri.ition."  — 
Faussct. 

Pr.  xxvii.  22  ;  Is. 
i.  5  ;  Mat.  xi.x.  24. 

t'.  23.  Dr.  T.  Ilnr- 
tOH,  300 ;  /);•. 
Ci'iiaiil,  i.  59 ; 
Abj>.  Tillolson,  ii. 
291;  J.  Aheriiel/iu, 
iv.  2!J!i;  /■•.  67.V'/- 
ton,  ii.  214  :  Dr. 
J.  J  riiii,  78  ;  G. 
J.  ZMIiknff,-r,  ii. 
133  ;  Bp.  D.  Wil- 
son, 4U5. 

b  Dr.  G.  Spring. 

How  flifficult  it 
is  foi-  an  indivi- 
dual to  change  his 
character  is  well 
set  forth  in  tlie 
Eastern  proverb, 
"  If  any  one  telU 
you  tliat  a  mou  n- 
tain  lia^  changed 
its  place,  believe 
it  ;  bat  if  any 
one  says  that  a 
man  lias  changed 
his  cliaracter,  be- 
lieve it  not." 

There  are  four 
good  habits- 
punctuality,  ac- 
curacy, steadi- 
ness, and  de- 
spatch. With- 
out the  first  of 
these  time  is 
■w.asted  ;  without 
the  second,  mis- 
takes the  inost 
hurtful  to  our 
own  credit  and 
interest,  and  that 
of  other.;;,  may  be 
c  o  m  ni  i  1 1  e  d  ; 
\vith')ut  tlie  tliinl 
nothing  can  be 
well  dune  ;  and 
\v  i  t  h  out  the 
fourth,  opportu- 
nities of  great 
advantage  are 
lost,  wliich  it  is 
impossible  to  re- 
call. 

"It  is  very  true 
that  pr^'Oi'pts  are 
useful,  but  prac- 
tice an  1  imita- 
tion go  far  be- 
y  o  n  li  the  m  ; 
Ueuce    the    iin- 


interested   in   the   subject  of  reli.2:ion,  and  more  obdurate  and 
averse   to   any   alteration   in   their   moral   character.     IV.    The 
thoug-lit  of  multiplied  and  long-continued  transgression  is  very 
apt  to  discoura.gc  all  attempts  at  repentance.     Y.  There  is  awful 
reason  to  apprehend  that  God  will  leave  men  of  this  description 
to  perish  in  their  sins.     Apply — (1)  To  the  aged  ;  (2j  Those  in 
middle  life  ;  (3)  To  the  young.* 
A  Per.<iian  poem. — 
Plant  in  Eden's  fair  garden  a  bitter-fruit  tree  ; 
Let  its  waters  of  heavenly  purity  be, 
Let  rich  dropping  honey  bedew  the  young  root, — 
Still,  still  you  will  find  that  bitter's  the  fruit. 
Bring  the  heavenly  peacock,  and  cause  it  to  brood 
O'er  the  eg^  of  a  raven,  and  then  let  the  food 
Of  the  nestling  be  fig-seeds  from  Eden's  fair  tree, 
And  let  Gabriel  breathe  on  it — holy  is  he  ! 
Let  it  drink  of  the  water  of  sweet  Salsebil  — 
What  does  it  avail .'     'Tis  a  hoarse  raven  still 
Deposit  a  viper  in  that  rosy  bod, 
With  the  choicest  of  luxuries  let  it  be  fed, — 
Is  it  tamed  by  your  kindness,  or  softened  its  spite  7 
Oh,  no  !  it  turns  on  you  Avith  venomous  bite. 
By  night  bring  an  owl  to  your  elegant  bowers, 
Let  it  perch  on  the  rose-bushes,  sport  with  the  flowers  j 
But  as  soon  as  the  day  spreads  its  wings  on  the  sky, 
So  soon  will  the  owl  stretch  its  pinions  to  fly, 
And  seek  the  tall  forest,  in  darkness  to  lie. 
So  sure  as  our  garments  catch  odorous  smell 
In  a  shop  of  rich  perfume  —and  so  far  'tis  well^ 
They  will  borrow  as  surely  a  dark,  dusky  hue 
If  we  stand  by  a  forge — j'ou  allow  this  is  true. 
Then  wonder  no  more  if  a  dark,  evil  deed, 
From  a  dark,  evil  man  should  spontaneous  proceed. 
No  more  can  the  Eihiop  make  himself  white. 
Than  a  soul  of  mean  birth  can  emei'ge  into  light, 
And  show  itself  generous,  noble,  and  wise, — • 
So  let  not  the  poets  throw  dust  in  our  eyes. 
Power  of  early  habits. — '•  In  North  America  a  tribe  of  Indians 
attacked  a  white  settlement  and  murdered  the  few  inhabitants. 
A  woman   of   the  .  tribe,  however,  carried   away  a  very  young 
infant  and  reared  it  as  her  own.     The  child  grew  up  with  the 
Indian  children,  different  in  complexion,  but  like  them  in  every- 
thing else.     To  scalp  the  greatest  possible  number  of  enemies 
was,  in  his  view,  the  most  glorious  and  happy  thing   in   the 
world.     ^\'hilG  he  was  still  a  youth,  he  v>'as  seen  by  some  white 
traders,  and  by  them  conducted  back  to  civilised  life.    He  showed 
great  relish  for  his  new  life,  and  especially  a  strong  desire  for 
knowledge,  and  a  sense  of  reverence,  which  took  the  direction  of 
religion,  so  that  he  desired  to  become  a  clergyman.     He  went 
throuoh  his  college  course  with  credit,  and  was  ordained.     He 
filled  Ills  fuuctious  well,  and  appi^ared  happy  and  satisfied.   After 
a  few  years  he  went  to  serve  in  a  settlement  somewhere  near  the 
seat  of  war  which  was  then  going  on  between  Britain  and  the 
United  States  ;  and  before  long  there  was  fighting  not  far  off. 
I  am  not  sure,"  says  Miss  Martineau,  "  whether  he  was  aware 
that  there  were  Indians  in  the  field  (the  British  having  soma 


Cap.  xiv.  1-6.] 


JEREMIAIT. 


5d 


tribes  of  Indians  for  allies),  but  he  went  forth  in  his  usual  dress,  ] 
black  coat  and  neat  white  shirt  and  neckcloth.  AVhen  he  re-  ^ 
turned  he  was  met  by  a  gentleman  of  his  acquaintance,  who  i 
was  immediately  struck  by  an  extraordinary  change  in  the  ex- 1 
pression  of  his  face,  and  the  fire  of  his  eye,  and  the  flush  on  his 
cheek ;  and  also  by  his  unusually  shy  and  hurried  manner. 
After  asking  news  of  the  battle,  the  gentleman  observed,  '  But 
you  are  wounded  I — Xo  ;  not  wounded  ?  Why,  there  is  blood 
upon  the  bosom  of  your  ghirt  1 '  The  young  man  crossed  his 
hands  firmly,  though  hurriedly,  upon  his  breast :  and  his  friend, 
supposing  that  he  wished  to  conceal  a  wound  which  ought  to  be 
looked  to,  pulled  open  his  shirt,  and  saw — what  made  the  young 
man  let  fall  his  hands  in  despair.  From  between  his  shirt  and 
his  breast  the  gentleman  took  out — a  bloody  scalp  !  '  I  could 
not  help  it,'  said  the  poor  victim  of  early  habits,  in  an  agonised 
voice.  He  turned  and  ran,  too  swiftly  to  be  overtaken  ;  betook 
himself  to  the  Indians,  and  never  more  appeared  among  the  j 
whites.''"^ 

25 — 27.  (2.5)  measures,  i.e.  the  oJlotted  and  adopted  portion  ' 
which  I  have  measured  out  to  thee.  (2(;)  shame  may  appear, ! 
with  allusion  to  the  public  disgrace  of  the  i:)roved  adulteress.  (27)  i 
abominations,  the  shameless  ceremonies  and  orgies  of  heathen  ' 
and  idolatrous  religions."  when  .  .  1)0  ?  marg.  "  after  when  ' 
yet '?"  '•  Thou  wilt  not  be  made  clean  after  how  long  a  time 
yet?" 

Gofrit  desire  to  hJe.i.t  the  n'lnner  (v.  27).— I.  Man's  uncleanness — 
1.  In  heart  ;  2.  In  life  ;  3.  In  religion.  II.  God's  desire  that 
he  should  be  clean.  III.  His  expostulation  with  us.  IV.  Our 
refusal.     V.  God's  condemnation.* 


CHAPTER  THE  FOURTEENTH. 

1 — 6.  (1)  dearth,  or  drought,"  ch.  svii.  8.  (2)  gates,  put 
for  the  people  who  congregate  in  the  gates,  black  .  .  ground, 
with  the  clothing  and  in  the  attitude  of  mourners.  (3)  little 
ones,  or  common  ones,  servants,  pits,  cisterns  for  preserving 
the  rainfall,  covered  their  heads,  the  sign  of  uttermcst 
distress.*  (4)  chapt,<^  cracked  with  the  drj'ness.  (5)  forsook 
it,  bee.  finding  herself  unable  to  feed  it.**  (6)  snuffed,  etc., 
trying  to  get  scent  of  grass  and  water  somewhere. 

Kofc  on  V.  4. — The  description  that  Sir  J.  Chardin  gives  us  of 
the  state  of  these  countries,  with  respect  to  tlie  cracking  of  the 
earth,  before  the  autumnal  rains  fell,  is  so  lively  a  comment  on 
Jer.  xiv.  4,  that  I  beg  leave  to  introduce  it  here  as  a  distinct 
observation.  The  lands  of  the  East,  he  says,  which  the  great 
diyness  there  causes  to  crack,  are  the  ground  of  this  figure, 
which  is  certainly  extremely  beautiful  ;  for  these  dry  lauds  have 
chinks  too  deep  for  a  person  to  see  to  the  bottom  of  :  this  may  be 
observed  in  the  Indies  more  than  anywhere,  a  little  before  the 
rains  f.all,  and  wherever  the  lands  are  rich  and  hard.  The 
Prophefs  speaking  of  i  loughmen  shows  that  he  is  speiiking  of 
the  autumnal  state  of  those,  countries  :  and  if  the  cracks  are  so 
deep  from  the  common  dj-yness  of  their  summers,  what  must 
they  be  when  the  rains  are  withheld  beyond  their  usual  time, 


portance  of 
watcliiug  early 
habits,  that  they 
may  be  free  from 
what  is  objec- 
tionable ;  and  of 
keeping  bcfor« 
our  mind,  as 
much  as  possible, 
the  necessity  of 
imitating  the 
good  and  the 
vise  ;  without 
settled  principle 
and  practical 
virtue,  Ufa  is  a 
desert  ;  without 
Christian  piety, 
the  contempla- 
tion of  the  grave 
is  terrible." — Sir 
Wm.  Knighton, 
c  Miss  Martineau, 

a  Comp.  Je.  ii. 
20,  23,  24,  iii.  2, 
6. 

"  Men  blush  less 
for  their  crimes 
than  for  their 
weaknesses  and 
vanity."  —  Bi-uy- 
ere. 

b  Dr.  II.  Bonar. 


a  Hob.  hatsai'oth, 
or  restraint. 
Here  plural, 
restraints. 

"  The  heaven 
being  restrained 
fr.  giving  rain, 
andilie  earth  be- 
ing restrained  fr. 
bearing  fruit, 
and  the  people 
being  reduced  to 
great  straitness 
and  distress." — 
\Yu)-dsu:oiili. 

"At  the  present 
day  Jerus.  li.as 
oniyono  fountain, 
tliat  of  tilcam.  A 
lack  of  rain  not 
only  produ.'ps  a 
deartli  of  crops, 
but  a  f.aikii-e  of 
water  to  drink."- 
a.  Jt-rome. 

b  2  Ga. 
xix.  4. 


XT.   30, 


60 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  xiv.  7—16. 


e  D.  Icappen,  Sw. 
kappa,  to  cut. 
cut  off.  Our 
word  chap,  means 
to  crack,  or  open 
in  Ions  slits. 
d  "  Tliese  crea- 
tures are  very 
Bh.arp  -  sighted"; 
anil  travellers  in 
the  desert  fre- 
quently avail 
themselves  of 
their  appearance, 
knowing  that 
there  must  be 
herbage  and 

wafer      in      the 
vicinit}-."  — //t?i- 
derxon. 
a  Vi.  cix.  21. 
b   2   Chr.  xxxiii. 
7,  8. 

c  Arab.  To  come 
suddenly  on  anj-- 
one  ;  to  con- 
found, strike 
dumb. 

r.  7.  T.  Boston, 
iv.  105  ;  T.  Scoi; 
T.  .-iSl ;  Dr.  //. 
Draper,  i.  322  ;  | 
C'.J3niti!eu,i.2i]  ;  j 
Ah/j.  Lei(jhtvii,m. 
S9().  I 

f.  8.    J.  WiUison,  ' 
457  ;  T.  B!aci-leij, 
li.  48.  i 

d      Sl,'mt      and  1 

a  '•  It  appears  ' 
from  this  r.  that  ! 
the  peojile  had  I 
again  engaged  in 
the  e.xternal  ser-  | 
vice  of  Jehovah,  i 
in  tlie  hope  that  I 
this  would  avert  I 
His  anger,  but  as  | 
they  were  not 
really  weaned  fr. 
idolatry,  it  is  de-  [ 
clared  to  be  in  [ 
▼ain."  —  Header-  • 

inn, 

Pr.  i.  28,  xxviii. 
0;    Is.      i.     15,  i 
Iviii.  3.  j 

V.  ID.  BUJinp  G.  \ 
Williariis,  87.  I 
b  Teachers'  Treas.  i 
a  Sj'k.  Com. 
V.  14.  J.  Boys, 
152. 

"  The  proud  he 
tamed,  the  peni- 
tent he  cheered, 
nor  to  rebnhe 
the  rich  offemler 
f  e  a  r ■ d ;  his 
preaching  much, 
but  more  his 
practice  wrought 


which  is  the  case  Jeremiah  is  referring-  to .'  This  refers  to  a 
(Iroug-ht  -which  was  to  take  place  in  Judah.  At  such  times,  in 
the  East,  the  ground  is  '•  chapt ;"  large  fi.=sures  meet  your  eye  in 
every  direction,  and  the  husl)audmen  are  then  ashamed  and  put 
to  confusion  :  tliey  know  not  what  to  do  ;  to  ploitgh  the  land 
under  such  circumstances  is  of  no  use,  and  therefore  they  are 
obliged  to  wait  till  it  shall  rain.  Thus,  should  the  rains  be  later 
than  usual,  the  people  are  daily  looking  for  them,  and  after  one 
night's  fall,  the  farmers  may  be  seen  in  every  direction  working 
in  their  fields  with  the  greatest  glee,  in  the  full  hope  of  soon 
casting  in  the  seed. 

7—9.  (7)  do  thou,  or  act  Thou  in  consideration  of  Thy 
mej-ciful  name,  not  of  our  deserts."  (8)  hope  of  Israel,  whose 
future  rests  on  the  Divine  promise  and  covenant.  stran<5er, 
who  concerns  himself  but  little  with  the  aifairs  of  tlie  land, 
wayfaring  man,  a  mere  traveller.  The  people  as  little  heeded 
God  as  they  did  the  mere  passing  stranger  or  traveller.  God 
dirc'lt  with  them.*  turneth  aside,  or  stretcheth  out  his  tent. 
(9)  astonied,"^  and  so  losing  presence  of  mind. 

A  pnnjt'r  fur  all  sea.s'ons  (v.  9).— I.  Here  is  a  prayer  for  all 
seasons.  1.  Times  of  joy  :  2.  Of  adversity  :  3.  Of  labour  :  4.  Of 
perplexity,  etc.  II.  Here  is  a  prayer  for  all  saiiits.  1 .  All  need 
to  pray  thus  ;  2.  All  mu^t  pray  thus  ;  3.  All  will  pray  thus.  III. 
Here  is  a  prayer  always  answered.  1.  For  it  is  according  to  Uia 
will ;   2.  For  it  honours  Ilis^ame.'' 

10 — 12.  (10)  loved  to  wander,  not  merely,  they  do  wander> 
but  they  love  it:  and  persistently  choose  the  evil  way.  (11) 
pray  not,  ch.  vii.  IG.  (12)  oblation,  Heb.  minchuh,  a  meat- 
offering." 

The  n-ngex  of  k'ui. — A  certain  tyrant  sent  for  one  of  his  subjects, 
and  said  to  him,  "  What  is  your  employment .' "  He  said,  ••  I  am 
a  blacksmith."  '•  Go  home  and  make  me  a  chain  of  such  a 
lengtli."  He  went  home  ;  it  occupied  him  several  montlis, 
and  he  had  no  wages  all  the  time  he  was  making  it.  Then  he 
brought  it  to  the  monarch,  Avho  said,  "  Go  and  make  it  twice  ag 
long."  He  brouglit  it  up  again,  and  the  monarch  said.  '•  Go  and 
make  it  longer  still."  Each  time  he  brought  it  there  was  nothing 
but  the  command  to  make  it  longer  still.  And  when  he  brought 
it  up  at  last,  the  monarch  said,  '•  Take  it  and  bind  him  hand  and 
foot  with  it,  and  cast  him  into  a  furnace  of  fire."  These  were 
the  wages  for  making  this  chain.     ''  The  wages  of  sin  is  death."  * 

13—16.  (13)  ah,  Lord  God,  ch.  i.  fi.  assured  peace,  last- 
ino-.  settled  peace.  (14)  lies,  their  statements  can  only  deceive, 
divination.  Do.  xviii.  10.  thing  of  nought,  Heb.  dil,  a 
diminutive  of  el,  Cod,  signifies  a  small  idol  made  of  the  more 
precious  metals."  See  ch.  xxiii.  21.  CI."))  therefore,  etc.,  ch.  v. 
12,  13.  (IG)  none  to  bury,  Fs.  Ixxix.  3. 
J'}iifhle,<:.'i  )»i?iisf^ei-. — 

Most  guilty,  villanous.  di>honest  man  ! 

Wolf  in  the  clothing  of  the  gentle  lamb  I 

Da,rk  traitor  in  the  Messiah's  holy  camp! 

Leper  in  saintly  gai-b  !  assassin  masked 

In  virtue's  robe  !  vile  hypocrite  accursed! 

I  strive  in  vain  to  set  his  evil  forth  ! 

The  words  that  should  suliicientlj^  accurse 


Cap.  XV.  1—4.] 


JEREMIAH. 


61 


And  execrate  such  reprobate,  had  need 

Come  glowing  from  the  lips  of  eldest  hell. 

Among  the  saddest  in  the  den  of  woe, 

Thou  saw'st  him  saddest  'mong  the  damned  now  damned.* 

17—22.  (17)  let,  etc.,  ch.  xiii.  17  ;  Ja.  i.  IG,  ii.  18.  virgin 
daughter,  as  never  having  been  previously  subdued  by  any 
foreign  prince.  (IS)  go  about  into,  go  into  exile  in  a  strange 
land."  (19)  lothed,  or  thrown  away  as  worthless.  (20)  have 
sinned,  the  cry  of  the  penitent  people.''  (21)  disgrace,  or 
show  as  if  Thou  didst  lightly  esteem,  throne  .  .  glory,  fig. 
for  the  temple,  as  earthly  dwelling  of  God.  (22)  vanities,  or 
idols,     thou  he,  who  alone  canst  send  the  plentiful  rain. 

Jluw  to  i^lead  with  God  {re.  20,  21). — We  propose — I.  To  explain 
this  prayer  of  the  Prophet ;  his  acknowledgments  are  plain  and 
easy  to  be  understood  ;  his  pleas  require  some  explanation.  II. 
To  point  out  some  important  lessons  contained  in  it.  1.  The 
true  nature  of  a  sinner's  humiliation  ;  2.  The  proper  grounds  of 
a  sinner's  encouragement.  Apply: — (1)  Have  you  ever  pleaded 
with  God  in  this  manner?  (2)  Have  you  ever  pleaded  thus  with 
God  in  vain  ?' 

Kote  on  r.  22. — There  are  persons  among  the  South  African 
nations  who  pretend  to  have  power  to  bring  rain  in  times  of 
drought,  and  who  are  called  rain-makers.  A  nation  seldom 
emploj's  their  o'svu  rain-maker,  but  generally  thinks  those  at  a 
distance  have  more  power  to  produce  it  than  those  at  home.  A 
rain-maker,  from  high  up  the  country,  once  travelled  with  my 
party  for  a  few  weeks.  I  asked  him  seriously,  if  he  really  believed 
that  lie  had  power  to  bring  rain  when  he  pleased  .'  His  reply  was, 
that  he  could  not  say  he  had,  but  he  used  means  to  bring  it : 
such  as  rolling  great  stones  down  the  sides  of  mountains,  to  draw 
down  the  clouds.  A  rain-maker  at  Lattakoo  who  was  unsuccess- 
ful, first  said  it  was  because  he  had  not  g-ot  sufficient  presents  of 
cattle.  He  then  desired  them  first  to  bring  him  a  live  baboon  : 
hundreds  tried  but  could  not  catch  one.  He  next  demanded  a 
live  owl,  but  they  could  not  find  one.  No  rain  coming  they  called 
him  rogue,  impostor,  etc.,  and  ordered  him  away."* 


CHAPTER  THE  FIFTEENTH. 

1—4.  (1)  Moses  and  Samuel,  the  most  persuasive  and  suc- 
cessful of  all  the  previous  intercessors."  Comp.  Eze.  xiv.  14. 
cast  .  .  sight,  or  send  them  away  :  it  is  too  late  for  any  answer 
of  peace.  (2)  such  .  .  death,  etc.  i.e.  each  to  the  various  form 
of  Divine  judgment  under  wh.  they  must  come.*  (3)  kinds, 
or  classes  of  calamity.  (4)  removed,  etc.,  De.  xxviii.  25. 
Manasseh,  2  Ki.  xxi.  3. 

Kote  on  v.  3. — An  Oriental  enemy,  as  in  former  ages,  cuts  down 
the  trees  of  the  country  which  he  invades,  destroys  the  villages, 
and  burns  all  the  corn  and  provender  which  he  cannot  carry  off  : 
the  surrounding  plain,  deprived  of  its  verdure,  is  covered  with 
putrid  carcases  and  burning  a.shes  :  the  hot  wind  wafting  its 
foetid  odours,  and  disuersing"  the  ashes  among  the  tents,  renders 
his  encampment  extremely  disagreeable.  During  the  niglit  the 
hycna-s.  jackals,  and  wild  beasts  of  various  kinds,  allui-ed  by  the 


— a  living  ser- 
mon of  tlietmths 
lie  taught." — 
Dryden. 

b  Pollock. 

a  "  Lit.  as  itine- 
rant merchants 
travelling-  for  the 
sake  of  gain." — 
(k'sinius. 

"  The  result  of 
their  covetous- 
ness  will  be  this, 
that  they  will  be 
obliged  to  wan- 
der to  and  fro, 
as  pedlars  and 
hucksters,  in  a 
strange  land, 
which  they  know 
not,  and  which 
will  not  deign  to 
know  them." — • 
Wui-dsworth. 

b  Is.  cvi.  6  ;  Da. 
ix.  8. 

!>.  21.  J.HoiDe.iL 
•145. 

''■  22.  E.  Barry, 
33. 

c  C  Simeon,  M.A. 

"Nothing  is  so 
haughty  and  as- 
.suming  as  igno- 
rance, where  self- 
cou3eit  bids  it 
set  for  infalli- 
bility."— South, 

d  Campbell. 


a  Ex-,  xxxii.  11— 
U;  Nu.  xiv.  13— 
20;  1  Sa.  vii.  9, 
-xii.  23  ;  Ps. 
xcix.  6. 

b  Intimati  ng 
that  for  each 
the  sentence 
has  been  pro- 
nounced, and  it 
only  awaits  e.xe- 
cution. 

Death  here  is  the 
plague.  The 
plneue  in  the 
.Miilille  Ages  was 
called  the'' WacJS 
death." 


62 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  XV.  5-14« 


"The  cmoUy  of 
the  effeiniiiato  is 
more  drea'lfuj 
than  that  of  the 
hardy." -M  I'd  to*. 

C  Puxtoii. 


a  "  Thy  sins  ren- 
der thee  un- 
worthy of  pity, 
and  everyboily 
that  sees  the 
calam  itles 
brought  upon 
thee  will  own 
them  to  be  just." 
—Loicth. 

b  Fausset. 

».  9.  R.IInll,Y.l. 

c  W.  J.  Stua>-t. 

d  Roberts. 

"  Much  more  may 
a  judge  over- 
weigh  himself  in 
cruelty  than  in 
clemency."  —  Sir 
P.  Siilnei/, 

e  Ibid. 

a  Oomp.  Job  iii. 
1 ;  Je.  XX.  15. 

b  Thy  loosing  or 
ddii^erance. 

Je.  xl.  4. 

"The  sweet 
words  of  Chris- 
tian promise, 
words  that  even 
yet  mipht  stem 
destruction .  were 
they  wisely 
preach  il,  are 
muttered  o'er  by 
men  whose  tones 
proclaim  how  flat 
and  wearisome 
they  feel  their 
trade;  rank  scof- 
fers some.  Vint 
most  too  indolent 
to  deem  them 
falsehoods,  or  to 
know  their 
truth."  —  Cole- 
ridge. 

"This  law  is  the 
magistrate  of  a 


scent,  prowl  over  the  field  with  a  horrid  noise  ;  and  a.s  soon  as 
the  morning  dawns,  a  multitude  of  vultures,  kite.?,  and  bird.s  of 
prey,  are  seen  assertino:  their  claim  to  a  share  of  the  dead.  Such 
was  the  scene  which  Forbes  contemplated  on  the  plains  of  Hin- 
dostan  ;  '"  and  it  was  to  me,"  says  that  writer,  "  a  scene  replete 
with  horrid  novelty,  realising  the  Projihefs  denunciation  :  '  I 
will  ap])oint  over  them  four  kinds,  saith  the  Lord  ;  the  sword  to 
slay,  and  the  dog's  to  tear,  and  the  fowls  of  the  heaven,  and  the 
beasts  of  the  earth,  to  devour  and  destroy.'  "<^ 

5 — 9.  C5)  ask  .  .  doest  ?  or  make  inquiry  for  thy  -welfare." 
"Tliey  that  pass  by  will  even  exult  over  thy  calamities."  (6) 
gone  backward,  ch.  vii.  24.  (7)  fan,  or  winnow  them,  as  the 
com  is  winnowed.  (8)  widows  .  .  sea,  a  strong  poetical  fig.  ; 
not  to  be  pressed  literally,  young  men,  the  word  means, 
picked  ivnrriovs.  (9)  SUn  .  .  day.  Am.  viii.  9.  '•  Fortune  deserts 
her  at  the  very  height:  of  her  prosperity."  * 

21ie  Chrixthm^i)  sun  (r.  9). — I.  The  Christian  has  a  sun,  so 
have  all  men.  1.  But  with  some  it  is  nature,  traditions  of  the 
fathers,  priestly  agency,  sacramental  efficacy,  fancied  superior 
morality  :  2.  Of  the  Christian  is  Jesus  as  set  forth  in  Holy  Writ. 
II.  The  Christian  is  sunnifled  by  his  Sun.  III.  The  Christian 
sunnifies  others :  he  reflects  and  spreads  the  brightness  of  his 
Sun.  Apply — 1,  To  sinners;  2.  To  saints;  3.  To  Chi'istian 
workers." 

^Tofe  on  v.  7. — "When  the  cholera  or  any  other  pestilence  rages, 
it  is  said,  "  Alas  !  this  sickness  has  fanned  the  people  away." 
"  Truly  they  have  been  suddenly  fanned  from  the  earth."  See 
on  Isa.  XXX.  24.'' — JVofe  on  v.  9. — Of  a  person  who  is  dead,  it  ia 
said,  "  He  is  set,"  and  of  one  dying.  "  He  is  setting."  Should  a 
beautiful  young  man  or  woman  be  reduced  by  sickness,  it  is  said, 
"  He  is  like  the  evening,  which  is  occupying  the  place  of  the 
morning  1 " " 

10 — 14.  (10)  woe  is  me,"  the  Prophet  here  expresses  his  own 
sorrowful  feelings,  strife  .  .  contention,  called  to  reprove 
publicly  the  licentiousness  of  the  times,  lent  on  usury,  fig. 
way  of  saying  that  he  had  no  causes  of  personal  quarrel.  (11) 
thy  remnant,''  either,  the  latter  part  of  Jer.'s  life,  or  with 
those  of  his  family  who  should  survive  him.  (12)  iron,  fig.  for 
Jer.'s  intercession,  northern  iron,  fig.  for  Chalda^ans.  steel, 
should  be  hra.^-.'t.  (13)  thy  substance,  not  Jer.'s.  but  that 
of  Judcea.  without  price,  without  allowing  any  ransom- 
price ;  or,  as  if  it  were  all  of  no  value.  (14)  fire,  etc..  De. 
xxxii.  22. 

JDr.  Arnold  (of  J?i/r/h)/'). — We  listened,  as  all  boys  in  their  better 
moods  will  listen  (ay,  and  men  too.  for  the  matter  of  that),  to  a 
man  who  we  felt  to  bo,  with  all  his  heart  and  soul  and  strength, 
striving  against  whatever  was  mean  and  unmanly  and  un- 
righteous in  our  little  '\%orId.  It  was  not  the  cold  clear  voice  of 
one  giving  advice  and  warning  from  serene  heights  to  those  who 
were  struggling  and  sinning  below,  but  the  warm  living  voice  of 
one  who  was  fighting  for  us,  and  by  our  sides,  and  calling  on  us 
to  hoi))  him  and  ourselves,  and  one  another.  And  so.  wearily, 
little  by  little,  but  surely  and  steadily  on  the  whole,  was  broughu 
home  to  the  young  boy,  for  the  first  time,  the  meaning-  of  hia 
life  :  that  it  was  no  fool's  or  Bluggard's  paradise  into  which  h9 


Cap.  XV,  15—18] 


JEREMIAH. 


63 


had  wandered  by  chance,  but  a  battle-field  ordained  from  of  old, 
where  there  are  no  spectators,  but  the  youngest  must  take  his* 
side,  and  the  stakes  are  the  life  and  death.  And  he  who  roused 
this  consciousness  in  them,  showed  them  at  the  same  time,  by 
every  word  he  spoke  in  the  jjulpit,  and  by  his  whole  daily  life, 
how  that  battle  was  to  be  fought ;  and  stood  there  before  them 
their  fellow-soldier  and  the  captain  of  their  band.  The  true  sort 
of  captain,  too,  for  a  boy's  army,  one  who  had  no  misgivings  and 
gave  no  uncertain  word  of  command,  and,  let  who  would  yield 
or  make  truce,  would  fight  the  fight  out  (so  every  boy  felt)  to  the 
last  gasp  and  the  last  drop  of  blood.  Other  sides  of  his  character 
might  take  hold  of  and  influence  boys  here  and  there,  but  it  was 
this  thoroughness  and  undaunted  courage  which  more  than  any- 
thing else  won  his  way  to  the  hearts  of  the  great  mass  of  those 
on  whom  he  left  his  mark,  and  made  them  believe  first  in  him, 
and  then  in  his  Master.' 

15 — 18.  (15)  remember  me,  Jer.'s  intense  expostulation,  and 
prayer.  There  is  something  of  impatience  in  its  tone.  (16)  eat 
them,  Eze.  iii.  3  ;  Re.  x.  1).  (17)  alone,  in  the  separation  of 
deep  feeling.  (18)  pain  perpetual,  figs,  for  his  exceeding 
grief  in  his  hopeless  mission,  liar,  or  as  a  deceitful  brook, 
whose  waters  fail  in  time  of  need. 

The  Word  of  God  jjreeions  (v.  IG). — I.  How  the  Word  of  God 
should  be  received.  1.  It  is  necessary  for  all :  2.  Suitable  for  all ; 
o.  Sufficient  for  all.  II.  "What  effect  it  will  produce.  1.  Its 
declarations  ;  2.  Its  precepts  ;  3.  Its  promises  ;  4.  Its  threaten- 
ings.  Jlay  we  not  learn  hence — (1)  \Vhat  enemies  to  their  own 
eouls  they  are  who  neglect  the  Holy  Scriptures  ;  (2)  "What  an 
unspeakable  blessing  is  the  Bible  Society." — Soid-fccding  (v.  16). 
— I.  The  grandest  discovery,  "  Thy  words  were  found."  1.  Explain 
the  universe  ;  2.  They  reveal  Himself  ;  3.  They  reveal  His  re- 
demptive provisions.  II.  The  richest  repast.  1.  They  satisfy 
the  cravings  of  hunger  ;  2.  They  invigorate  the  soul.  III.  The 
sublimest  delights.* 

Ilcnvij  Martyn. — "  What  do  I  not  owe  to  the  Lord,"  writes 
Henry  Martyn,  "  for  permitting  me  to  take  a  part  in  the  transla- 
tion of  His  Word  ?  Never  did  I  see  such  wonders,  and  wisdom, 
and  love,  in  the  blessed  book,  as  since  I  have  been  obliged  to 
study  every  expression  ;  and  it  is  a  delightful  reflectiou  that 
death  cannot  deprive  us  of  the  pleasure  of  studying  its  mys- 
teries."— Dr.  Bucharran. — The  same  testimony  was  given  by  a 
kindred  spirit  employed  in  the  same  work.  Shortly  before  his 
death.  Dr.  Buchanan,  giving  to  a  friend  some  details  of  his 
laborious  revisions  of  his  Syriac  Testament,  suddenly  stopped, 
and  burst  into  tears.  On  recovering  himself,  he  said,  "  I  am  not 
ill.  but  I  was  completely  overcome  with  the  recollection  of  the 
delight  which  I  have  enjoyed  in  this  exercise.  At  first  I  was 
disposed  to  shrink  from  the  task  as  irksome,  and  apprehended 
that  I  should  find  even  the  Scriptures  pall  by  the  frequencj-  of 
this  critical  examination.  But  so  far  from  it,  every  fresh  perusal 
seemed  to  throw  fresh  light  on  the  Word  of  God.  and  to  convey 
additional  joy  and  consolation  to  my  mind."  '•  How  delightful," 
observes  his  biographer,  "  is  the  contemplation  of  a  servant  of 
Christ  thus  devoutly  engaged  in  his  heavenly  Master's  work, 
almost  to  the  very  moment  of  his  trrnsitiou  to  the  Divine  source 
of  life  and  truth  itself  1 "  • 


man's  life.  It  13 
not  the  pilot 
flirectingtlie  ves- 
sel ;  it  is  the  ves- 
sel al)and<,ne(l  to 
the  force  of  the 
current,  the  in- 
fluence of  the 
tides,  ami  the 
control  of  the 
winds." —  Joseph 
JoJinson. 

c  Hughe*. 


a  C.  Simeon,  MJL 

b  Dr.  Thomas. 

"  Though  num- 
berless drops  be 
in  tlie  sea,  yet  if 
one  be  taken  out 
of  it,  it  hath  so 
much  the  less, 
though  insen- 
sibly ;  but  God, 
because  He  is  In- 
finite, can  admit 
of  no  diminution: 
therefore  are 
men  niggardly, 
because  the  more 
they  give,  the 
less  they  liave  ; 
but  Thou,  Lord, 
mayst  give  what 
Thou  wilt,  witli- 
out  abatement  of 
Thy  store.  Good 
prayers  never 
came  weeping 
home.  I  am  sine 
I  shall  receive 
either  what  I  ask 
or  what  I  should 
ask."— £;j.  Hall. 

"  I  adore  the 
fulness  of  the 
Scriptures,"  was 
the  exclamation 
of  Tertullian. 
'•  In  which  pos- 
ture of  holy 
a  d  m  ir  a  tion," 
paid  Dr.  Owen, 
'•  I  desire  my 
mind  may  be 
found  while  I 
am  in  t  b  i  8 
world." 


64 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap,  XV.  19-21. 


«  Spk.  Com. 


"Let  tliirv?  ad- 
versaries f,'ive  up 
their  error  for 
tliy  truth  ;  but 
do  not  thou  pive 
up  tliy  truth  to 
tlicir  error." — 
Wo>\Uioorlh. 


"  Do  not  thou 
couiplywitli  tlieir 
liuniour,  or  stuily 
to  soothe  tlieni  in 
their  wickedness; 
but  ratlier  en- 
d  e  a  V o u  r,  by 
vholesoine  re- 
proofs, to  turn 
them  from  the 
error  of  tlieir 
ways."— ioir//i. 


"  There  are  many 
things  tliat  ap- 
pear very  friij)it- 
ful  tliat  yet  do 
not  prove  at  all 
hvrl/ul  to  a  good 
m  a  n."  —  Ma  I. 
Henry. 


IT.  19,  20      T)r.J. 
Ou-en,  x'V.  157. 


I  Dr.  W.  Wilson. 


c  BucHngham. 


"  The  joy  of  the 
vicked  is  but 
for  a  moment ; 
that  of  the 
righteous  is  ever- 
lasting.  The 
■wicked  rejoice  ; 
but  their  joy  is 
simply  like  let- 
ting off  fire- 
w  o  r  k  s,  —  the  y 
blaze  away,  and 
seem  to  put  the 
modest  little 
stars  to  shame. 
Jiut  it  is  all  for  a 
little whili;:  they 
are  over  in  a 
moment,  while 
the  quiet  s*ars 
are  shining  still." 
— liei:  'J'.  Junes. 


d  Ilosiins, 


19 — 21.  (10)  return,  to  thy  duty  as  prophet:  from  this  Jer. 
seems  for  a  time  to  have  shrunk  iu  his  hopelessness,  precious 
.  .  vile,  "  cause  the  i)recious  metal  to  come  forth  from  the  dros-!."  " 
(20)  brasen  wall,  ch.  i.  18,  vi.  27.  (21)  the  terrible,  those 
even  who  act  towards  thee  with  violence. 

J/iii/gft'riril  <ihlif;fitio».<t  (r.  ID).— I.  We  have  a  Divine  admoni- 
tion as  to  personal  religion.  II.  We  have  also  a  Divine  dii-ection. 
III.  We  have  a  Divine  caution.' 

]\'aft'}:'i  that  fail  (c.  18). — Heb.  "Waters  that  are  not  to  be 
trusted,"  i.e.  such  as  are  delusive,  such  as  disappoint  expectation. 
That  which  Mr.  Harmer  proposes  simply  as  a  query,  may  be 
stated  as  a  very  probable  sug-gcstion,  viz.  that  in  these  ^^•ords  the 
Proi)het  alludes  to  the  phenomenon  of  the  miragre.  so  fretjuently 
mentioned  by  Eastern  travellers.  "There  is, "  says  Chardin,  ''a 
vapour  or  splendour,  in  the  plains  of  the  desert,  fonned  by  the  re- 
percussion of  the  rays  from  the  sand,  that  appears  like  a  vast  lake. 
Travellers  afflicted  with  thirst  are  drawn  on  by  such  appearances, 
but  coming  near  find  themselves  mistaken  :  it  seems  to  draw 
back  as  they  advance,  or  quite  vanishes."  "  To  the  south-east,  at 
a  distance  of  four  or  five  miles,  w^e  noticed  on  the  yellow  sands 
two  black  masses,  but  whether  they  were  the  bodies  of  dead 
camels,  the  temporary  hair-tents  of  wandering  Bedouins,  or  any 
other  objects,  magnified  by  the  refraction  which  is  so  strongly 
produced  in  the  horizon  of  the  desert,  we  had  no  means  of  ascer- 
taining. With  the  exception  of  these  masses,  all  the  eastern 
i"ange  of  vision  presented  only  one  unbroken  waste  of  sand,  till 
its  visible  horizon  ended  in  the  illusive  ai^pearance  of  a  lake,  thus 
formed  by  the  heat  of  a  midday  sun  on  a  nitrous  soil,  giving  to ' 
the  parched  desert  the  semblance  of  water,  and  reflecting  its 
scanty  shrubs  upon  the  view,  like  a  line  of  extensive  forests  :  but 
in  no  direction  was  either  a  natural  hill,  a  mountain,  or  other 
interruption  to  the  level  line  of  the  plain,  to  be  seen."'  "We 
have  f uffered  very  much  from  the  fatigue  of  this  day's  journey, 
and  have  still  five  days'  march  through  this  waterless  desert. 
The  only  object  to  interest  us,  and  relieve  the  weariness  of  mind 
and  body,  has  been  the  mirage  so  often  described.  Some  travel- 
lers state  that  this  phenomenon  has  deceived  them  repeatedly. 
This  I  am  surprised  at,  since  its  iieculiar  appearance,  joined  to 
its  occurrence  in  a  desert,  where  the  traveller  is  too  forcibly  im- 
pressed with  the  recollection  that  no  lakes  or  standing  pools 
exist,  would  appear  to  me  to  prevent  the  possibility,  that  he  who 
has  once  seen  it,  can  be  a  second  time  deceived.  Still,  this  does 
not  diminish  the  bcattty  of  the  phenomenon  :  to  see  amid  burn- 
ing sands  and  barren  hills,  an  apparently  beautiful  lake,  perfectly 
calm  and  unruffled  by  any  breeze,  reflecting  in  its  bosom  the  sur- 
rounding rocks,  is,  indeed,  an  interesting  and  wonderful  spectacle  ; 
but  it  is  a  tantalising  sight,  traversing  the  desert  on  foot.  alwaj'S 
with  a  scanty  supply  of  water,  and  often,  owing  to  their  great 
imi^rudence,  wholly  destitute  of  it."'' — T/ie  droiifjlit  in  Fcrstia. — 
A  correspondent  of  the  Lcrant  Ifcrnld  says  : — "  The  details 
which  reach  us  here  of  the  destittition  and  misery  which  the 
drought  of  last  year  has  caused  in  the  central  and  southern 
provinces  of  Persia  are  fearfully  heartrending.  That  the 
people  are  dying  of  hunger  even  in  the  streets  of  the  capital 
is  a  minor  phase  of  this  terrible  calamity.  In  Khorassau 
parents  are  selling  their  children  as  slaves  to  the  Turcomans  in 


Cap.  2:vl.  1—4.] 


JEREMIAH. 


63 


order  to  keep  them  alive,  and  in  Ispahan,  as  is  said,  men  have 
been  seizpd  in  the  act  of  dig'ging'  up  the  corpses  to  serve  as  food 
for  their  starving-  families.  In  Shiraz-Kerman  and  Verd  the 
wretched  sulf erers  endeavour  to  support  life  on  the  grass  and  roots 
which  they  may  find  in  the  neighbourhood,  and,  as  might  be  ex- 
pected, pestilence  follows  hard  on  the  footsteps  of  famine.  Be- 
tween tnem  the  half  of  the  kingdom  of  Persia  is  being  rapidly 
depopulated. 


CHATTER  THE  SIXTEENTH. 

1 — 4.  (1,  2)  not  .  .  wife,  marriage  was  regarded  as  a  duty 
by  the  Jews,  and  the  blessings  of  the  Mosaic  law  rested  upon 
fruitfulness."  In  commanding  Jer.  not  to  take  a  wife  God  in- 
timated that  during  the  impending  calamities  it  would  be 
impos.sible  to  bring  up  families  :  they  would  only  increase  the 
anxieties  of  siege  and  famine  times,  this  place,  the  land  of 
Judtea.  (3)  mothers  .  .  fathers,  who  are  so  deeply  ah'ected 
when  calamities  come  upon  their  children.  (4)  grievous 
deaths,*  by  disease,  famine,  and  sword.  Deaths  having  most 
distressful  features  for  parents,  lamented,  with  the  usual 
wailings  for  the  dead. 

3Iarvyln{i  unhclicvevs. — The  Rev.  S.  Kilpin,  of  Exeter,  had 
witnessed  the  awful  consequences  produced  in  the  Church  of 
Christ,  and  in  families,  from  those  who  professed  to  be  the  disci- 
ples of  Jesus,  forming  marriages  contrary  to  the  com ni and. — 
"  lie  not  unequally  yoked  with  unbelievers,"  "  only  in  the  Lord," 
etc.  As  he  never  shunned  to  declare  the  whole  counsel  of  God, 
this  subject  was  presented  to  his  congregation.  Ihe  next  day, 
a  gentleman,  whose  name  or  residence  he  never  knew,  called  to 
thii'iik  him  for  the  discourse,  adding,  that  his  state  of  mind  when 
he  entered  Exeter  was  most  distressing,  as  he  was  on  the  very 
point  of  complying  with  a  dreadful  temptation,  which  would 
have  embittered  his  future  life.  He  had  been  a  discijile  of 
Christ,  was  anxious  to  consecrate  his  life  to  the  service  of  his 
adorable  Master,  and  had  sought  a  helpmate  to  strengthen  his 
hands  in  serving  God.  A  lady,  whom  he  deemed  pious,  had 
accepted  his  addresses  ;  but  when  every  customary  arrangement 
was  made,  she  had  dishonourably  discarded  him.  His  mind  was 
so  exceedingly  wounded  and  disgusted,  that  he  had  determined 
to  choose  a  wife  who  made  no  profession  of  religion,  and  had 
fixed  on  another  object  for  his  addresses,  with  every  prospect  of 
success,  although  he  had  not  as  yet  mentioned  his  intention  to 
her.  He  added.  "  But  the  providence  of  God  led  me.  an  entire 
stranger  in  this  city,  to  your  meeting-house.  You  may  suppose 
that  your  subject  arrested  my  attention.  You  appeared  to  b.3 
acquainted  with  every  feeling  of  my  soul.  I  saw  my  danger, 
and  perceived  the  temptation,  and  the  certain  ruin  of  my  peace, 
if  th(!  dreadful  snare  had  not  been  broken.  Y'ou,  sir,  under  God,  i 
have  been  my  deliverer.  By  the  next  Sabbath  I  should  have  j 
been  bound  in  honour  to  an  enemy  of  that  Jesus  whom  I  adore  ;  i 
for  although  she  is  moral  and  externally  correct,  yet  she  knows  ] 
the  Saviour  only  in  name.  I  could  not  leave  the  city  in  peace  i 
until  I  hail  sought  to  make  this  communication.''  They  unitedly 
addressed  Him  who  can  deUver,   and  does  deliver  His  people. 

VOL.  LX.     O.T.  £ 


"  Life's  roarl  from 
youth  had  Lain 
through  grief 
au.i  gloom,  aud 
every  iiiile.stoue 
was  a  loved  oue'a 
tomb." — Huuse- 
hold  Words. 


a  De.  xxviii.  4. 

h  "  By  those  many 
maladies  whicll 
follow  in  the 
track  of  war  and 
famine." — Spk. 
Can. 

"  ThougJi  bache- 
1  o  r  s  be  the 
strongest  stakes, 
married  men  are 
the  best  binders, 
in  the  hedge  of 
tlic  common- 
wraith.  It  is 
the  policy  of  the 
Londoners,  when 
tliey  send  a  .'^liip 
into  the  Levant 
or  M  e  d  i  t  e  rra- 
nean  fea,  to 
make  every  ma- 
riner therein  a 
merchant,  each 
feaman  ventur- 
ing somewhat  of 
his  own,  wliich 
will  make  him 
more  wary  to 
avoid,  and  more 
valiant  to  un- 
dergo dangers. 
Thus  married 
men,  e.^pecially 
if  having  po.ste- 
rity,  are  the 
deeper  sharers 
in  that  State 
wherein  they 
live,  wliich  en- 
giigetli  their  af- 
fections to  the 
greater  loyalty." 
— Fuller. 

The  Cherokee 
marriage-cere- 
mony is  very  ex- 
p  r  e  s  s  i  V  c.  'J  lie 
man  ami  woman 
join  liands  over 
running  water 
to  indicate  that 
their  lives  are 
theiiceforih  to 
How  on  ill  one 
stream. 


66 


JEItEMIAn. 


[Cap.  xvl.  5—15, 


a  "  Oorl  here  an- 
tioijiatos  the  fiil- 
fil'ii"iit  of  Jcre- 
miali's  pro])li(.'- 
cics,  and  tells 
liim  how  to  de- 
mean himself 
when  they  shouM 
liavebeenaccoiM- 
plished."-IV'y/'(ii- 
irorlh. 

b  "  Among  the 
Greeks,  wlio  an- 
ciently, as  now, 
■wore  their  bair, 
the  custom  of 
tearinpr,  cuttint? 
off,  or  sliaving 
the  hair,  was  at 
Ic.ist  as  common 
as  among:  the 
Jews.  With  them 
t!ie  hair,  thus  se- 
parated him  the 
h^ail,  was  some- 
tiiHes  laid  upon 
tlio  corpse  as  a 
tribute  of  affec- 
twn  anil  regret ; 
sometimes  it  was 
CRst  upon  the 
fnneral  pile,  to 
ha  consiimeJ 
with  the  remains 
of  tlie  deceased ; 
and  on  otiier  oc- 
casions it  was 
laid  upon  the 
grave." — Kitlo. 
c  Am.  viii.  10; 
Jili.  i.  16. 

I'.  5. ./.  ('.  Dieleric, 
Ant.  CU). 
d  Brmnt. 

a  .7e.  vii.  34.  xxv. 
10;  Eze.  xxvi.  13. 

h  De.  xxi.x.  21;  1 
Ki.  ix.  8,  9. 

e  "  There  among 
idolaters  you  may 
iudulije  your  evil 
propensities  to 
the  full  ;  you 
may  practise 
j-oi;r  idolatries 
withont  inter- 
mission."-/vost«- 
vtiH/cr. 

r.  11.   J.  WeeTnse, 
i.  U3. 
d  Young. 


«  Cheever.  Thus,  while  part  of  his  congres-ation  thougrht  it  an  unfit  Bubjecfc 

for  the  pulpit,  at  least  one  person  received  it  as  a  message  from 
God,  by  whom  it  was  no  doubt  sent.' 

5 — 8.  (5)  house  of  mourning,  as  if  you  were  going  to  a 
mourning  feast.  Intimating  that  the  general  distress  would 
permit  no  such  feasts  as  were  usual  at  funerals. <«  (G)  cut 
themselves,  rtc,  Le.  xix.  28  ;  De.  xiv.  1.  This  was  a  heathen  cus- 
tom, wli.  it  seems  the  Jews  had  adopted  with  their  idolatry.* 
make  .  .  bald,  shave  a  bare  patch  on  the  front  of  the  head.'  (7) 
tear  themselves,  marg.  ''break  bread  for  them  :"  see  r.  5. 
cup  of  consolation,  it  was  the  custom  to  force  food  and 
drink  upon  mourners,  who,  in  their  first  grief,  often  fasted 
from  all  food.  (8)  house  of  feasting,  i-.  5. 
Blessing  in  monrniiifi. — 

Deem  not  that  they  are  blest  alone     ■ 
Whose  lives  a  peaceful  tenor  keep  ; 
For  God.  who  pities  man,  has  shown 
A  blessing  for  the  eyes  that  weep. 

The  lii^ht  of  smiles  shall  fill  again 
The  lids  that  overflow  with  tears  ; 
And  weary  hours  of  woe  and  pain 
Are  promises  of  happier  years. 

There  is  a  day  of  sunny  rest 
For  every  dark  and  troubled  night  ; 
Though  grief  may  bide  an  evening  guesi^ 
Yet  joy  shall  come  with  early  light. 

Kor  let  the  good  man's  trust  depart, 
Tliough  life  its  common  gifts  deny  ; 
Though  with  a  pierced  and  broken  heart, 
And  spurned  of  men,  he  goes  to  die. 

For  God  has  mark'd  each  sorrowing  day, 
And  number "d  every  secret  tear  ; 
And  heaven"s  eternal  bliss  shall  pay 
For  all  His  children  suffer  here.'' 

9 — 13.  (9)  voice,  efc,  including  all  private  and  publio 
seasons  of  rejoicing."  (10)  wherefore,  etc.,  ch.  v.  1!',  xiii.  22.* 
(11)  because,  of  rebellion  and  idolatry  persisted  in  through 
ereneration  after  generation.  (12)  worse,  etc.,  ch.  vii.  2(1  ;  1 
Ki.  xiv.  9.  (1,3)  imagination,  better,  stubbornness;  perversity, 
(i;^)  these,  in  the  captive  land  ye  may  do  your  own  will.  The 
sentence  is  ironical.''  not  .  .  favour,  i.e.  understand  that 
you  cannot  have  liberty  to  serve  idols  and  My  favour.  That  is 
conditioned  by  yoiu'  obedience. 

Saluto rinrs.'i  of  mniirninri. — 

How  wretched  is  the  man  who  never  moum'd 
I  dive  for  precious  pearl  in  sorrow's  stream  : 
Not  so  the  thoughtless  man  that  only  grieves, 
Ttikes  all  the  torment,  and  rejects  the  gain 
(Inestimable  gain),  and  gives  heaven  leave 
To  make  him  but  more  wretched,  not  more  wise.' 

(I  "The    suffer-'     14^   i5_    (],})  therefore,  or  '-yet  surelv."    days  come,  ch. 

thf  mi'.vionish  xxi'i-  7.  8."    (1.-))  land  of  the  north,  the  usual  appellation  of 

captivity  "will  be  ,  Chaldasa,  wh.  was  north  to  Judaea. 


^v 


Cap.  xvi.  16—18.1 


JEREMIAH. 


67 


Ground  of  confidenee. — There  is  a  story  of  a  young-  man  who 
was  at  sea  in  a  rag-ing-  tempest,  and,  when  all  the  passengers 
were  at  their  wits'-end  for  fear,  he  only  was  merry  ;  and  when 
he  was  asked  the  reason  of  his  mirth,  he  answered  that  the  pilot 
of  the  ship  was  his  father,  and  he  knew  his  father  would  have 
a  care  of  him.  The  great  and  wise  God,  He  is  our  pilot ;  He  t^its 
at  the  stern  ;  and  though  the  ship  of  the  Church  or  State  be  in 
a  sinking  condition,  yet  be  of  good  comfort,  our  Pilot  will  have 
a  care  of  us.'' — Three  epochs  of  confidence. — People  have  generally 
three  epochs  in  their  confidence  in  man.  In  the  first  they 
believe  him  to  be  everything  that  is  good,  and  they  are  lavish 
with  their  friendship  and  confidence.  In  the  next,  they  have 
kad  experience,  which  has  smitten  down  their  confidence,  and 
they  then  have  to  be  careful  not  to  mistrust  every  oaie,  and  to  put 
the  worst  construction  upon  everything.  Later  in  life,  they 
learn  that  the  greater  number  of  men  have  much  more  good  in 
them  than  bad,  and  that,  even  when  there  is  cause  to  blame, 
there  is  more  reason  to  pity  than  condemn  ;  and  then  a  spirit  of 
confidence  again  awakens  within  them."— (! 7/ )•(>!"/««  confidence. — 
A  soldier  lay  dying  in  the  hospital,  in  terrible  agony.  A  visitor 
asked  him,  "  What  Church  are  you  of  ?  "  "  Of  the  Church  of 
Christ."  he  replied.  "  I  mean  of  what  persuasion  are  you  ?  " 
"  Persuasion.'"  said  the  dying  man,  as  his  eyes  looked  heavenward, 
beaming  with  love  to  the  Savour,  "I  am  persuaded  that  neither 
death,  nor  life,  nor  angels,  nor  principalities,  nor  powers,  nor 
things  present,  nor  things  to  come,  nor  height,  nor  depth,  nor 
any  other  creature,  shall  be  able  to  separate  me  from  the  love  of 
God  which  is  in  Christ.'' — What  do  you  do  \\^thout  a  mother  to 
tell  your  troubles  to  ? "  said  a  child  who  had  a  mother  to  one 
whose  mother  was  dead.  "  Mother  told  me  whom  to  go  to  before 
she  died,"  answered  the  little  orphan.  "  I  go  to  the  Lord  Jesus. 
He  was  mother's  friend,  and  He  is  mine."  The  other  replied, 
"  Jesus  Christ  is  up  in  the  sky  ;  He  is  far  awny,  and  has  a  great 
many  things  to  attend  in  heaven.  It  is  not  likely  He  can  stop  to 
mind  you."  •'  I  do  not  know  about  that,"  said  the  orphan  ;  all  I 
know  is,  He  says  He  will  ;  and  that  is  enough  for  me."  The 
orphan  was  right.  God's  ear  is  open  to  babes  and  sucklings  as  to 
young  men  and  fathers. 

16 — 18.  (16)  fishers  .  .  hunters,^  reference  in  these  figures 
is  to  the  coming  judgments,  by  the  Chaldeans,  who  would  hunt 
out  the  people  from  their  hiding-places,  and  accomplish  a  general 
destruction.''  (17)  eyes  .  .  ways,  Job  xxxiv.  21  ;  Pr.  v.  21. 
The  judgment  is  one  decided  on  after  complete  inquiry  and 
perfect  knowledge.  (18)  first,  i.e.  before  accomplishing  the 
return  promised  in  v.  15.  double,  i.e.  in  proportion  to  God's 
usual  severity  in  punishing  men's  sins.  Bonhle  is  used  as  a  fig. 
meauirjg///^/y,  nmphj.  carcases,  so  in  contempt  the  olfering 
of  animals  in  their  idol  sacrifices  is  called."^ 

Dirine  comfort. — AVhen  a  man  walketh  in  the  sun,  if  his  face 
be  towards  it,  he  hath  nothing  before  him  but  bright  shining 
light  and  comfortable  h^at ;  but  let  him  once  turn  his  back  to 
the  sun,  what  hath  he  before  him  but  a  shadow  1  And  what  is 
a  shadow,  but  the  privation  of  light,  and  heat  of  the  sun  ?  Yea, 
it  is  but  to  behold  his  own  shadow,  defrauding  himself  of  the 
other..  Thus  there  is  no  true  wisdom,  no  true  happiness,  no 
real  comfort  but  in   beholding  the  countenance  of  God  ;  look 

E  2 


so  great,  that  tha 
deliverance  frorn 
tiiem  will  be 
more  joyous  than 
eveu  their  exodus 
from  Egypt." — 
WurdsKorlh. 

vr.  14,  15.  Ahp. 
Sijiiae,  i. 

b  Spencer. 

"Though  the 
mariner  sees  not 
tlie  polestar,  yet 
the  needle  of  the 
compass  which 
points  to  it  tells 
liiui  which  way 
he  sails  ;  thus 
the  heart  that  is 
touched  with  the 
loailstone  of  Di- 
vine love,  trem- 
bling with  godly 
fear,  and  yet  still 
looking  towards 
God  by  fixed 
believing,  inter* 
prets  the  fear  by 
the  love  in  the 
fear,  and  tells 
the  soul  that  its 
course  is  heaven- 
ward, towards 
the  haven  of 
eternal  rest." — 
Leiyhton. 

c  Miss  Bremer, 


a  Am.  iv.  2 ;  Hab. 
i.  15. 

b  "  lit.  under- 
stood, the  fishers 
are  the  main 
armies  who,  in 
the  towns  and 
fortresses,  cap- 
ture the  people 
in  crowds  as  in 
a  net,  while  thr 
hunters  are  the 
1  i  g  h  t  -  a  r  m  e  d 
troops,  who  pur- 
sue the  fugitives 
over  the  whole 
country,  and 

drive  them  out 
of  their  hiding- 
places  with  as 
eager  pleasure  88 
hunters  track  out 
their  gaw.e."— . 
<S^*.  Com. 


68 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap,  xvii.  1— 4. 


c  Some  think  tlie 
reference  is  to 
the  otfcriiis  of 
human  beinjjs.  or 
of  unclean  ani- 
mals. 
d  Upencpi: 

a  "  The  result  of 
God's  jmlsments 
on  the  Jews  will 
be  that  both  the 
Jews  when  re- 
stored, and  the 
Gentiles  who 
have  witnessed 
those  iudgnients, 
shall  renounce 
idolatry  for  the 
•worsliip  of  Jeho- 
vali." — fausset. 
b  Je.  ii.  11. 
c  "  Tlie  '  hand  ' 
and  '  might '  \vh. 
they  were  to 
know  and  feel, 
■were  the  severe 
alTlictious  to  be 
Buttered  durinj? 
the  captivity,  and 
whicli  they  re- 
quired to  e.xperi- 
ence  only  once 
more  in  order 
to  be  effectually 
weaned  from  ido- 
latry."—  Hender- 
son. 

V.     19.      Dr.     R. 
Morixnn,  183. 
d  T.  Bruoks. 


a  Tlie  metal  sty- 
lus for  writing' 
on  clay  tablets, 
the  point  of  wli. 
was  made  of 
some  hard  sub- 
stance, such  as  a 
diamond. 

h  "  On  Assyrian 
contract  -  tablets 
witnesses  who 
were  too  poor  to 
possess  a  seal  im- 
pressed a  nail- 
mark.  From 
these  nail-marks 
the  word  trans- 
lated point  has 
been  derived."— 
Jiib.  T/iinrjs,  etc. 

e  Is.  xi.  9,  Ivl.  7, 
Ivii.  13. 

See  C.  J.  Hon  re, 
"  All  Israel  Sa- 
ved," ltd.  117. 


from  that  and  we  lose  these  blessinprs ;  and  "what  shall  we 
fi'ain  ?  a  shadow,  an  empty  imaore  ;  instead  of  a  snhstantial, 
to  g'ain  an  emiity  imag-o  of  ourselves,  and  lose  the  solid 
imag-e  of  Cod.  Yet  this  is  the  common  folly  of  the  world  ; 
men  prefer  this  shadow  before  that  substance,  whereas  there  is 
not  the  least  appearance  of  any  true  comfort  but  in  God  only."* 

19—21.  (19)  fortress,  or  place  of  defence.  G-entiles,  in 
their  readiness  to  give  up  their  idolatry  shall  reproach  the 
hesitating  Jews  by  their  forwardness."  (20)  make  gods,  aa 
inconceivable  absurdity  in  the  very  statement.*  (21)  this  once, 
i.e.  in  this  overwhelming  judgment.*  the  Lord,  better  e/(7/(^cfl/t, 
the  covenant  name  of  God. 

Worldhj  comforts. — The  comforts  of  this  world  are  but  like  the 
treasures  of  snow  ;  do  but  take  a  handful  of  snov/.  and  cru.'^h  it 
in  your  hands,  it  will  melt  away  presently  ;  but  if  you  let  it  lie 
on  the  ground,  it  will  continue  for  some  time  :  and  so  it  is  with 
the  things  of  this  world  ;  if  you  take  the  comforts  of  this  life  in 
your  hands,  and  lay  them  too  near  your  hearts  in  aiiection  and 
love  to  them,  they  will  quickly  melt  and  vanish  away  from  you  ; 
but  if  you  leave  them  in  their  proper  place,  and  do  not  set  an 
inordinate  affection  upon  them,  they  will  continue  the  longer 
with  you  :  as  if  you  should  line  a  garment  with  linen,  it  M-ould 
do  very  well,  but  if  you  line  it  with  pitch  or  glue,  that  will  stick 
fast  to  the  body,  and  in  all  likelihood  soil  both  garment  md  the 
man  that  wears  it ;  so  when  the  world  is  glued  to  our  hearts,  it 
spoils  the  comforts  of  all  the  mercies  that  we  enjoy  :  and  so  ifc 
may  be  said  that  the  otherwise  lawful  ".se  of  them  is  abused, 
when  they  are  either  used  too  affectionately  in  making  gods  of 
them,  or  being  too  eagerly  bent  in  the  gaining  of  them."' 


CHAPTER  THE  SEVENTEENTH 

1 — 4.  (1)  pen  of  iron,  Job  xix.  24.  An  iron  chisel  suitable 
for  cutting  inscriptions  on  stones  ;  or  engraving  on  metal." 
point  .  .  diamond,  or  finger  nail.''  Such  a  pen  made  indelible 
marks,  and  so  did  the  sin  of  Judah.  altars,  plural.  God'a 
altar  was  one,  Baal's  altars  were  many.  Possibly  the  names  of 
the  idols  to  whose  service  the  altar  was  devoted  were  put  upon 
the  horns.  (2)  children,  whose  lives  might  be  sacrificed  in 
the  Moloch  rites.  Or  indicating  that  the  children  are  trained 
up  in  the  fathers'  bad  example.  (H)  mountain  .  .  field,'"  fig. 
for  Zion.  Field  means  '•  o]ien  country."  the  whole  country  of 
Judaea,  high  places,  1  iSa.  ix.  12.  for  sin,  or  because  of 
thy  sin.  (4)  discontinue,  cease  to  po.ssess  :  or  cease  to  till,  so 
that  the  land  shall  have  rest,  for  ever,  i.e.  until  its  consuming 
work  is  done. 

The  hnmhvrifinri  of  fjreat  aittliors. — An  old  compositor  who 
worked  upon  I'viich  many  j'ears  ago  tells  us  that  of  all  Ihe  able 
contributors  to  that  witty  iicriodical,  the  manuscripts  of  Douglas 
Jerrold  and  Gilljcrt  A'Beekctt  were  the  ri^t  peculiar.  Jcrrold's 
was  written  in  .almost  microscopic  characters  with  a  fine  gold 
pen.  and  so  close  that  one  of  the  sides  of  the  small  foolscap 
octavo  paper  he  used  wotild  nearly  fill  a  solid  brevier  column  of 
Ihtneh.  Jlr.  A'Bcckett's  was  altogether  the  reverse,  being  written 
very  wide  apart  and  on  post  octavo  paper.    It  had  a  very  curioua 


Cap.  xvii.  5—8.] 


JEREMIAH. 


appearance,  for  he  began  up  in  the  left-hand  corner  and  widened 
out  his  lines  till  he  finished  the  page,  in  a  diamond  phape,  down 
in  the  opposite  corner.  When  written  thus,  one  of  his  pages 
would  make  about  six  lines  of  type.  Mr.  Dickens  wrote  a  very 
unreadable  hand,  and  his  manusci-ipt  was  full  of  alterations, 
deletions,  and  interlineations.'' — Oviginalthj  uf  tcrltinfj. — If  you 
would  write  to  any  purpose,  you  must  be  perfectly  free  from 
within.  Give  yourself  the  natural  rein  ;  think  on  no  pattern,  no 
patron,  no  paper,  no  pi'ess,  no  public  ;  think  on  nothing,  but 
follow  your  impulses.  Give  yourself  as  you  are,  what  you  are, 
and  how  you  see  it.  Every  man  sees  with  his  own  eyes,  or  does 
not  see  at  all.  This  is  incontrovertibly  true.  Bring  out  what 
you  have.  If  you  have  nothing,  be  an  honest  beggar,  rather  than 
a  respectable  thief.' — Benefits  of  writliig. — The  habit  of  com- 
mitting our  thoughts  to  writing  is  a  powerful  means  of  ex- 
panding the  mind,  and  producing  a  logical  and  systematic 
arrangement  of  our  views  and  opinions.  It  is  this  which  gives 
the  writer  a  vast  superiority,  as  to  the  accuracy  and  extent  of 
his  conceptions,  over  the  mere  talker.  No  one  can  ever  hope  to 
know  the  principles  of  any  art  or  science  thoroughly  who  does  not 
W'rite  as  well  as  read  upon  the  subject/ — Adajitation  of  ii'vithig. 
— As  we  should  adapt  the  style  of  our  writing  to  the  capacity  of 
the  person  it  is  addressed  to,  so  should  we  our  manner  of  acting  ; 
for  as  persons  of  inferior  understandings  will  misconceive,  and 
perhaps  suspect  some  sophistry  from  an  elegance  of  expression 
which  they  cannot  comprehend  ;  so  persons  of  inferior  sentiment 
will  probably  mistake  the  intention,  or  even  suspect  a  fraud, 
from  a  delicacy  of  acting  which  they  want  capacity  to  feel.? — A 
man  with  a  clear  head,  a  good  heart,  and  an  honest  understanding 
will  always  write  well  ;  it  is  owing  either  to  a  muddy  head,  an 
evil  heart,  or  a  sophisticated  intellect,  that  men  write  badly,  and 
sin  either  against  reason,  or  goodness,  or  sincerity.  There  may 
be  secrets  in  painting,  but  there  are  none  in  style.  When  I 
have  been  asked  the  foolish  question  what  a  ycung  man  should 
do  who  wishes  to  acquire  a  good  style,  my  answer  has  been,  that 
he  should  never  think  about  it,  but  say  what  he  has  to  say  per- 
spicuously as  he  can.  and  as  briefly  as  he  can,  and  then  the  style 
will  take  care  of  itself.'' 

5—8.  (5)  trtistetli  in  man,  as  Judah  was  then  trusting  in 
Egypt  and  Assyria.  flesh.,  contrasted  with  God.  arm,  of 
reliance.  (6)  laeath,  Heb.  'ar'av,  wh.  is  both  a  "juniper"  and 
a  •■  destitute  man."  Here  a  dry  bush,  or  bare  tree."  salt  land, 
in  Heb  saltness  is  a  sign  of  barrenness.*  (7)  blessed,  etc., 
Ps.  ii.  12,  xxxiv.  8,  cxxv.  1.  (8)  tree,  etc.,  Ps.  i.  3.  river, 
or  watercourse.'  see  .  .  COmeth,  i.e.  shall  not  notice  it  bee.  the 
heat  brings  sense  of  feai:  careful,  or  anxious."*  drought, 
marsr.  restraint. 

'/he  curse  and  the  bJesshifj  (vv.  5— 8).— I.  The  curse.  1.  The 
person  against  whom  it  is  denounced,  the  self-reliant,  self-con- 
fident, etc.  ;  2.  The  language  in  which  it  is  expressed  implies 
that  the  person  shall  be  unprosperous,  useless,  worthless,  etc. 
II.  The  blessing.  1.  The  person  to  whom  it  is  promised:  he 
recognises  God  ;  2.  The  language  in  which  it  is  expressed. 
Appfy;— On  whom  dost  thou  trust  ."—Z'///>;T«fr  hetwecn  trusting 
man  and  Vol  (cc. .")— 8).— ]Man  not  independent;  must  have  a 
support}  often  selects   a  wrong  one.     1.  The  folly  and  evil  oi 


d  Dublin  Univer- 
sity Ma'jazine. 

"  That  was  a 
beautiful  tribute 
of  Napoleon  to 
the  supremacy 
of  mind  over 
phj'sical  force  in 
tlie  long  trial. 
'  Do  you  know, 
F  o  n  t  a  u  e  s,'  he 
said,  '  wliat  I 
admire  most  in 
the  world  ?  It 
is  the  powerless- 
iioss  of  force  to 
found  aiij'thiiig. 
There  are  only 
two  powers  in 
the  world — the 
sabre  and  the 
pen  ;  and  in  the 
end  the  former 
is  al  ways  con- 
(juered  by  the 
latter.' " — Anon. 

e  Emerson. 

f  Blakey. 

g  Greville. 

'•  Those  writer* 
who  lie  on  the 
watch  for  no- 
velty can  hav9 
little  hope  of 
greatness ;  for 
great  things  can- 
not have  escaped 
former  observa- 
tion."— Johnson, 
h  SoutJiey. 


a  Etrald,  Urn" 
breil,  etc. 

b  De.  xxix.  23; 
Ps.  cvii.  34  ;  Zep. 
ii.  9. 

c  "  Here  ap- 
parently an  arti- 
ticial  streamlet 
made  for  pur- 
poses of  irriga- 
tion."—5pA-.  t'vm. 

d  "  The  pious 
man  who  makes 
God  his  confi- 
dence is  truly 
liappy,  whatever 
may  be  the  out- 
ward circum- 
stances in  which 
he     may     b « 


70 


JEREMIAB. 


[Cap.  xvll.  0-1^ 


placed." — Ilen- 
dcrson. 

e  0.  Brooks. 

f   Delta    in    400 

Sks. 


a  "There  is  no 
sure  relianoe  to 
be  placed  in  the 
feelings  of  the 
lieart,  nor  in  the 
dictates  of  con- 
science, unless 
the  conscience 
be  informed  and 
reprnlated  by  the 
■nill  and  Word 
of  God."-Words- 
worth. 

b  Horsley. 

e  1  Sa.  xvi.  7 ;  Ps. 
vii.  9,  cxxxix.  1, 
23. 

d  "According  to 
the  Arabian  na- 
turalist Dnmir, 
there  was  an  old 
belief  that  the 
partridge  took 
egfi3  out  of  other 
biK.ii'  nests,  and 
that  Avhen  the 
young  were 
hatched,  and 

were  old  enough, 
they  ran  away 
from  their  false 
pare  n  t." — liib. 
Things. 

e  Albert  Barnes. 


/  G.  Brooks. 


g  Thcmns  Kll- 
ii-ond  (lliltou's 
friend). 


a  The  "  throne  of 
glory "  is  etiui- 
valiMit  to  Him 
who  is  enthroned 
in  glory. 


trusting'  in  man.  1.  Such  trust  is  idolatrous  in  principle  ;  2. 
Grovelling  in  its  aim  ;  i5.  Unreasonable  in  its  foundation ;  4. 
Destructive  in  its  issue.  II.  The  wisdom  and  benefit  of  trusting 
in  the  Lord.  1.  It  is  pious  in  principle  ;  2.  Elevated  in  its  aim  ; 
a.  Rational  in  its  foundation  ;  4.  Glorious  in  its  issue.  Apply  ; — 
(1)  A  mistake  to  suppose  the  rich  and  gay  happy,  and  the  poor 
and  pious  miserable ;  (2)  An  unreserved  confidence  in  God  can 
alone  seciu-e  our  happiness  and  the  Divine  favour.-'^ 

9 — 11.  (0)  deceitful,  i.e.  self -deluding.  We  may  never  trust 
it."  wicked,  or  mortally  sick,  incurable.''  (10)  search,  etc., 
thoroughly,  fr.  God  none  of  its  secrets  are  hidden.'  give, 
in  righteous  judgments.  (11)  partridge,  etc.,  better.  '•  gathereth. 
young  wh.  she  hath  not  brought  forth  :  "  or  "  as  the  i)artridge 
sitteth  on  eggs  wh.  she  hath  not  laid.''<i  The  idea  is  that  '•the 
covetousTiian  is  as  sure  finally  to  reap  only  disappointment  as 
the  partridge  wh.  piles  up  eggs  not  of  her  own  laying,  and  is 
unable  to  hatch  them." 

Tlie  deceitfulncis  of  the  heart  (y.  9). — 1.  Men  impose  on  them- 
selves in  respect  of  their  own  character  ;  2.  In  regard  to  their 
attachments  ;  3.  In  regard  to  their  power  of  resisting  temptation  ; 
4.  In  regard  to  their  promises  of  reformation  and  amendment. 
Apply  : — (1)  Their  danger  of  losing  the  soul ;  (2)  You  have  a  heart 
which  is  not  to  be  trusted  ;  (3)  Wake  from  all  delusions  to  the 
reality  of  yoiu*  condition.* — The  human  heart  (r.  9). — I.  Its 
deceitfulncss.  1.  It  misrepresents  the  nature  of  things  ;  2.  It 
conceals  the  tendency  of  things  ;  3.  It  practises  imposition  on 
itself.  II.  Its  wickedness.  It  is  so — 1.  Universally:  2.  Unsearch- 
ably ;  3.  Incurably.  Learn — (1)  Our  need  of  regeneration  ;  (2) 
The  claims  of  the  Saviour  ;  (3)  The  duty  of  Belf -examination.-' 

A  I\t"e)v  Year's  petition. — 

O  that  my  eyes  might  closed  be 

To  what  becomes  me  not  to  see  I 

That  deafness  might  possess  my  ear 

To  what  concerns  me  not  to  hear ! 

That  truth  my  tongue  might  always  tie 

From  ever  speaking  foolishly  ! 

That  no  vain  thought  might  ever  rest 

Or  be  conceived  in  my  breast ! 

That  by  each  word,  each  deed,  each  thought, 

Glory  may  to  my  God  be  brought  I 

But  what  are  wishes  ?  Lord,  my  eye 

On  Thee  is  fixed,  to  Thee  I  cry  : 

O  purge  out  all  my  dross,  my  sin. 

Make  me  more  white  than  snow  within. 

Wash,  Lord,  and  purify  my  heart. 

And  make  it  clean  in  every  part ; 

And  when  'tis  clean.  Lord,  keep  it  so, 

For  that  is  more  than  I  can  do.f 


12—14.  (12)  throne,"  the  first  refc-ience  is  to  the  Temple  as 
Jehovah's  earlhly  dwelling-place,  then    the  Prophet's  thought 
rises  to  Jehovah  Himself.     (13)  hope  of  Israel,  on  whose  word 
alone  Israel  can  safely  hope,    forsake  thee,  Ps.  Ixxiii.  27  ;  Is.  i. 
p  ••  \\  nuz    1  s  I  ■^^-    written  .  .  earth,  or  dust,  where  names  arc  soon  rubbed 
written    in    the !  out.    Contrasted  with  in  the  rock,  where  names  may  abide.* 


Cap.  xvii.  15—18.] 


JEREilTAff. 


71 


fountain  .  .  waters,  ch.  ii.  13.    (14)  thou  . .  praise,  i.e.  Thou 
only.     The  expression  of  simple  and  entire  trust  in  God. 

A  prin/cr  far  t;iilcafhui  (r.  14). — 1.  These  words  express  a  deep 
concern  about  salvation,  and  an  earnest  desire  to  obtain  it ;  2.  A 
firm  persuasion  that  God  alone  can  save  ;  H.  A  heartfelt  applica- 
tion to  God  for  salvation  through  the  medium  of  prayer  ;  4.  An 
unwavering  confidence  that  the  salvation  which  God  bestows  in 
answer  to  prayer  will  be  a  salvation  suited  to  the  wants  of  fallen 
man.'' 

Happiness  in  God. — The  happiness  of  this  mysterious  nature  of 
ours  is  never  to  be  found  merely  in  the  possession  of  Gods  gifts, 
the  work  of  His  hand,  or  the  bounties  of  His  providence.  The 
Boul  can  Snd  its  true  satisfaction  only  in  rising  beyond  the  gifts, 
and  claiming  the  Giver  as  its  own.  When  you  covet  the  friend- 
ship or  love  of  a  fellow-man,  it  does  not  satisfy  you  that  he 
bestows  upon  you  only  outward  gifts — his  money,  his  property, 
his  books  :  what  cares  a  loving,  longing  heart  for  these  ?  Unless 
the  man  give  you  something  more  than  these,  give  you  himself, 
and  become  yours  by  the  bond  of  deepest  sympathy  and  affection, 
the  rest  are  but  worthless  boons,  ^o  is  it  in  the  soul's  relation 
with  God.  That  after  which,  as  by  a  mysterious  and  inborn 
affinity,  every  devout  spirit  yearns,  it  is  not  God's  gifts  and 
bounties,  but  Himself.  The  wealth  of  worlds  would  be  to  the 
heart  longing  after  Deity  a  miserable  substitute  for  one  look  of 
love  from  the  Great  Father's  eye.  "My  soul  thirsteth  for  God" 
is  the  language  in  which  Scripture  gives  expression  to  this  deep 
want  of  our  nature,  and  points  to  the  ineffable  satisfaction  pro- 
vided for  it.  "My  soul  thirsteth  for  God.  for  the  living  God." 
"  As  the  hart  panteth  after  the  water-brooks,  so  panteth  my 
soul  after  Thee,  0  God  !  "  "  If  any  man  love  Me,  My  Father  will 
love  him,  and  we  will  come  unto  him,  and  make  our  abode  with 
him  ;"  '•!  in  them,  and  Thou  in  Me,  that  they  may  be  made 
perfect  in  one."'' 

15—18.  (15)  where,  etc.,  Is.  v.  19.  The  questions  of  the 
sceptic  and  the  scoffer.  (16)  not  hastened,  i.e.  had  not  in- 
truded himself  into  the  prophetic  office,  but  simply  followed  the 
Divine  call.  His  prophetic  office  was  his  Inirdcn.  wh.  in  obedience 
he  had  taken  up."  desired.  .  .  day,  no  wish  to  be  a  prophet  of 
evil.  bee.  I  had  any  vindictive  feelings.  (17)  terror,  or  cause 
of  dismay  ;  i.e.  by  not  fulfilling  the  threatenings  Thou  dost  bid 
me  deliver.  (18)  confounded,  etc.,  Ps.  xxxv.  4,  xl.  14.  double, 
complete,  and  unusual,  ch.  xvi.  18. 
Happiness  ereryivJtere. — 

True  Happiness  had  no  localities, 

No  tones  provincial,  no  peculiar  garb. 

"Where  Duty  went,  she  went :  witli  Justice  wept, 

And  M'ent  with  Meekness,  Charity,  and  Love. 

"Where'er  a  tear  was  dried,  a  wounded  heart 

Bound  up.  a  bruised  spirit  with  the  dew 

Of  sj-mpathy  anointed,  or  a  pang 

Of  lionest  suffering  soothed,  or  injury 

Repeated  oft,  as  oft  by  love  forgiven  ; 

"Where'er  an  evil  passion  was  subdued. 

Or  Virtue's  feeble  embers  fanned  ;  where'er 

A  sin  was  heartily  abjured  aTid  left ; 

^Vhere'er  a  pious  act  was  done,  or  breathed 


earth  may  b» 
easily  efiaced,  afc 
contrasted  with 
wliat  is  ■R-ritten 
in  a  book,  or  en- 
graven in  the 
rock."  —  Mender- 
son. 

c  G.  Brocks. 

Tlie  glory  of  God 
and  the  happi- 
ness of  man  are 
blondea  together 
by  the  Hand  that 
united  isoul  and 
body  in  one 
man,  light  and 
heat  in  one  snn, 
holiness  and  hap- 
piness iu.  one 
heaven  ;  and 
what  God  has 
joined  together 
let  not  man  put 
asunder. 

d  Dr.  Caird. 

"'What  you  de- 
mand is  here,  or 
at  UlubrsB.'  Tou 
traverse  the 
world  in  search 
of  happiness, 
which  is  within 
the  reach  of  every 
man:  a  contented 
mind  confers  it 
on  all." — Horace, 


(I  "  I   have    not 

forced  myself  for- 
ward to  follow 
tliee  as  a  shep- 
herd."—  Cmbreit. 
1.17.  /J.  Bcddome, 
iii.  63. 

"It  is  not  so  much 
by  the  symmeti-y 
of  what  we  attain 
iu  this  life  that 
we  are  to  be  made 
li.appy,  as  by  the 
en]i»'ening  hcpe 
of  what  we  shall 
reach  in  the 
world  to  come. 
While  a  man  is 
stringing  a  harp, 
he  tries  the 
strings,  not  for 
music,  but  _  for 
construction. 
When  it  is  finish- 
ed it  shall  be 
played  for  me- 
lodies. God  is 
fashioning  the 
human  heart  for 
future  joy.     He 


72 


JEREiflAn. 


[Cap.  xvii,  19-27. 


only  sounds  a 
Etrin^  lic'ie  nnd 
there  to  see  liow 
far  His  work  has 
progresied." — Jl. 
W.  Jliecher. 
b  Pollock. 


a  "As  the  Sab- 
bath was  insti- 
tuted as  a  sitru 
or  token  of  God's 
covenant  witli 
His  people,  the 
Jews  prof;iiiing 
the  Rabbatli  was 
in  effect  renounc- 
ing their  share  in 
the  coveuaut." — 
Lotcth. 

"  Bright  Sabbath 
morning,  on  the 
moor,  where  all  is 
still,  save  praise  ; 
and  where,  hard 
by.  the  ripe  gr.aln 
shakes  its  bright 
beard  in  the  sun  ; 
the  wild  bee 
hums  more  so- 
lemnly; the  deep 
sky,  the  fresh 
green  grass,  the 
Eun,  and  sunny 
brook." — BaiUy. 

h  Wayland. 


m  "  In  the  siege 
the  gates  of  Je- 
rusali'iu  and  its 
palaces  were  ac- 
tually burned 
with  fire.  Ne. 
^.\Z,\i:--WordU- 
tcorlh. 

"  The  green  oasis, 
the  little  grassy 
meadow  in  the 
w  i  1  d  e  r  n  e  s  s, 
where,  after  the 
week-ilays'  jour- 
ney, the  pilgrim 
lialts  for  refresh- 
ment and  repose; 
where  he  rests 
beneath  the 
shade  of  the  lofty 
palm  trees,  and 
dips  his  vessel  in 
the  waters  of 
the  calm,  clear 
stream,  and  reco- 
rcag  Ilia  strength 


A  pious  prayer,  or  ■\vi^^lKxl  a  piou.s  wi.-h  ; 
There  ^vils  a  liigli  and  holy  place,  a  spot 
Of  sacred  light,  a  most  religious  fane. 
"V^Taere  Ilappiuess,  descendiug,  sat  aud  smiled.* 

19—23.  (19)  gate,  wh.  one  is  not  certain.  Evidently  the 
one  through  whidi  there  was  the  most  trailic.  (2U)  kings, 
prob.  including  all  the  officials.  (21)  take  heed,  C'n  tliis  point 
be  very  watchful,  burden  .  .  day,  ciiitij).  Neh.  xiii.  1'.).  (22) 
hallow,  efc,  Ex.  XX.  8.  etc.  (2^)  neck  stiff,  the  sign  of  rebel- 
lious opposition  and  wilfulness." 

IleJigions  ohsn-ratice  of  (he  Fahhath. — The  importance  of  the 
religious  observance  of  the  Sabbath  is  seldom  sufficiently  esti- 
mated. The  violation  of  this  duty  by  the  young  is  one  of  the 
most  decided  marks  of  inciiiieut  moral  degeneracy.  Religious 
restraint  is  fast  losing  its  hold  upon  that  young  man  who.  having 
been  educated  in  the  fear  of  God.  begins  to  spend  the  Sabbath  in. 
idleness  or  in  amusement.  And  so  also  of  communities.  The 
desecration  of  the  Sabbath  is  one  of  those  evident  indications  of 
that  criminal  recklessness,  that  insane  love  of  pleasure,  and  that 
stibjection  to  the  government  of  appetite  and  ]iassion,  which 
forebodes  that  the  "  beginning  of  the  end  "  of  social  happiness, 
and  of  true  national  iirosperity.  has  arrived.  Hence  we  see  how 
imperative  is  the  duty  of  parents,  and  of  legislators,  on  this  sub- 
ject. The  head  of  every  family  is  obliged,  by  the  command  of 
God,  not  only  to  honour  this  day  himself,  but  to  use  all  the 
means  in  his  power  to  eeciu-e  the  observance  of  it  by  all  those 
committed  to  his  charge.  He  is  thus  not  only  promoting  his 
own,  but  his  children's  happiness  ;  for  nothing  is  a  more  sure 
antagonist  force  to  all  the  allurements  of  vice,  as  nothing  tends 
more  strongly  to  fix  in  the  minds  of  the  young  a  conviction  of 
the  existence  and  attributes  of  God,  than  the  solemn  keeping  of 
this  day.  And  hence,  also,  legislators  are  false  to  their  trust, 
who,  either  by  the  enactment  of  laws,  or  by  their  cxamp.e, 
diminish,  in  the  least  degree,  in  the  minds  of  a  people,  the 
reverence  due  to  that  day  which  God  has  set  apart  for  Him- 
self.* ^  ^ 

24—27.  (24)  diligently,  with  anxious  carefulness  and 
thought  seeking  fully  to  obey.  (25)  remain  for  ever,  or  per- 
manently continue  the  centre  of  the  covej^.ant  kingdom.  (2G) 
shall  come,  us  at  the  great  festivals,  sacrifices  of  praise, 
i.e.  sacrifices  wh.  should  be  sincere  expressions  of  pious  and 
grateful  feeling.  (27)  fire,  etc.,  La.  iv.  11."  "  The  scene  of  theii 
sin  should  be  the  scene  of  their  punishment." 
Typ"-^  avd  vsi's  of  the  Snhhofh. — 

Hail  to  the  day  which  He,  who  made  the  heaven, 
Earth,  and  their  armies,  sanctified  and  blest, 
Perpetual  memory  of  the  Maker's  rest  ! 
Hail  to  the  day  when  He,  bj  whom  was  given 
New  life  to  man,  the  tomb  asunder  riven. 
Arose  !  That  day  His  Church  doth  still  confess, 
At  once  Creation's  and  Redemption's  feast, 
Sign  of  a  world  called  forth,  a  world  forgiven. 
Welcome  that  day,  the  day  of  holy  peace, 
The  Lord's  own  day  1  to  niaa's  Creator  owed. 


Cap.  xviii.  1—4.] 


JE  REM  I  An. 


73 


And  man's  Redeemer  :  for  the  soiil's  increase 
In  sanctity,  and  sweet  repose  bestowed  ; 
Typa  of  the  rest  when  sin  and  care  shall  cease, 
The  rest  remaining  for  the  loved  of  God  1  * 

Eaihath  evening. — 

Closing'  Sabbath  !  Ah,  how  soon 

Have  thy  sacred  moments  pass'd  1 

Scarcely  shines  the  morn,  the  noon, 

Ere  the  evening-  brings  thy  last ; 

And  another  Sabbath  flies, — 

Solemn  witness  ! — to  the  skies. 

"What  is  the  report  it  bears 

To  the  secret  jjlace  of  God  ? 
Does  it  speak  of  wordly  cares, 

Thoughts  which  cling  to  earth's  low  sod  ? 
Or  has  sweet  communion  shone 
Through  its  hours  from  God  alone  1 

Could  wc  hope  the  day  w^as  spent 

Holily,  with  constant  heart, 
We  might  yield  it  up  content, — 
Knowing,  though  so  soon  it  part, 
We  should  see  a  better  day. 
Which  could  never  pass  away, 

God  of  Sabbaths  !  Oh  forgive, 

That  we  use  Thy  gifts  so  ill ; 
Teach  us  daily  how  to  live. 
That  we  ever  may  fulfil 

All  Thy  gracious  love  designed, 
Giving  Sabbaths  to  mankind." 


CHAPTER  TEE  EIGHTEENTH. 


to  po  forth  aeainf. 
upon  liis  pilgrim- 
age in  the  ilesert 
with  renewed 
vigour  and  cheer- 
f  uhiess." — lieade, 
b  Up.  Munt. 
'•  He  tliat  would 
prepare  for 
iieaven,  must 
honour  the  Sab- 
bath on  earth. 
He  that  would 
liope  for  the 
spiritual  joys 
there,  must  ac- 
quire a  taste  and 
aptitude  for  them 

here They 

who  complain  of 
weariness  and 
satiety  in  the 
services  of  Christ 
have  an  evidence 
in  their  own 
breasts  of  their 
unfitness  for  a 
heavenly  world 
— tliey  are  con- 
demned out  of 
their  own 
mouths.  The 
louder  they  ex- 
claim against  our 
Lord's  day  and 
its  duties,  the 
more  decidedly 
do  tliey  exclude 
themselves  from 
the  Cliristian 
character  and 
the  Christian 
liope.'"-  Bishop  D. 
Wilson, 
c  Edniiston. 


1 — 4.  (1,  2)  house,  or  workshop.  The  clay-field  lay  south 
of  Jerusalem,  just  beyond  the  valley  of  Hinnom."  (3)  wheels, 
lit.  the  two  wheels.*  (4)  marred,  or  spoiled  :  it  was  a  failure. 
made  it  again,  i.e.  made  up  th*e  clay  again  into  a  new  vessel, 
and  possibl}'  one  of  another  shape,  and  fitted  for  another  purpose. 

'fh  •  ^;a/Y/Z»/(;  of  the  jiotter  (fv.  1 — 10). — Consider  man  in  the 
hands  of  God — I.  As  morally  defective  :  the  clay  marred,  in 
moral  judgment,  moral  aftections,  moral  conduct.  II.  As 
morally  improvable  :  God  is  mighty  to  save,  emotionally,  magis- 
terially, reformatively.  III.  As  morally  free.  It  is  here  indi- 
cated that  man  is — 1.  Responsible  for  his  destiny;  2.  For  his 
conduct 

Di.seorery  of  jjorcelnin. — Although  many  persons  have  devoted 
their  whole  lives  to  the  phantoms  of  discovering  the  perjietual 
motion  and  the  philosopher's  stone,  which  might  have  been 
much  better  employed,  yet  even  these  pursuits  have  sometimes 
proved  of  great  service.  Porcelain,  which  had  been  known  to 
the  Chinese  and  Japanese  for  ages,  was  not  made  in  Europe  until 
the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century,  when  John  Bottger.  a 
German  from  Schlaiz.  in  Voigtlaud,  was  the  first  in  Europe  who 
invented  the  art.      This  man  was  apprentice  to  one  Zorn,  an 


a  Zee.  xi.  13; 
Matt,  xxvii.  10. 
6  "  By  this  is 
meant  the  hori- 
zontal lathe  of 
the  potter,  con- 
sisting of  two 
wheels  or  round 
plates,  on  the 
upper  one  of  wh. 
was  placed  the 
clay,  which  he 
moulded  into  ves- 
sels at  his  plea- 
sure.  These 
w  li  e  e  I  s  were 
either  of  wood  or 
stone,  and  were 
in  use  at  an  early 
period  among 
the  "Egyptians." 
— Hmdifscn. 
c  Dr.  T/ioma.i. 
ri-.  1—6.  G.  White- 
field,  V.  197;  F. 
D.  .ifaurice,  Pro» 
and  Kgs.  S96. 


74 


JE  RE  in  AH. 


[Cap.  xvlll.  5-14. 


"  False  linppiness 
roiulcrs  iiii'ii 
stern  ami  proud, 
and  tli.it  luippi- 
ness  is  never 
communiciited. 
True  happiness 
renders  tliom 
kind  and  sen- 
sible, and  that 
liappiness  is  al- 
ways shared." — 
Montesquieu, 

d  Percy  Anec. 


U  Is.  xlv.  8  ;  Eo. 
ix.  20. 

b  "God  is  said 
to  repent  of  evil, 
■vv'ben  He  chaiuji'S 
His  dealings  with 
men  ami  nations, 
on  tlieir  turning 
to  Hiui." — a.  Au- 
gustine. 

vv.  7, 8.  /.  Frii.Ki; 
271;  !Jii.  Vchon, 
iL  320. 

c  Bp.  Sanderson. 

"  To  be  liappy, 
tiie  passion  must 
ba  ehcerfnl  and 
gay,  not  plooiiiy 
and  melaneiioly. 
A  projieiisity  to 
hope  and  joy  is 
real  riches ;  one 
to  fear  and  sor- 
row, real  jio- 
Verty." — Ilumc. 


a  This  -word  is 
still  in  use  in 
the  North  of 
E  n  R 1  a  n  (1,  as 
meaning,  "  set 
about  work  ; " 
"manner  of  doing 
work." 

h  2  Ki.  xvii.  IS; 
Je.  vii.  'i. 


ai)othecary  at  Berlin,  where  he  met  ■with  an  alchemist,  who.  in 
return  for  some  good  offices  done  to  him  by  Bottger.  promised  to 
teach  him  the  art  of  making'  gold.  Bottger  then  imagining  him- 
self to  be  in  possession  of  the  secret  of  making  gold,  immediately 
concluded  that  his  fortune  was  made,  and  ran  away  from  Berlin 
into  Saxony,  in  the  j'ear  1700.  Thither  he  was  pursued,  but  he 
found  protection  in  that  country,  where  they  at  length  urged 
him  to  give  a  specimen  of  his  pretended  knowledge  ;  which,  in 
fact,  the  poor  fellow  was  not  able  to  do,  as  he  had  been  imposed 
upon,  and.  in  truth,  knew  nothing  of  the  matter.  In  order,  how- 
ever, to  discover  the  grand  secret,  he  laboured  incessantly  ;  and 
it  so  happened  that  having  once  mixed  various  earths  together, 
in  order  to  make  ntrong  and  durable  crucibles,  in  course  of 
baking  them  he  accidentally  discovered  the  art  of  making  por- 
celain. Thus  the  intended  transmutation  took  place,  not  in  the 
metals  indeed,  but  in  his  own  person  ;  and  as  if  he  had  been 
touched  with  a  conjurer's  wand,  he  was  on  a  sudden  transformed 
from  an  alchemist  into  a  potter.  The  first  porcelain  thus  manu- 
factured at  Dresden,  in  17UG,  was  of  a  brownish-red  colour,  being 
made  of  a  browTi  clay."* 

5 — 10.  {'•>,  G)  cannot  .  .  potter,  a  strong  assertion  of  God's 
absolute  power  and  right  over  the  creatures  He  makes  and  the 
nations  He  calls  into  being."  ye  in  mine  liand,  i.e.  I  can 
crush  you  down  into  a  shapeless  mass,  out  of  which  I  may  form 
a  new  nation.  (7)  pluck  up,  ch.  i.  10.  (8J  if ..  evil,  all 
God's  dealings  with  men  are  conditional.  His  conduct  towards 
them  is  '•  always  in  strict  accordance  with  the  manner  in  which 
they  behave  themselves  towards  Him."  *  (S))  build,  or  establish 
it.  (10)  of  tlie  good,  change  My  purpose  of  blessing  it  with, 
prosperity. 

The  diijnUij  of  man. — "When  a  piece  of  base  metal  is  coined 
with  the  king's  stamp,  and  made  current  by  his  edict,  no  man 
may  henceforth  presume  either  to  refuse  it,  either  in  payment, 
or  to  abate  the  value  of  it  ;  so  God.  having  stamped  His  own 
image  upon  every  man.  and  withal  signified  His  ble,<sed  pleasure, 
how  precious  He  would  have  him  to  be  in  our  eyes  and  esteem, 
by  express  edict  proclaiming  :  '•  At  the  hand  of  every  man's 
brother  will  I  require  the  life  t)f  man  :  I  require  every  man  to  be 
his  brother's  keeper  ;  for  in  the  image  of  God  made  He  man  ;" 
we  must  look  to  answer  it  as  a  high  contempt  of  that  sacred 
Majesty,  if  we  set  any  man  at  noug-ht,  or  make  less  account  of 
him  than  God  would  have  us.  The  contumelious  use  of  the 
image  is  in  common  construction  ever  understood  as  a  dishonour 
meant  to  the  prototpye.  The  Romans,  when  they  meant  to  set  a 
mark  of  public  disgrace  or  dishonour  on  any  eminent  person, 
did  manifest  their  intention  by  throwing  down  breaking,  or 
trampling  upon  their  statues  or  pictures.' 

11 — 14.  Cll)  go  to,  Ge.  xi.  3.  frame,"  as  a  potter  frames 
a  work  on  his  wheels,  devise,  etc..  terms  implying  careful  pre- 
paration, return,  i.e.  turn  from  the  evil,  and  return  to  your 
God.  and  goodness.*  (12)  no  liope,'  a  despairing  feeling  may 
lead  to  keeping  on  in  a  course  of  sin  :  therefore  (.jod  gives  such 
gracioss  promi.ses  and  a.ssurances  to  keep  up  hope.  (13)  ask 
.  .  heathen,  sec  if  you  can  find  a  ])arallel  case.''  virgin,  a 
term  intended  to  remind  the  people  that  they  had  been  wholly 


Cap.  xvlii.  15— 20.] 


JEREMTAH. 


75 


separated  unto  God.  (14)  will,  etc.,  trans.  "  Shall  one  leave  the 
moisture  of  the  field  (for)  the  snow-water  of  Lebanon,  or  shall 
the  running  waters  be  forsaken  for  the  muddy  waters.'"  Illus- 
trating' the  leaving  of  the  true  God  for  false  gods. 

Fallen,  man. — We  saw  at  Hanover  the  unfinished  palace  of  the 
deposed  monarch  ;  we  were  shown  his  state  and  private  carriages 
and  his  stables  of  cream-coloured  horses.  A  saddening  sight  to  see 
all  the  emblems  of  sovereignty  and  no  king  ;  the  insignia  of  royalty 
and  the  monarch  for  ever  exiled.  How  like  to  human  nature, 
which  has  so  much  about  it  prepared  for  the  service  of  the 
King  of  kings,  so  much  of  faculty  for  heavenly  occupation  ;  but 
the  King  has  dejaartcd  and  the  house  is  left  desolate,  and  all  the 
furnishing  thereof  perverted  to  alien  uses.  Thought,  imagina- 
tion, judgment,  memory,  all  fit  to  be  yoked  to  celestial  chariots, 
become  the  very  hacks  of  the  devil,  and  the  body  once  a  palace 
now  a  haunt  of  thieves.    Alas,  alas  1  poor  manhood  1 « 

15—17.  (15)  forgotten  me,  the  pure  and  living  water  ;  eh. 
ii.  13,  xvii.  13.  vanity,  a  word  meaning ya/«7; wo',  and  severely 
characterising  the  idol  worship,  they,  i.e.  the  false  gods  ;  said 
to  do  what  the  false  prophets  and  priests  really  did.  ancient 
paths,  the  old  beaten  track,  as  set  forth  in  the  law  of  Moses, 
paths,  i.e.  self-willed  bypaths.  not  cast  up,  raised,  and  pre- 
pared, so  as  to  be  fit  and  safe  to  travel  on."  (16)  hissing,  an  ex- 
pression of  insult  and  contempt,  wag  .  .  head,  in  mockery  and 
ridicule.  (17)  east  wind.,''  fig.  for  the  calamities  of  war  and 
wasting  judgments,     the  hack,  a  sign  of  displeasure  :  ch.  ii.  27."^ 

Man — j/errer.iio7i  of  Jii.^facvltiex.^Accordi'ng  to  the  fable,  the 
tail  of  the  snake  obtained  precedence  of  the  head  and  led  the 
way  in  the  creature's  journeying.  Being  altogether  blind  the 
new  guide  dashed  against  a  stone  at  one  moment,  and  the  nest 
came  violently  against  a  tree,  and  at  last  drowned  both  itself  and 
the  head  in  the  river  of  death.  Here  may  be  seen  the  unhappy 
condition  of  men  in  whom  their  baser  nature  is  dominant,  the 
animal  controlling  the  intellectual.  They  invert  the  order  of 
nature,  they  rebel  against  common  sense  ;  their  course  cannot 
but  be  unAvise  and  dangerous,  and  their  end  must  be  fatal.  God 
made  man  upright,  and  placed  his  thoughtful  faculties  aloft  in 
the  place  of  sovereignty,  but  man  in  his  folly  permits  the  appe- 
tites which  he  holds  in  common  with  the  brute  creation  to  reign 
supreme,  while  the  mind,  which  ought  to  rule,  is  degraded  to 
meanest  servitude.'' 

18 — 20.  (IS)  devise  devices,  or  frame  a  plot  to  secure  his 
ruin,  not  perish,  cfc,  i.e.  we  need  not  fear  if  we  put  this 
troublesome  Prophet  away  ;  we  shall  still  have  the  Law,  the 
priest,  and  the  prophet  among  us."  with  the  tongue,  by 
carrying  malicious  reports  about  him  to  the  king,  Jehoiakim. 
(ISO  give  heed,  appeal  to  God  from  heedless  man.  voice,  or 
loud  outcry  and  threats.  (20)  digged  .  .  SOUl,  Ps.  xxxv.  7. 
speak  good,  to  pleachin  their  behalf. 

blander — jioisonovs. — This  slander  is  compared  to  poison — "  the 
tongue  is  an  unruly  evil,  fuU  of  deadly  poison."  The  deadliest 
poisons  are  those  for  which  no  test  is  known  ;  there  are  poisons 
60  destructive  that  a  single  drop  insinuated  into  the  veins  pro- 
duces death  in  three  seconds,  and  j-et  no  chemical  science  can 
separate  that  virus  from  the  contaminated  bloody  and  show  the 


c  Je.  ii.  25. 

"  This  language 
of  tlie  Jews  in- 
volves the  last 
stage  of  hardened 
wiclceduess." — 
Ueiideison. 

d  "  Even  among 
the  heathen  it 
was  a  tiling  un- 
heard of,  that  a 
nation  should  lay 
aside  its  gods 
for  foreign  gods, 
though  their  gods 
are  lalse  gods." 
— Fausset. 

e  Sjiurgeon. 


a  "A  road  cast 
I'P  means  one 
raised  sufficiently 
to  keep  it  out 
of  the  reach  of 
floods,  etc.  We 
still  call  our  chief 
roads  hiyhttays, 
bee.  when  the 
country  was  un- 
drained  it  was 
necessary  to  raise 
them  above  the 
level  of  the  ad- 
joining fields." — 
t>pk.  Com. 

Is.  Ivii.  14,  Isil, 
10. 

b  Job  xxvii.  21, 
xx.wiii.  24 ;  Ps. 
xlviii.  7  ;  Is. 
xxvii.  8. 

c  Is.  i.  15,  lix.  S. 

d  Sjiurgeon. 


a  "  They  com- 
forted themselves 
with  the  assur- 
ance that  God 
had  made  these 
lasting  institu- 
tions in  His 
Church,  and  the 
Law  declares 
they  shall  never 
perish.  Le.  vi. 
18,  X.  11 ;  comp. 
Je.  V.  11." — O'ro* 
lius. 


76 


JEREUTAn. 


[Cap.  xvlii.  21—23, 


b  E.  W.  liobert- 
ion. 

c  Shakexpeare. 

"  Know  tlion  this 
truth,  L"ii(iui;li  for 
\n.n\  to  know, 
virtue  aUme  is 
h  ii  ])  p  i  n  ess  be- 
low."— Pupc. 


a  "  These  words 
of  inalediotion, 
regarded  as  ut- 
terances of  per- 
sonal feeling,  are 
not  exempt  from 
the  taint  and 
stain  of  liumau 
infirmity  and  p:is- 
s  i  o  n." —  Wordi- 
worth. 

h  "  It  redounds 
to  tlie  glory  of 
God'sjustioe  that 
incorrigible  sin- 
ners should  meet 
with  exemplary 
punishment." — 
Lowlh. 

"  Human  happi- 
iless,  according 
to  the  most  re- 
ceived noLions, 
seems  to  consist 
of  three  ingre- 
dients —  actiiin, 
pleasure,  and  in- 
dolcuco.  And 
tlioiigli  these  in- 
gredients o\ight 
to  lie  mixed  in 
dilTeront  projior- 
tions,  aoconling 
to  the  ))arlieular 
disposition  of  the 
person,  yet  no 
oi\u  ingredient 
can  be  entirely 
wanting  without 
destroying  in 
Fonifi  measur(i  i 
the  relish  of  the 
whole  comiiosi- 
tion."  —  Ddvid 
Hume. 

"  What  nothing 
earthly  gives,  or 
can  destroy,  the  I 
soul's  calm  sun-  | 
shine  and  the  j 
heartfelt  joy."— 
Pope. 

$  Percy  Alice. 


metallic  particles  of  poison  glittering  palpably,  and  say,  "  Behold, 
it  is  there.''' 

'Tis  slander 
Whose  edge  is  sharjicr  than  the  swortl,  \\  Lose  tongue 
Outvenoms  all  the  worms  of  Nile  ;  whose  breath 
Hides  ou  the  })Ostiug  winds,  and  doth  belie 
All  corners  ot  the  world,  kings,  queens,  and  states, 
IMaids,  matrons  ;  nay,  the  secrets  of  the  grave 
This  viprous  slander  enters.' 
21—23.  (21)  deliver,  rfc,  Ps.  cix.  10."    "Let  the  calamities 
of  war   and   famine,  which  Thou  hast  threatened,  come  upou 
them  ;  I  can  intercede  no  m:ire."     (22;  cry,  such  as  rises  in  a 
city  wh.  is  given  over  to  be  sacked.     (2;5j  thou  knowest,  in 
this  the  good  man  may  ever  find  rest,    forgive  not,  but  execute 
Thy  judgments  on  them.* 

Mohainincdan  .lirdar. — At  the  siege  of  Tellicherry.  Sirdar  Cawn, 
the  Mohammedan  general,  after  a  spii-ited  resistance,  threw  him- 
self with  many  of  his  bravest  and  most  faithful  followers  into  a 
fortified  house  formed  in  the  cavity  of  a  rock  at  Corichee,  the 
mansion  of  his  women  and  the  repository  of  his  treasures.  He 
determined  not  to  survive  the  disgrace  of  a  defeat,  but  to  defend 
himself  to  the  last  extremity.  This  stronghold  was  at  length  set 
on  fire,  and  the  sirdar  and  his  followers  were  compelled  to  sur- 
render, or  perish  in  the  flames.  At  the  first  breaking  out  of  the 
conflagration  many  of  the  sirdar's  family,  fearful  of  a  woi'se  fate, 
began  to  drop  down  from  the  walls,  amidst  the  fire  of  the  sepoys. 
Among  these  were  seven  of  the  finest  women  of  the  East,  who 
composed  the  sirdar's  seraglio.  Captain  Christie,  who  happened 
to  pass  by  the  spot  at  the  moment  they  were  preparing  to  throw 
themselves  from  tlie  battlements,  stopped  the  fii'iug  at  the  hazard 
of  his  life,  ran  up  to  their  assistance,  and  received  them  one 
after  another  in  his  arms.  Lieutenant  Ilawkes.  of  the  artillery, 
came  up  to  lend  his  assistance  in  this  generous  act  of  gallantry, 
and  the  fair  captives  were  conducted  by  the  two  officers  in  safety 
to  their  commanding  officer.  The  general,  like  another  Scipio, 
ordered  them  to  be  given  up  to  their  lord,  who  had  testified  the 
most  agonising  anxiety  concerning  their  fate.  "Wlien  they  came 
into  his  presence  he  looked  sternly  into  their  faces,  and  mani- 
fested symptoms  of  trouble,  anguish,  and  despair.  But  after  he 
had  conversed  with  them  for  some  time,  his  face  became  suffused 
with  tears  of  joy,  and  he  expi-essed  the  strongest  emotions  of 
gratitude  for  the  delicate  manner  in  which  the  women  had  been 
treated  by  the  British  officers.  "  You,"  said  he.  '•  enjoy  the  fortune 
of  this  day,  and  you  deserve  it.  Go  thei-efore  to  tlie  room  (de- 
scribing one  in  the  fortified  house),  and  you  will  find  for  your  re- 
ward two  lacs  of  rupees."'  Above  £2(i,()()0  was  accordingly  divided 
among  the  army.  The  sirdar,  when  he  was  taken  i;risoner,  had 
expected  immediate  death  ;  he  inquired  why  it  was  delayed,  and 
regarded  the  humanity  of  the  English  in  sparing  him  with  astonish- 
ment. '■  If  you  mean,"  said  ho  to  theoffi''e'rs  into  whose  h.ands  he 
fell,  "  to  save  my  life,  restore  my  wives  and  my  children."  The  joy 
tliat  filled  his  mind  on  receiving  this  pledge  of  the  merciful 
intentions  of  the  English  was  not  lasting.  He  died  soon  after  of 
grief  and  agony  of  mind,  desiring,  as  a  last  favour  from  Jlaior 
Abington,  that  his  family  miglit  be  sent  to  Seringapatam.  Ilia 
request  was  readily  granted  and  punctually  i^icrformed.* 


Cap.  xix.  1—9.] 


JEREMIAn. 


77 


CHAPTER  THE  NINETEENTH: 

1 — 5.  (1)  earthen  bottle,  Heb.  iaMmh,  a  flask  with  a  long 
neck,  wh.  took  its  name  from  the  noise  made  by  liquids  in 
running'  out  of  it.  ancients,  elders  and  rulers,  ancients  .  . 
priests,  i.e.  the  heads  of  the  twenty-four  courses."  These  were 
to  be  witnesses  of  tiie  symbolic  action.  (2)  Hinnom,  ch.  vii. 
31.  east  gate,  or  sun-gate.  (3)  ears  .  .  tingle,  1  Sa.  iii.  11 ; 
2  Ki.  xxi.  12.  (4)  estranged,  etc.,  alienating  it  from  God  by 
introducing  the  idol  worship,  blood  of  innocents,  children 
offered  to  Moloch,  as  v.  5.     (5)  built  also,  comj).  ch.  vii.  31,  32.* 

Anecdote  of  a  French  jJreacher. — Ma.«sillon,  in  the  first  sermon 
he  ever  isreached,  found  the  whole  audience,  ujion  his  getting 
into  the  pulpit,  in  a  disposition  no  way  favourable  to  his  inten- 
tions :  their  nods,  whispers,  or  drowsy  behaviour,  showed  him 
that  there  was  no  great  profit  to  be  expected  from  his  sowing  in 
a  soil  so  barren  ;  however,  he  soon  changed  the  disposition  of  the 
audience  by  his  manner  of  beginning:  "If,"  says  he,  "a  cause, 
the  most  important  that  could  be  conceived,  were  to  be  tried  at 
the  bar  before  qualified  judges  ;  if  this  cause  interested  ourselves 
in  particular  :  if  the  eyes  of  the  whole  kingdom  were  fixed  upon 
the  event :  if  the  most  eminent  counsel  were  employed  on  both 
sides  ;  ard  if  we  had  heard  from  our  infancy  of  this  undetermined 
trial ;  would  you  not  all  sit  with  due  attention  and  warm  expec- 
tation to  the  pleadings  on  Ijoth  sides  ?  Would  not  all  your  hopes 
and  fears  be  hinged  upon  the  final  decision  /  And  yet,  let  nie 
tell  you,  you  have  this  moment  a  cause  of  much  greater  impor- 
tance before  you,  a  cause  where  not  one  nation,  but  all  the 
world,  are  spectators  ;  tried,  not  before  a  fallible  tribunal,  but 
the  awful  throne  of  heaven  ;  where  not  your  temporal  and 
transitory  interests  are  the  subjects  of  debate,  but  your  eternal 
happiness  or  misery,  where  the  cause  is  still  undetermined  ;  but, 
perhaps,  the  very  moment  I  am  speaking  may  fix  the  irrevocable 
decree  that  shall  last  for  ever  ;  and  yet,  notwithstanding  all  this, 
you  can  hardly  sit  with  patience  to  hear  the  tidings  of  salvation. 
I  plead  the  cause  of  heaven,  and  yet  I  am  scarcely  attended 
to.'" 

6—9.  (6)  Tophet,  ch.  vii.  32.     (7)  void,  empty,  worthless, 
ineffective."    carcases,  efc,  ch.  vii.  33,  xvi.  4.     (8)  hiss,  in 
contempt.     (9)  eat,  etc.,  Le.  xxvi.  29  ;  De.  xxviii.  53  ;  La.  iv.  10. 
Fervency  in  prracli  inr/. — 

Still  thinking  I  had  little  time  to  live, 
]My  fervent  heart  to  win  men's  souls  didst  rive  ; 
I  preached  as  never  sure  to  preach  again, 
And  as  a  dying  man  to  dying  men  !  .  .  . 
Though  God  be  free,  He  works  by  instruments, 
And  wisely  fitteth  them  to  His  intents. 
A  proud  unhumbled  preacher  is  unmeet 
To  lay  proud  sinners  humbled  at  Chrisfs  feet ; 
So  are  the  blind  to  tell  men  what  God  saith, 
And  faithless  men  to  propagate  the  faith  : 
The  dead  are  unfit  means  to  raise  the  dead. 
And  enemies  to  give  the  children's  bread  ; 


a  1  Chr.  xxiv.  4, 

6  Baal  and  Mo 
loch  were  iiamea 
promise  uoiisly 
given  to  the 
same  idol.  Prob. 
Baal  was  the  ge- 
nui-al  name,  and 
Moloch  distinc- 
tive of  one  form 
of  his  manifesta- 
tion. 

"The  p  i  o  n  s 
George  Herbert 
built  a  new 
church  at  Layton 
Ecclcsia,  near 
Spaldiiifr,  and  by 
his  order  the 
reading  pew  and 
pulpit  were  a 
little  distant 
from  each  other, 
and  botli  of  an 
equal  heiglit;  for 
lie  would  often 
say, 'They  should 
neither  have  a 
lirecedency  or 
priority  of  the 
other;  but  that 
prayer  and 
preaching,  being 
equally  useful, 
miglit  agree  like 
brethren,  and 
have  an  equal 
honour  and  esti- 
mation.' " —  Life 
of  llfibert. 

c  It.  T.  S. 


a  "  Neumann  svip- 
iwises  that  Jer. 
carried  the  bottle 
to  Tophet  full  of 
water,  the  sym- 
bol in  the  East 
of  life,  and  at 
these  words 
rmijtied  it  before 
the  assembled 
elders." — Spk. 
Cvin. 

True  eloquence 
coii.'^istsiii  saying 
all  that  •  neces- 
sary aud  nothing 
moro. 


78 


JEREMIAH. 


reap.  xlx.  10-13, 


I  R.  Baxle 


a  By  these  figures 
is  set  fortli  the 
distinction  lie- 
tween  cliastise- 
ments  and  judg- 
ments. 


6  Zep.  i.  5. 
"  Simplicity     of 
style,     then,     as 
opposed    to    the 
artificial  and 

rhetorical,  is  es- 
sential tyeariiest- 
ness ;  forwliocan 
believe  that  man 
to  be  intent  on 
saving  souls,  who 
seems  to  liave 
laboured  in  the 
study  oidy  to 
make  his  sermon 
as  fine  as  glitter- 
ing imagery  and 
hi  gh -sounding 
diction  could 
render  it.  I  could 
as  soon  believe  a 
physician  were 
intent  on  saving 
his  fellow-crea- 
tures from  death, 
who,  when  tlie 
plague  was 
sweeping  them 
into  the  grave, 
spent  his  time  in 
studying  to  write 
his  prescriptions 
in  beautiful  cha- 
racters and  clas- 
sical Latiuity." — 
/.  A.  James. 

"  Zeal  for  tlie 
public  good  is 
the  characteris- 
tic of  a  man  of 
honour  and  a 
gentleman,  anrl 
must  take  place 
of  pleasures,  pro- 
fits, and  all  other 
private  gratifica- 
tions. Whoever 
wants  this  mo- 
tive is  an  open 
enemy,  or  an  in- 
glorious neuter 
to  niinkind,  in 
proportion  to  the 
misapplied  ail- 
vant;iges_  witli 
wh.  nature  and 
f  o  rt  u  n  e  have 
blessed  him." — 
Sterle. 
e  U.  Herbert. 


And  utter  strangers  to  the  life  to  come, 

Arc  not  the  best  conductors  to  our  home. 

They  that  yet  never  learned  to  live  and  die, 

Will  scarcely  teach  it  others  l'eeliriglJ^* 
10 — 13.  (10)  break,  fVc,  as  a  sign  of  theentii-e  and  hopeless 
destruction  of  the  city.  (11)  made  "whole,  or  healed.  Comp. 
the  crushing  of  the  clay  of  the  marred  vessel,  and  making  a  new 
one  from  it.  A  finished  vessel,  once  broken,  cannot  be  thus  re- 
paired or  remade."  (12)  as  Tophet,  ch.  vii.  ol.  (13)  defiled, 
by  the  presence  of  dead  bodies,  because  of,  better,  even  the  very 
houses,     roofs,  flat,  and  often  used  as  jjlaces  for  sacrifices.'' 

Preach'nii] — of  the  preacher. — AVhen  he  preachcth,  he  pi-ocures 
attention  by  all  possible  art,  both  by  earnestness  of  speech— it 
being  natural  for  men  to  think  that  where  there  is  much 
earnestnes.s  there  is  somewhat  worth  hearing — ard  by  a  diligent 
and  a  busy  cast  of  his  ej'cs  on  his  auditors,  with  Jetting  them 
know  that  he  marks  who  observes  and  who  not ;  and  with  par- 
ticulari.'-ing  of  his  speech,  now  to  the  younger  sort,  then  to  the 
elder — now  to  the  poor,  and  now  to  the  rich, — "  This  is  for  you, 
and  this  for  yoix ; "  for  particulars  ever  touch  and  awake  more 
than  generals.  Herein,  also,  he  serves  himself  of  the  judgments 
of  God  ;  as  of  those  ancient  times,  so  especially  of  late  ones,  and 
those  most  who  are  nearest  to  his  jiarish  ;  for  people  are  very 
attentive  to  such  discourses,  and  think  it  behoves  them  to  be  so 
when  God  is  so  near  them,  and  even  over  their  heads.  Sometimes 
he  tells  tTiem  stories  and  sayings  of  others,  according  as  his  text 
invites  him.  For  them  also  men  heed,  and  remember  better  than 
exhortations,  which,  though  earnest,  yet  often  die  with  the 
sermon,  especially  with  country  people,  who  are  thick  and  heavy, 
and  hard  to  raise  to  a  point  of  zeal  and  fervency,  and  need  a 
mountain  of  fire  to  kindle  them  :  but  stories  and  sayings  they 
will  well  remember.  He  often  tells  them  that  sermons  are  dan- 
gerous things  ;  that  none  goes  out  of  church  as  he  came  in,  but 
either  batter  or  worse  ;  that  none  is  careless  before  his  judge  ; 
and  that  the  word  of  God  shall  judge  us.  By  this  and  other 
means  the  parson  procures  attention  ;  but  the  character  of  his 
sermons  is  holiness.  He  is  not  witty,  nor  learned,  nor  eloquent, 
but  holy— a  character  that  Hermogenes  never  dreamed  of,  and 
therefore  he  could  give  no  precepts  thereof.  But  it  is  gained, 
first,  by  choosing  texts  of  devotion,  not  controversy  ;  moving  and 
ravishing  texts,  whereof  the  Scriptures  are  full.  Secondly,  by 
dipping  and  seasoning  all  our  words  and  sentences  in  our  hearts 
before  they  come  into  our  mouths  :  truly  affecting  and  cordially 
expressing  all  that  we  say,  so  that  the  auditors  mnv  plainly  per- 
ceive that  every  word  is  heart-deep.  Thirdly,  by  turning  often, 
and  making  many  apostrophes  to  God:  as,  "•' 0  Lord  !  bless  my 
people,  and  teach  them  this  point ! ''  or,  "  Oh,  my  IMaster.  on 
whose  errand  I  come,  let  me  hold  my  pence,  and  do  Thou  speak 
Thyself  ;  for  Thou  art  love,  and  when  Thou  teachest,  all  are 
scholars."  Some  such  irradiations  scatteringly  in  the  sermon 
carry  great  holiness  in  them.  The  Prophets  were  admirable  in 
this.  So  Isa.  Ixiv.  1 — '•  Oh  that  Thou  wouldest  rend  the  heavens, 
that  Thou  wouldest  come  down,"  etc.  And  Jer.  x.  2.'?.  after  he 
had  complained  of  the  desolation  of  Israel,  turns  to  God  suddenly, 
"  0  Lord.  I  know  that  the  way  of  man  is  not  in  himself."  etc. 
Fourthly,  by  frequent  wishes  of  the  people's  good,  and  joying 


Cap.  XX.  1—6.] 


JEREMIAir. 


79 


therein,  though  he  himself  were  with  St.  Paul,  "  even  sacrificed  i 
upon  the  service  of  theii'  faith."  For  there  is  no  greater  sign  of  ! 
holiness  than  the  procuring  and  rejoicing  in  another's  good.'''  I 

14,  15.  (14)  in  the  court,  indicating  his  fearless  obedience  j 
to  his  Divine  call.  His  life  was  at  this  time  in  peril  :  ch.  xviii.  | 
IS.  He  chose  the  position  in  which  he  would  be  able  to  address  j 
the  greatest  crowd.     (15)  all  her  towns,  or  suburban  villages.    \ 

Ministers    of   the    (tosjicL— An   English    merchant,  who   had  ■ 
occasion  to  visit  Scotland  on  business  about  the  year  1G.50,  hap-  I 
pencd  to  hear  three  of  the  most  eminent  of  the  Scottit^h  ministers 
of  that  age — Robert  Blair,  Samuel  Rutherford,  and  David  Dick-  | 
son.     Being  asked,  on  his  return",  what  news  he   had   brought  i 
from  Scotland,  the  gentleman,  who  had  never  shown  any  sense  i 
of  rcligion  before,  replied,  "  Great  and  good  news  !     I  went  to  } 
St.  Andrew's,  when  I  heard  a  sweet  majestic-looking  man  (Blair), 
and  he  showed  me  the  majesty  of  God.     After  him,  I  heard  a  | 
litiJe  fair  man  (Rutherford),  and  he  showed  me  the  loveliness  of  j 
Christ.     I  then  went  to  Irvine,  where  I  heard  .a  well-favoured  I 
proixsr  old  man,  with  a    long  beard  (Dickson),  and   that  man 
showed  me  all  my  heart."     '•  The  whole  general  assembly,"  .=ays 
"VVodrow,  "  could  not  have  given  a  better  character  of  the  three 
men.''" 

CHAPTER  THE  TWENTIETH. 

1,  2.  (1)  Pashur,  prob.  head  of  the  1  Tith  coursO  of  priests." 
chief  governor,  better,  deputy-governor.'  Heb.  Paldd  Xng'ul, 
or  high  priest's  deinity.  (2)  smote,  an  insulting  blow. 
Jeremiah  seems  to  have  been  of  the  same  order  and  the  same 
family  as  Jeremiah.  stocks,«  2  Chr.  xvi.  10  ;  Ac.  svi.  24.  high 
gate,  or  upper  gate.     Prob.  the  gate  on  the  north  of  the  Temple. 

JfiignciKit  jici-snnithms. — The  irreligious  character  of  the  Revo- 
lution which  these  and  their  fellow  workmen  and  the  Encyclo- 
pajdists  brought  about,  followed  logically  enough  from  the 
Revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes,  and  a  century  and  a  half  of 
Satanic  persecution  directed  against  the  Huguenots — persecutions 
in  the  time  of  Louis  XV.,  not  the  work  of  fanatics,  but  proceed- 
ing from  a  vicious  king  and  a  sceptical  Court.  The  injury 
jiermanently  done  to  the  nation  by  sitch  insensate  intolerance  is  j 
incalculable.  The  most  earnest  and  devotedly  religious  spirits  of  | 
France  were  either  driven  into  exile  or  extinguished.  When  the 
earnest  spirit  of  Protestantism  was  driven  out,  the  earnest  spirit  j 
of  Catholicism  decayed  likewise  ;  a  mocking  hypocritical  uni- 
formity took  its  place  :  licence  and  corruption  flourished  unre- 
proved  ;  and  when  deism  and  atheism  arose,  they  found  no 
antagonists  worthy  of  respect.  It  were  a  melancholy  thing  to 
resign  ourselves  to  the  conclusion  that  so  shameful  a  history  as 
that  of  Louis  XV.,  and  the  horrors  of  the  French  Revolution, 
were  inflicted  on  a  great  people  without  any  intelligible  causes. 
One  of  the  chief  of  these  was  the  inhuman  and  odious  persecu- 
tion which  the  devoted  ailherents  of  an  austere  and  sublime 
creed  met  with  from  the  daj'  of  the  Revocation  of  the  Edict  of 
Kautes.'' 

3—6.  (.")  brought  forth,  bee  the  night's  thinking  made  him 
feel  that  he  had  gone  too  far.     Magor-missahih,  ^terror  is  on  \  a  Je.  vi.  25. 


"  'Tis  a  very  satl 
t  h  i  n  g  w  li  e  n 
pronclievs  shall 
l>e  like  printers, 
who  many  times 
cnnipo.-^e  and 
I)rint  off  many 
things  which 
they  neither  un- 
derstand, love, 
nor  have  any  ex- 
perience of;  all 
they  aim  at  is 
money  for  print- 
ing-, which  is 
their  trade ;  or 
when  they  shall 
be  like  gentle- 
men-nshcrs,  who 
bring  ladies  to 
their  pews,  bub 
go  not  in  them- 
selves ;  bring 
others  to  heaven, 
and  themselves 
stay  without." — 
Vi-ntiiiig. 
a  W/iittcross, 


a  1  Chr.  xxiv.  14. 

6  "Poss.  he  was 
set  over  the  se- 
veral watches  or 
guards  of  the 
]jriests  and  Le- 
vites :  for  they 
kept  watch  and 
ward  in  the 
Temple  both 
night  and  day." 
— Lou'th. 

c  "An  instrument 
of  torture  with 
five  holes,  in  \vh. 
the  neck,  two 
hands,  aud  two 
feet  were  thrust, 
the  body  being 
kept  in  a  crooked 
posture." — l'\ius- 
sel. 

d  Edinburgh  St- 
view. 


80 


JEREMIAa. 


[Cap.  XX.  7—9. 


"  Trob.  by  con- 
trast tlio  wonl 
Pft'Oiiir  meant, 
'  I'rosperity  on 
every  side.' " — 
Henderson. 

"  For    moJes    of 

faith  let  g'race- 
less  zealots  light ; 
ho  can't  be 
wrong  whose  life 
is  ill  the  i-ifrht. 
In  faitli  andliupc! 
tlie  worM  will 
disagree,  but  all 
maukinil's  con- 
cern is  charity." 
— Pitpe. 

h  B.  T.  S. 


a  "  The  Prophet 
alludes  to  Ills  re- 
luctance to  ac- 
cept the  prophe- 
tical oBice,  wh.  it 
required  power- 
ful inducements 
from  Jehovah  to 
o  V  e  r  c  o  m  e." — 
Hendfrsnn. 
'■  I  could  have  no 
temptation  to 
run  upon  this 
errand  without 
being  sent,  since 
it  procures  mo 
nothing  but  ill- 
usage." — L'lirth. 
vv.  7—12.  Origen, 
Op.  iii.  2G2. 
"  When  a  young 
painter  inquired 
of  the  celebrated 
Gilbert  .Stuart. 
how  young  per- 
sons sliould  be 
taught  to  paint, 
he  replied,  '  Just 
as  jiupiiies  are 
tauglit  to  swim, 
■ — cliuck  them 
in  I '  No  one  can 
learn  to  swim  in 
tlie  sea  of  extem- 
pore speech  with- 
out going  into 
the  waters." — 
Biihop  ffr/lraine. 
i  J.  lied/urd. 


cnry  s'uh'."  (4)  terror,  etc.,  though  not  narrated  we  may 
suppo.se  that  Pashur  suifered  very  greatly  in  the  coming  calami- 
ties. (5)  deliver,  etc.,  2  Ki.  xx.  17.  strength,  or  treasures; 
wealth  and  luxuries,  labours,  for  produce  of  the  labours.  ((>) 
thy  friends,  or  partisans,  lies,  false  assui-ances  of  peace  and 
deliverance. 

A  2>i'^'>"'CHtor. — Dr.  Cox,  at  the  anniversary  of  the  Baptist 
Home  Mis.sionary  Society,  in  1827,  stated  that  a  few  years  ago, 
in  a  village,  a  female  of  guilty  notoriety,  having  read  a  religious 
tract,  was  induced  to  turn  from  her  evil  ways,  and,  through  the 
instruction  of  one  of  their  missionaries,  to  acknowledge  her  guilt, 
and  to  reform.  For  that  act  of  repentance  she  brought  down 
the  malignant  enmity  of  her  friends,  even  of  hei  own  family, 
who  did  not  desist  from  their  persecution  until  they  had  brought 
her  to  a  state  of  dangerous,  and,  as  it  ultimately  proved,  fatal 
illness.  On  her  death-bed,  she  entreated  one  of  her  persecuting 
brothci's,  Avho  came  to  see  her  die,  once  to  attend  the  preacher 
■ft-hom  she  heard.in  the  village  ;  and,  as  a  dj-ing  i-equest  is  seldom 
refused,  even  by  the  most  callous,  he  went  to  the  house  of  God 
with  the  bitterest  feelings,  both  against  the  preacher  and  hia 
subject.  But  mark  the  result  :  lie,  whose  •'  waj's  are  not  as  our 
ways,"  touched  his  heart,  turned  him  from  his  wickedness, 
changed  the  whole  current  of  his  feelings,  and  made  him  a 
decided  convert  to  Christianity.  He  was  then.  Dr.  Cox  believed, 
a  faithful  itinerant  labourer  in  the  field  of  his  former  enmity.'' 

7 — 9.  (7)  deceived,  heitex,  pcv.^uadcd ;  induced  to  become  a 
prophet."  in  derision,  i.e.  made  a  laughing-stock.  (8)  cried 
out,  or  complained.  Complaint  was  the  characteristic  feature 
of  all  his  work.  All  through  he  had  nothing  but  lamentation, 
and  this  was  -wearying  to  himself  and  to  all  who  heard  him. 
reproach,  bee.  the  people  said  of  Jeremiah,  '•  He  does  nothing 
but  groan."  (9)  speak  .  .  name,  this  was  the  resolve  of  a 
time  of  despondency,  burning  fire,  Ps.  xxxix.  3.  He  found 
that  he  could  not  resist  the  impulses  of  God"s  Spirit. 

MiniMera,  iheit'  discount gcm.ent.'i  and  .wpports  (rr.  9 — 12). — I. 
Ministerial  discouragements  distressingly  felt.  1.  Here  is  a  rash 
resolution  formed  ;  2.  An  insuperable  obstable  presented  to  his 
meditated  abandonment  of  his  work.  II.  Popular  detraction 
seu.sitively  deplored.  1.  Explain  the  nature  of  popular  detrac- 
tion ;  2.  Adduce  Scripture  precepts  respecting  the  evil  of  popular 
detraction  ;  3.  Exhibit  Scripture  examj^les  of  individuals  who 
have  felt  the  scorpion's  sting  of  popular  detraction  ;  -1.  Analyse 
more  particularly  the  case  of  the  Prophet  as  exhibited  in  the  text. 
III.  Divine  support  hap])ily  realised.  1.  From  a  souse  of  the 
presence  and  power  of  God  :  2.  Expectation  of  the  future  failure 
and  confusion  of  his  opposers  ;  3.  From  a  belief  of  the  omnisci- 
ence of  God  ;  4.  From  the  elHcacy  of  prayer.  Learn — (1 )  To  expect 
detraction  ;  (2)  Follow  the  Saviour's  rule  :  speak  to  the  detractor 
alone  ;  (3)  Cultivate  habits  of  circumspection  ;  (4)  Lay  our  cause 
before  God  ;  (5)  Anticipate  through  tlie  merits  of  Christ  a  world 
where  there  will  bo  no  defaming.* — Iniproroitcnts  in  jireaohing. 
— In  many  of  our  river  valleys  freshets  frequently  cover  the  old 
soil  many  inches  deep,  and  all  its  grasses  and  flowers  are  hid  by 
the  mud  and  buried  thei'e.  But  after  a  time  seeds  and  roots 
begin  to  germinate,  aud  soon  a  riclier  veget.ation  than  ever  works 
in  on  that  very  same  soil,  so  that  the  river  bottom  is  never  abaa 


Cap.  XX.  10—18.] 


JEREMIAH. 


81 


doned,  and  never  becomes  a  desert.  The  old  growths  may  cease 
by  the  puperimpositiou  of  a  new  soil,  but  the  new  soil  itself 
must  be  covered  with  a  new  growth.  As  it  is  in  nature,  so  it  is 
in  the  human  soul.  I  expect  increasing  knowledge,  and  by  in- 
creasing knowledge  I  expect  that  there  will  be  better  methods. 
"With  increasing  mind,  there  ought  to  be  more  skill  in  preaching. 
There  ought  to  be  better  discernment  of  the  nature  of  the  human 
mind,  and  therefore  better  methods  of  society.  There  ought  to 
be  great  improvements  in  education.  But  all  these  changes  may 
take  place  without  in  the  slightest  degree  affecting  the  more 
fundamental  elements  of  revealed  religion  iu  nature,  the  necessity 
of  the  human  soul  for  the  doctrine  of  immortality,  and  that 
blessed  doctrine  of  redemption  tlu-ough  Jesus  Chi'ist,  which  is 
the  highway  to  immortality.' 

10 — 13.  (10)  defaming,  or  the  people  talking  together.  Ps. 
xxxi.  13.  my  familiars,  Heb.  men  of  my  peace.  Ps.  xli.  1). 
Men  of  my  acquaintance,  enticed,  i.e.  misled,  so  that  some 
good  ground  of  accusation  against  him  might  be  found."  (11) 
■with  me,  in  this  was  assured  safety,  whosoever  his  enemies 
might  be.*  everlasting  confusion,  the  term  everlasting  is 
here  equal  to  utter  and  hnpeles.'i.  (12)  triest,  etc.,  cYi.  y.i.  20, 
xvii.  10.  opened,  unfolded,  and  so  committed.  (13)  sing,  in 
anticipation  ;  bee.  the  Prophet  was  quite  sure  that  God  would 
work  deliverance  for  him. 
JSIiicli  ii'f  (if  sJa  n  der. — 

And  over  the  laurels  of  full-blown  Fame, 

And  the  tender  shoots  of  the  young  Good  Name, 

He  stamped  with  his  merciless  lioof  of  flame, 

And  he  left  its  print  on  each. 
And  backwards  and  forwards  he  wriggled  his  tail, 
Through  i-ose-trimmed  garden,  and  lily-strewn  vale, 
Marking  his  course  by  a  loathsome  trail, 
Lilic  a  .Huail-track  over  a  peach. 

14—18.  (14)  cursed,  etc.,  comp.  Job  iii.  3,  x.  18."  Words- 
vorth  calls  this  "a  passionate  outbreak  of  human  infirmity." 
(1."))  very  glad,  bee.  of  the  possible  future  usefulness  that 
seems  to  be  in  every  new-born  child.  (IG)  cities,  etc.,  Ge.  xix. 
25.  cry,  of  alarm,  shouting,  of  the  warriors.*  (17)  slew, 
etc.,  a  fig.  for  his  wish  that  he  had  never  known  the  miseries  of 
life.  (fS)  wherefore,  etc.,  Job  x.  18,  10. 
Life — it.i  illi/.^iio/tx. — • 

When  I  consider  life,  'tis  all  a  cheat. 

Yet,  fool'd  with  hope,  men  favour  the  deceit ; 

Trust  on,  and  think  to-morrow  will  repay 

To-morrow's  falser  than  the  former  day  ; 

Lies  more,  and  while  it  says  we  shall  be  bless'd 

With  some  new  joys,  cuts  off  what  we  possess'd. 

Strange  cozenage  !  none  would  live  past  years  again. 

Yet  all  hope  pleasure  in  what  yet  remain  ; 

And  from  the  dregs  of  life  think  to  receive 

\^  hat  the  first  sprightly  running  could  not  give. 

I'm  tired  with  waiting  for  this  chymic  gold. 

Which  fools  us  young,  and  beggars  us  when  old.' 


VOL.  IX,     O.T, 


"It  lias  been  said 
that  not  less  than 
fifty  millions  of 
Protestants,  at 
dilt'erent  times, 
liavc  I  een  put  tt 
death  by  papists. 
What  an  army  1 
What  seas  of 
bloofl  have  been 
shprll  If  their 
bodies  were  piled 
in  one  heap,  they 
would  be  bigger 
than  any  moun- 
tain in  this 
w  o  r  1  d."  —  Dr. 
Beaumont. 
c  Bpecher, 


a  "  So  the  Jews 
often  tried  to 
persuade  our 
Lord  to  say  some- 
tliing  that  niiglit 
form  ground 
of  accusation 
against  Him :  e.g. 
Mk-.  xii.  13-17." 

—  .S/'j{-.   C077l. 

b  lio.  viii.  SI. 
"  That  thou  art 
blamed  shall  not 
be  thy  defect;  for 
slander's  mark 
was  ever  yet  the 
fair  ;  so  tliou  be 
good,  slander 
doth  not  approve 
thy  worth  the 
greater."  -.S/i«ie- 
spea  re. 

a  "  Job's  words 
are  more  violent 
and  passionate, 
and  more  directly 
directed  against 
God  than  Jere- 
miah's."— Keil. 
"  This  lamenta- 
tion is  written 
in  poetical 
figures,  and  it  is 
not  to  be  looked 
ujion  as  express- 
ing indignation 
and  malice,  but 
rather  mourning 
and  sorrow." — ■ 
Loiclh. 

h  "  Let  him  be 
kept  iu  alarm  the 
whole  day,  not 
merely  at  night 
when  terrors  or- 
dinarily prevail, 
but  in  daytime 
wlien  it  is  some- 
thing extraonii* 
nary.'' — FiiussH. 
c  Drydcn. 


82 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.xxl.  1— lO. 


a  "  Tills  pro- 
phecy \v:is  given 
prob.  when,  ai'ler 
huvin.;?  ropulsed 
tlie  Epv]iti:uir; 
who  brouglit  suc- 
cours to  tlieJpws, 
tbeC'lKi'.dees  were 
a  second  time  ad- 
vanciiif?  against 
Jerusalem,  but 
were  not  yet 
closely  besieging 
it." — Faiisset. 

"  Let  prayer  be 
the  key  of  tlie 
morning  and  the 
bolt  of  the  even- 
i  n  g." — Mallhtw 
Henry. 


I     Dr.       T. 
Jenkyn. 


yf. 


•  "  Apparently 
this  broke  out  at 
an  early  part  of 
the  siege,  ami 
was  the  result  of 
the  excessive 
crowding  of  men 
anil  animals  in  a 
contini'd  space, 
witli  all  sanitary 
rcgnhttions  ut- 
tei-ly  neglected." 
—Hyk.  Com. 

"  Little  is  said 
[in  the  Bible]  of 
angels.  Tliey  are 
like  the  constel- 
lations in  space : 
there  is  light 
enough  to  reveal, 
to  show  tliat  they 
are  ;  but  more  is 
needed  to  reveal 
all  their  nat\ire  | 
and  functions." — 
IJcni-y   Jialchelur. 

I  T.  Adams. 

"  I  have  many 
books  lliat  I  can- 
not sit  down  to 
read  ;  they  are 
indeed  good  and 
Bound,  but,  like 
halfpence,    there 


C II AFTER  THE  TJFENTY-FIRST. 

1,  2.  (1)  son  of  Melcliiah,  head  of  the  fifth  course.  A 
diiYerent  man  from  the  Pashiir  of  ch.  xx.  1.  Zeplianiah.,  the 
second,  or  assistant  priest.  (2)  Nebuchadrezzar,  the  more 
correct  way  of  spelling-  this  king-'s  name."  according  .  . 
works,  i.e.  accomplij^hing  oiir  deliverance  as  in  former  days : 
comp.  I.s.  xxxvii.  (i.  go  up,  withdraw  his  army  from  Jerusalem. 
Comp.  the  deliverance  from  Sennacherib. 

iSj/f'clfic  j>r/ii/rr. — From  the  want  of  this  determinateness  and 
precise  discrimination  in  our  objects  of  transaction  with  God,  we 
retire  from  our  devotions  without  any  vivid  impressions  of  what 
we  have  been  seeking  of  Him  ;  and  we  afterwards  look  abroad 
without  distinct  views  of  any  reflation  between  what  takes  place 
in  the  church,  and  what  we  carried  on  in  the  oratory.  It  is  not 
thus  we  ask  favours  of  each  other.  A  beggar  at  our  door  begging 
indefinitely  for  '•  nothing  particular,"  would  not  be  likely  to 
meet  with  relief.  Civic  and  corporate  petitions  to  the  senate,  or 
the  throne,  without  a  fixed  prayer  and  determinate  request, 
would  have  neither  attention  nor  gracious  answer.  "We  have  no 
reason  to  expect  different  and  better  results  fi-om  our  indefinite 
and  unsettled  transactions  with  God.  Look  to  the  record  of  the 
Spirit,  and  you  will  discover  that  all  the  answers  registered  in 
that  book  were  specific  replies  to  requests  distinctly  meant  and 
proCt'ered.'' 

3 — 7.  (3)  then,  etc..  a  response  was  made  that  would  be  quite 
opposed  to  their  wishes  and  hopes.  (4)  in  your  hands,  i.e. 
the  turning  back  will  be  on  your  part,  not  on  the  part  of  the 
Chaldaaans.  into  the  midst,  intimating  that  they  would 
actually  take  the  city.  ('>)  I  myself,  by  prospering  the 
Chaldasaus  (Jod  would  execute  His  own  judgments  on  them. 
(())  pestilence,"  in  addition  to  the  sword.  This  pestilence 
would  be  manifestly  the  Divine  judgment.  (7)  oiot  spare, 
ch.  lii.  10,  27. 

Armies  of  God. — In  heaven  He  hath  armies  :  of  fire  to  burn 
Sodom  ;  of  floods  to  drown  a  world  :  of  hailstones  to  kill  the 
Amorites  :  of  stars  to  fight  against  Sisera  :  the  sun  which  Mood 
still  in  Gibeou,  and  the  moon  in  the  valley  of  Ajalon,  whilst 
Israel  slew  their  enemies.  Yea,  there  are  heavenly  soldiers. 
'•  Suddenly  there  was  with  the  angel  a  multitude  of  the  heavenly 
host."  One  of  those  celestial  soldiers  slew  in  one  night  above  a 
hundred  thousand  Assyrians.  Below  He  hath  seas  to  drown 
Pharaoh  ;  the  earth  to  devour  Korah  :  with  fierce  lions,  fell 
dragons,  hissing  serpents,  crawling  worms.  He  can  subdue  His 
rebels.  In  hell  He  hath  an  armj-  of  fiends,  though  bound  in 
chains,  that  they  should  not  hurt  the  faithful,  yet  let  loose  to 
terrii'y  the  wicked.  There  v.'as  an  evil- spirit  to  vex  Saul ;  foul 
spirits  in  the  Gospel  made  some  deaf,  others  dumb,  and  cast 
many  into  fires  and  into  waters.* 

8—10.  (S)  way  .  .death,  De.  xxx.  10.  Here  life  means  secur- 
ing their  life  by  passing  over  to  the  Chaldeans.  (It)  falleth  to, 
goes  and  makes  liis  submission  to.  life  .  .  prey,  to  make  hia 
escape  witli  his  life.  (10)  against,  i.e.  fully  purposing  ita 
complete  destruction. 


Cap.  xxii.  1—5.] 


JEREMIAH. 


83 


A  llglttluntse  Blhle. — A  lighthouse  looks  like  a  tall  pillar  rising- 
out  of  the  sea,  or  built  upon  some  high  bhiff.  The  top  is  a  large 
lantern,  where  a  bright  light  is  kept  burning  all  night,  which  is 
seen  far  out  to  sea  ;  and  it  says  to  all  ships  and  sailors  sailing  by, 
'■  Take  care  !  take  care  ! "'  One  is  built  on  a  ledge  of  rocks  :  its 
warning  light  says,  '•  Give  wide  berth  to  these  sunken  rocks." 
Another  says,  '•  Steer  clear  of  this  dangerous  reef."  Another, 
'•  Keep  clear  of  this  dangerous  headland.  If  you  come  here  you 
are  lost."  There  are  a  great  many  lighthouses  on  the  coast  :  how 
does  a  sailor  know  which  is  which .''  He  sees  a  light  gleaming 
through  the  darkness  and  the  storm  ;  but  where  is  it .''  He  has 
a  chart  in  the  ship,  and  that  tells.  A  chart  is  a  map  of  the  coast 
with  all  its  rocks  and  sandbanks  and  lighthouses  put  down,  and 
everything  that  a  sailor  ought  to  know  in  order  to  steer  his  ship 
safely  across  the  ocean.  If  he  faithfully  con^ults  it,  and  keeps  a 
good  look-out,  he  is  likely  to  ride  out  the  storm,  and  come  safely 
into  port. 

11—14.  (11)  house,  the  royal  house  or  family;  not  the 
palace  or  the  building.  (12)  in  tlie  morning,  the  usual  fig. 
for  cariirsfli/,  thuroHgldy.  (13)  inhabitant,  image  of  the  popu- 
lation of  Jerusalem.  It  is  feminine  in  form,  rock,  i.e.  Mt. 
Ziou.  (14)  forest,  the  Jewish  fig.  for  stateliuess,  and  used  here 
for  the  stately  buildings  of  Jerusalem." 

A'otlona  of  God. — There  are  two  notions  of  God  that  have  more 
or  less  prevalence  among  men.  One  represents  Him  as  a  vast 
oi'gan  located  in  the  very  centre  of  heaven,  and  giving  forth 
majestic  sou7ids  when  touched,  and  silent  when  not.  The  other 
represents  Him  as  a  Being  that  is  never  silent,  never  still,  never 
unheard  :  One  that  has  such  a  nature  that  if  there  were  not  an 
angel  in  heaven,  if  there  were  not  a  man  on  earth,  if  there  were 
nothing  in  all  creation,  from  side  to  side,  there  is  that  in  Him- 
self that  would  make  Him  for  ever  overflow  with  taste,  and 
feeling,  and  love.  The  one  ascribes  to  Him  a  nature  that  is 
merely  susceptible  of  being  called  out  upon  the  application  of 
the  motive.  The  other  ascribes  to  Him  a  nature  that  pours 
itself  abroad  in  the  earth  by  reason  of  its  own  fulness  and  rich- 
ness. It  is  the  latter  of  these  two  ideas  that  I  hold,  and  suppose 
the  Scriptures  to  teach.* 


CHAPTER  THE  TJFENTY-SECOND. 

1 — 5.  (1)  go  down,  the  palace  on  Zion  was  actually  higher 
than  the  Temple,  but  regarded  as  Inferior,  the  language  of  descent 
becomes  appropriate."  (2)  king  of  Jndah,  the  prophecy  is 
general,  and  should  be  referred  to  whoever  might  be  on  the 
throne.  The  king  then  reigning  was  Jehoiakim.  servants, 
or  courtiers,  these  gates,  the  large  space  at  the  entry  of  the 
palace-courts,  where  the  king  would  hold  audience.  (3)  execute, 
efr.,  cli.  xvii.  12.4  Comp.  r.  17.  (4)  indeed,  truly  and  heartily. 
enter,  rfc.  ch.  xvii.  25.  (o)  not  hear,  ch.  xvii.  27.  swear, 
De.  xxxii.  40  —  42.     this  house,  the  royal  palace. 

^'rt(•?VY/»/".s^s■  of  j/rirofc  righfg. — The  private  rights  of  a  public 

man  should  be  guai-ded  as  sacredly  as  the  altar  of  a  temple.     If 

the  President  of  the  United  States  pursue  an  inhuman  course 

towards  tho   Indian, — if    he  transgress  the   canons  of  liberty 

F  2 


goes  a  great 
quantity  to  a 
small  amount. 
There  are  silver 
books,  and  a 
very  few  goldea 
books;  but  I  have 
one  book  worth 
tUem    ;\11,   called 

the    Bible." T. 

A'eiftoii. 

"  Scriptures  hard 
to  be  understood, 
must  be  ex- 
plained by  those 
that  are  plain." 
— Collins. 

a  "The metaphor 
of  a  forest  is  em- 
ployed to  convey 
the  idea  of  a 
dcnfe  mass  of 
buildings  with 
which  the  city 
was  fdled."-i/en- 
derson, 

"  The  unholy 
soul,  like  the  my- 
stical Babylon, 
makes  itself  a 
cage  of  unclean 
binls,  aud  a  habi- 
tation of  filthy 
spirits  :  and  if  it 
continues  to  be 
such,  it  must, 
when  it  dis- 
lodges, take  up 
its  habitation 
with  cursed 
spirits  for  ever 
in  utter  dark- 
ness."—  Leighion, 
b  Beecher. 


a  It  was  also  ne- 
cf  s-ary  to  de- 
bceud  from  tho 
Temple-mount  in 
order  to  reach 
the  palace  on 
JI  0  u  n  t  Zion. 
Comp.  2  Chr. 
-xxiii.  20. 

b  "There  can  be 
no  doubt  that 
the  Prophet  has 
in  his  eye  the 
oppressive  mea- 
sures arlopted  by 
Jelioiakim  for 
raising  the  tri- 
bute wh.  Nocho, 
king    of    Egypt, 


84 


JEREmAff. 


[Cap.  xxli.  6—16. 


had  impose  il 
\ipon  bim  (2  Chr. 
xxwi.  3)  ;  nnd 
defraying  tlic 
cost  of  tliG  ex- 
pansive buiKlinjrs 
wliicU  he  ciiiiseil 
to  be  erected  in 
Jernsalem." — 
Henderson. 

V.  3.  IV.  Heading, 
iv.  100. 

e  Beecher. 

a  "  Tlinupli  thou 
werfc  n'ver  so 
precious  in  my 
siprht,  werb  as 
valuable  for 
riches  ami  plenty 
as  tlie  fat  pas- 
tures of  Gilead, 
and  thy  build- 
ings as  beautiful 
for  their  sUute- 
liness  as  the  tall 
cedars  of  Leba- 
non, yet  unless 
thy  princes  and 
people  rt'form, 
tliou  shalt  be- 
come nothing 
but  ruin  and  ile- 
solation."- AoH'Wi. 
h  '■  The  Gentile 
nations,  more  in- 
telligent than 
you,  shall  under- 
stand that  whicli 
you  do  not,  viz., 
that  this  city  is 
a  spectacle  of 
God's  venge- 
ance."— Calvin. 

a  2  Clir.  XXXV.  25. 
b  2  Ki.  xxiii.  3i. 
c  Comp.  the  Slial- 
lum  of  2  Ki.  XV. 
13,  who  only 
reigned  one 
month. 

d  "  The  people 
perhaps  enter- 
tained hopes  of 
Sliallum's  return 
fr.  Egypt,  in  wli. 
case  they  would 
replace  hiui  on 
the  throiui,  and 
thereby  free 
themselves  from 
the  oppressive 
ta.xes  imposed  liy 
J  eh  oi  ak  im." — 
Fanssit. 
e  Wondicorlh. 
f  Walker. 

a  For  .Tehoia- 
Ivim's  history  see 
2  Ki.  x.xiii.*34— 
£7,  x,\ir.  1—6. 


whicli  he  is  8u-orn  to  defend, — if  he  wink  at  evils  which  he  ia 
bound  to  prevent  or  suppress,  he  deserves  severe  public  rebuke. 
But  in  his  own  private  home,  whether  he  manages  his  individual 
aii'airs  with  economy  or  stinp:iiiess  :  whether  he  di-iuks  whisky  at 
his  table,  or  nothing  but  cold  water  :  whether  he  dresses  ill  or 
well ;  talks  much  or  little,  spends  his  income  in  one  way  or 
another— these  and  all  such-like  th.'ugs  do  not  belong  to  him 
as  President,  but  as  a  private  man,  and  are  sacred  from  remark. 
For  good  morals  every  man  may  be  held  responsible.  There 
ought  to  be  but  one  key  to  a  man's  privacy,  and  that  in  hi3 
own  hands  ;  but  the  devil  has  given  everybody  a  key  to  it,  and 
everybody  goes  in  and  out,  and  filches  Avhatever  he  pleases." 

6—9.  (0)  art  G-ilead,  Gilead  was  famous  for  its  aromati° 
plants,  its  grassy  uplands,  and  its  abundance  of  sheep  and  cattle: 
so  it  is  fitly  taken  as  the  emblem  of  prosperity.  Lebanon, 
the  usual  metaphor  for  everything  magnificent.'*  cities,  the 
judgment  should  include  ail  the  cities  of  Judah  along  with 
Jerusalem.  (7)  prepare,  Ileh.  sanctify :  appoint  to  execute 
My  judgments,  choice  cedars,  fig.  for  the  princes  and  state 
officers  :  or  perhaps  for  the  chief  dwellings.  (8,  yj  many,  ito.,^ 
De.  xxix.  24 — 2-). 

Hca'lii'n  iilolati'ii. — A  singular  phenomenon,  known  as  the 
Spectre  of  the  Brocken,  is  seen  on  a  certain  mountain  in 
Germany.  The  traveller  who  at  dawn  stands  on  the  topmost 
ridge,  beholds  a  colossal  sha<:lowy  spectre  moving  on  the 
summits  of  the  distant  hills.  But,  in  fact,  it  is  only  his  own 
shadow  projected  upon  the  morning  mists  by  the  ri.sing  sun, 
and  it  imitate^,  of  course,  every  movement  of  its  creator.  So 
heathen  nations  have  mistaken  their  own  image  for  Deity. 
Their  gods  display  human  frailties  and  passions  and  scanty 
virtues,  projected  and  magnifi3d  ^^pon  the  heavens,  just  as  the 
small  figures  on  the  slide  of  a  magic  lantern  are  projected, 
magnified,  aud  illuminated,  upon  a  white  sheet. 

10 — 12.  (10)  the  dead,  Z./;.  for  Josiah.  whose  death  was  long 
remembered  by  an  annual  public  lamentation."  goetli  away, 
into  captivity.  This  was  the  fate  of  .Tehoahaz  :  from  the  cap- 
tivity he  never  returned."  (11)  Shalluin,  most  prob.  a  name  of 
Jehoahaz  :  poss.  given  to  him  in  iroiy  by  the  Prophet  bee.  he  only 
reigned  three  months."  ( 12)  die  .  .  place,  i  c.  in  Egypt.''  "  lie 
was  the  first  king  of  Judah  who  died  in  banishment." 

Ilccolleciioii  of  home. — 

How  dear  to  this  heart  are  the  scenes  of  my  childhood, 

When  fond  recollection  recalls  them  to  view  ; 
The  orchard,  the  meadow,  the  deep  tangled  wildwood, 
And  every  loved  spot  which  mj'  infancy  knew.' 

Thou  spot  of  earth,  where  from  my  bosom 

The  first  weak  tones  of  nature  rose, 
■Where  first  I  cropped  the  stainless  blo.«°"m 

Of  pleasure  yet  unmix'd  with  woe'  , 
"Where,  with  my  new-born  powers  delighted, 

I  trippM  beneath  a  mother's  hand  — 
In  thee  the  quenchless  flame  was  lighted, 

That  sparkles  for  my  native  land.-' 

13—16.  (i:n  woe  nnto  him,  i.r.  Jehoiakim,  w?.o  seems  to 
have  been  a  heai'tless  tyrant."    chambers,  lit.  v_pjjcr  chambers. 


Cap.  xxil.  17-23.] 


JEREMIAH. 


85 


wli.  involved  toilsome  work  in  building.*  service  without 
wages,  in  olden  times  kings  were  accustomed  thus  to  exact 
forced  labour  on  public  works  from  their  people."  (l-i)  wide 
house,  lit.  ■■  house  of  extensions."  windows,  lit.  my  n-indons, 
the  language  of  boastfulness.  Some  think  it  should  be  "  large 
or  double  v/indows  :  '  the  blinds  being  ttvo-lcavcd.  ceiled, 
roofed,  vermilion,''  Eze.  sxiii.  14.  Red  sulphuret  of  mercury. 
(15)  reign,  permanently  and  securely,  eat  and  drink,  the  sign 
of  enjoying  life  and  jDeace.  (1(5)  know  me  ?  and  My  defendings 
and  preservings. 

IJIrr/ance  does  not  malte  a  home. — I  never  saw  a  garment  too 
fine  for  a  man  or  maid  ;  there  was  never  a  chair  too  good  for 
a  ccbbler,  or  cooper,  or  king  to  sit  in  ;  never  a  house  too  fine 
to  shelter  the  human  head.  These  elements  about  us,  the 
gorgeous  sky,  the  imperial  sun,  are  not  too  good  for  the  human 
race.  Elegance  fits  man.  But  do  we  not  value  these  tools  of 
housekeeping  a  little  more  than  they  are  worth,  and  sometimes 
mortgage  a  house  for  the  mahogany  we  would  bring  into  it  ? 
I  had  rather  eat  my  dinner  off  the  head  of  a  barrel,  or  dress  after 
the  fashion  of  John  the  Baptist  in  the  wilderness,  or  sit  on  a 
block  all  my  life,  than  consume  myself  before  I  got  to  a  home, 
and  take  so  much  pains  with  the  outside  that  the  inside  was 
as  hollow  as  an  empty  nut.  Beauty  is  a  great  thing  ;  but  beauty 
of  garments,  house  and  furniture,  is  a  very  tawdry  ornament 
compared  with  domestic  love.  All  the  elegance  in  the  world  will 
not  make  a  home,  and  I  would  give  more  for  a  spoonful  of  real 
hearty  love  than  for  whole  shiploads  of  furniture,  and  all  the 
gorgeousness  that  all  the  upholsterers  in  the  world  could  gather 
together." 

17—19.  (17)  COvetOTlsness,  including  all  kinds  ot  getting 
for  his  own  pleasure  or  aggrandisement."  violence,  or  crush- 
ing ;  applied  to  the  liberties  and  rights  of  the  people.  (IS)  not 
lament,  the  sign  of  regret  for  his  departure.  The  death  of 
Buch  a  tyrant  would  only  be  felt  as  a  national  relief.  (19) 
burial  .  .  ass,  the  manner  of  Jehoiakim's  death  is  not  recorded : '' 
the  point  of  the  prophecy  is  that  his  body  would  not  be  buried. 

Tlie  doom  of  the defrniider,  etc.  (v.  19).— This  said  of  Jehoiakim. 
not  his  character  ;  his  life  and  death  suggestive  of  the  romance 
of  crime.  I.  The  romance  of  fraud  :  many  think  the  poorest  wa^' 
to  get  money  is  to  earn  it.  II.  The  romance  of  libertinism. 
III.  The  romance  of  assassination.' 

The  mfety  rf  right-doing. — Truth  has  no  revolution  in  it. 
Right  has  no  change  in  it.  Justice  is  always  safe  and  sure. 
If  j'ou  must  crucify  Christ  because  Ho  will  not  join  your  party, 
your  faction,  your  Church,  your  religion,  then  crucify  Him  ;  but 
remember  the  eighteen  hundred  years  of  darkness,  and  revolution, 
and  turmoil  that  follo\\'cd  His  first  crucifixion.  The  great  battle 
of  God  Almighty  is  not  fought  out  yet,  and  yoa  will  have  more 
of  it  in  your  day.  If  you  want  peace,  do  right.  If  you  will  not 
do  right,  remember  that  God  is  the  incendiary  of  the  universe, 
and  that  He  Avill  burn  your  plans,  and  will  by-and-by  bui-n  you 
with  unquenchable  fire."* 

20 — 23.  (20)  Lebanon,  etc.,  the  highest  places  in  the  sur- 
rounding country  are  mentioned  as  those  from  whence  the  i^eoplo 
might  see  the  failure  of  the  allies  in  whom  they  were  trusting. 


h  "  From  the  ab« 
sence  of  nia- 
cliinery  the  rais- 
ing of  materials 
fur  tlie  upper 
stories  was  a  jif- 
ticult  task,  espe- 
cially when  mas- 
sive stones  were 
used." — Sjik.Com. 
c  Corap.  De.  xxir. 
14,  15. 

d  "  A.  beautiful 
red  paint,  called 
siiinpis,  bee,  ac- 
cording to  Pliny, 
it  was  first  dis- 
covered near  the 
town  of  Sinojte, 
in  Pontus.  It 
was  composed  of 
quicksilver  and 
s  u  1 1^  h  u  r,  and 
must  not  be  mis- 
taken for  the 
preparation  of 
reil  lead,  known 
amongst  us  by 
the  name  of  ver- 
milion." —  Men- 
del sun. 
e  Theo.  Parker. 


a  For  Jehoia- 
kim's character 
comp.  Eze.  xii.  G. 

h  "  Prob.  he  was 
taken  prisoner  ia 
some  valley  dur- 
ing the  siege, 
then  killed,  and 
his  dead  body 
cast  into  the 
h  i  g  h  way."  -» 
LoHi/t. 

c  Dr.  Talmage. 
"Tlie  usurei 
hangs  the  co- 
zener. Through, 
tatter'd  clothes 
small  vices  do 
appear  :  robes 
and  furr'd  gowns 
hide  all.  Plate 
sin  with  gold, 
and  the  strong 
lance  o£  justice 
hurtless  Ireaks  : 
arm  it  in  rags,  a 
]iigmy  straw  doth 
pierce  it."-Shake' 
spedre. 
U  Beecher, 

a  Fig.  of  east 
wind,  cotnp.  ch. 
iv.  12,  xviii.  17. 


8G 


JEREMIAIT. 


[Cap.  xxil.  24—27. 


J  "  O  Jerusalem, 
thou  that  art 
lifted  up  (111  hitrh 
like  Lebanon, 
ami  that  niakest 
thy  nest  in  the 
stately  cedars, 
that  think  est 
thyself  secure, 
like  an  eaple 
■which  has  built 
its  nest  in  the 
loftiest  trees  of 
the  highest 
m  oun  tain."  — 
Woidsicort/i. 

e  Dr.  Thomas. 

"  A  holy  woman 
was  wont  to  say 
of  the  rich — 
'  They  are  hem- 
med round  with 
no  common  mi- 
sery ;  they  go 
down  to  hell 
without  think- 
ing of  it,  because 
their  staircase 
thither  is  of  gold 
and  porphyry.' " 
— Spurgeon. 

d  Percy  Anec. 


a  "  The  estima- 
tion in  which 
signets  were  held 
is  the  point  of 
the  metaphor  in 
the  present  in- 
B  t  a  n  c  e." — Ilen- 
^ersoji. 

b  2  Ki.  xxiv.  15. 

V.  24.  J.  a  7)ie- 
teric,  AnI.  6i8; 
Dr.  E.  Payson,  ii. 
432. 

"It  is  a  prepos- 
terous tiling  that 
men  can  venture 
their  souls  where 
they  will  not 
venture  their 
money ;  for  they 
will  take  their 
religion  upon 
trust,  but  Would 
not  trust  a  synod 
about  the  gooii- 
ness  of  half-a- 
croyni.'"--)yiUium 
Pcnn, 


Bashan,  the  northern  part  of  the  region  beyond  Jordan,  pas- 
sages, better  Aharim,  a  range  of  mountains  to  the  south  of 
Gilead.  lovers,  here  allird  luifiiui.t.  (21)  prosperity,  in  thy 
prosperous  days,  thy  youth,  i.e.  the  time  of  the  Exodus.  (22) 
wind.,"  fig.  of  coming  calamity,  pastors,  or  shepherds  :  here 
civil  and  ecclesiastical  rulers.  (23)  inhabitants,  ctcfi  a  fig. 
of  Jerus..  in  view  of  the  palaces  roofed  with  cedar  fr.  Lebanon, 
gracious,  or  how  wilt  thou  groan  ! 

j\/{i)i  in  material  i>ru.^pcrit)i  (c.  21). — Here  we  have  man  in 
material  prosperity — I.  Addressed  by  Almighty  God.  1.  Be 
humble ;  2.  Be  spiritual ;  3.  Be  generous.  II.  Refusing  an 
audience  with  his  JMaker.  1.  Because  I  am  happy  as  I  am  ;  2. 
Because  Thy  voice  will  disturb  me.  Address  the  prosperous: — (1) 
Be  wise  in  time  :  (2)  Use  the  world  as  not  abusing  it,  etc." 

"  Tom  of  Ten  2'hoii.mnd.'''' — Among  the  thousand  victims  of  that 
most  disastrous  adventure,  the  South  Sea  scheme,  there  was 
psrhai^s  scarcely  one  more  to  be  pitied  than  a  native  of  Leeds,  of 
the  name  of  Thomas  Hudson.  In  the  early  part  of  his  life  he 
filled  a  respectable  situation  as  a  Government  clerk  in  London. 
While  in  this  situation,  he  came  into  the  jwssession  of  a  large 
fortune  by  the  death  of  an  aunt ;  he  then  retired  into  the 
country,  where  he  lived  for  some  time  very  happily,  until  he 
unfortunately  became  an  adventurer  in  the  South  Sea  scheme  ; 
and  so  sanguine  was  he  of  its  success,  that  he  embarked  the 
whole  of  his  fortune  in  it.  When  the  news  reached  him  of  the 
failure  of  his  darling  scheme,  he  left  his  residence  in  a  state  of 
distraction,  and  went  to  London.  From  this  moment  he  became 
insane,  and  "Tom  of  Ten  Thousand,"  as  he  called  himself, 
wandered  through  the  streets,  wrapped  in  a  rug,  and  leaning  on 
a  crutch,  and  without  cither  shoes  or  stockings.  In  this  state 
did  the  poor  creature  perambulate,  even  in  the  coldest  weather, 
and  crave  assistance  from  the  humane,  until  death  released  him 
from  all  his  troubles  at  a  very  advanced  age* 

24—27.  (24)  Coniah,  or  Jehoiachin,  son  and  successor  of 
Jehoiakim.  He  surrendered  to  the  Babylonians,  and  was  carried 
captive  to  Chalda3a.  signet,  i.e.  the  royal  ring  used  for  sealing 
public  documents.  The  signet  expresses  that  wh.  is  exceedingly 
precious,  and  highly  valued."  (25)  give  thee,  as  a  captive. 
(2(!)  mother,  i.e.  the  queen-mother.'  who  had  great  influence  at 
the  Jewish  court.  (27)  desire  to  return,  intimating  that  the 
bitterness  of  captivity  shall  partly  be  the  '•  home-sickness  "  which 
they  shall  suffer, 

IJr.  Franlilin.- — It  is  recorded  of  Franklin  that,  when  a  young 
man  expressed  his  surprise  that  a  gentleman  well  known  to 
them,  of  unbounded  wealth,  should  appear  more  anxious  after 
business  than  the  most  assiduous  clerk  in  a  counting-house,  the 
doctor  took  an  apple  from  the  fruit  basket,  and  presented  it  to  a 
little  child,  who  could  just  totter  about  the  room.  The  child 
could  scarcely  grasp  it  in  his  hand  ;  he  then  gave  it  another, 
which  occupied  the  other  hand.  Then  choosing  a  third,  remark- 
able for  its  size  and  beauty,  he  presented  that  also.  The  child, 
after  many  ineffectual  attempts  to  hold  the  three,  dropped  the 
last  on  the  carpet,  and  burst  into  tears.  '•  See  there."'  said 
Franklin,  "there  is  a  little  man  with  more  riches  than  he  can 
enjoy."  The  increase  of  painful  care,  anxiety,  and  trouble, 
generally  bear  at  least  an  ecLual  proportion  to  the  increase  oi 


Cap.  scxiii,  1—4.] 


JEREillATT. 


87 


riches.  The  i^eace  of  the  child  was  not  broken  until  the  attempt 
was  made  to  obtain  the  grasp  of  the  third  apple  ;  had  but  two 
been  thought  of,  its  happiness  would  have  been  great.'^ 


28 — 30.  (28)  idol,  better,  vessel.  A  lamentation  over  Coniah's 
hard  fate.  He  seemed  to  be  idolised  by  the  Jews,  and  this  made 
his  fate  so  sad.  (29)  O  earth,  etc.,  the  repetition  expresses  deep 
feeling,  as  if  Jeremiah  thoroughly  joined  in  the  lamentation  over 
Coniah.  (30)  cllildless,"  with  none  to  succeed  him  ;  and  so  in 
him  the  proper  line  of  Davidic  kings  became  extinct.* 

A  call  to  hear  the.  Word  of  the  Lord  (r.  29).— I.  The  subject  of 
the  address.  1.  The  Word  of  the  Lord  is  unwritten  as  well  as 
written  ;  2.  It  is  threatening  as  well  as  promising.  II.  The 
duty  inculcated  in  the  address.  1.  To  hear  and  understand  ;  2. 
To  hear  and  obey  ;  3.  To  hear  and  make  known  to  others.  III. 
The  style  of  the  address,  apostrophe.  1.  The  universality  of  its 
range  ;  2.  The  earnestness  and  affection  of  its  spirit.'^ 

Indifference  to  God's  messa/je. — It  is  related  of  a  well-known 
minister  in  the  last  century,  that,  having  given  out  his  text,  he 
paused  to  notice  its  effects  ujaon  his  congregation,  but  they  were 
evidently  too  fashionably  indifferent  to  be  interested  in  anything 
so  unimportant  as  a  passage  from  Holy  Writ.  Shocked  at  the 
unconcern  of  his  audience,  and  terrified  by  the  sudden  thought 
of  their  awful  condition  and  his  own  responsibility,  the  good 
man  leant  forward  in  the  pulpit  and  gave  vent  to  the  excitement 
of  the  moment  in  an  outburst  of  passionate  tears  :  an  action  so 
unusual  could  not  but  aAvaken  attention  to  the  sermon  which 
followed,  when,  in  a  voice  husky  with  cuiotion,  and  energetic 
from  grief,  he  exhorted  his  hearers  to  have  pity  upon  their  own 
immortal  souls  and  to  grieve  no  longer  the  heart  of  their  Father 
by  apathy  and  neglect. 


CHAPTER   TEE   TJVENTY-THinD. 

1—4.  (1). pastors,  here  riders."  my  pasture,  they  used 
the  sheep  as  if  they  had  independent  rights  over  them,  whereas 
the  sheep  were  the  Lord's,  and  they  only  under-shepherds,  not 
owners.  (2)  scattered,  etc.,  i.e.  the  wrong-doing  of  the  rulers 
first  led  the  people  away  from  God  into  idolatry,  and  then 
brought  on  them  judgments  and  captivity,  driven,  E.  shepherds 
never  drive  the  sheep  ;  the  sheep  follow  them.  (3)  Teninant, 
left  out  of  the  coming  calamities.  folds,  better,  pastures. 
fruitful,  ch.  iii.  in.  (4^  shepherds,  such  as  Ezra,  Nehemiah, 
etc.     he  lacking,  needful  supjilies  :  or  "none  shall  be  missing." 

The  present  (rod  (r.  4).— I.  The  text  proves  the  folly  and  sin 
of  every  form  of  idolatry.  1.  It  is  senseless  :  2.  Sinful.  II.  The 
truth  of  the  text  should  stimulate  us  to  the  cultivation  of  an 
incessantly  devotional  spirit.  III.  See  in  the  text  a  source  of 
sure  consolation  to  the  Christian  amidst  the  sorrows  to  which  he 
is  exposed.  IV.  "What  a  safeguard  against  the  seductions  of  sin 
may  these  noble  words  prove.  1.  We  are  self-tempted  ;  2.  We 
are  socially  tempted  ;  3.  We  are  Satanically  tempted.'' 

i\'ece.'i.'<i/i//or  the  cristeDce  of  God. — Notwithstanding  the  conse- 
quences which  may  justly  be  dreaded  by  sinful  and  incorrigible 
beings,  it  is  certainly  of  all  things  most  desirable  that  there 
ehould  be  a  God.     Social  order  and  civil  government,  with  all 


a  Ko  son  of  Je- 
couiali's  is  found 
ill  the  list  ol 
Jewish  kiugs. 

b  "  Tliough  Mes- 
siah, the  heir  of 
David's  tlirone, 
was  lineally  de- 
scended from 
Jeooniah,  it  was 
only  through 
.Joseph,  who, 

though  his  le^al, 
was  not  his  real 
father."-  Fausset. 

V.  29.   ."?.  Laving- 

(on,  ii.  3G5. 

How      many 

hearers  of  the 
Gospel  are  like 
Pharaoh's  lean 
kin  el  They 
seem  to  devour 
everything,  and 
digest  nothing. 

c  G.  Brookt. 


a,    Com  p. 
xxxiy.  2. 


Eze. 


6  J.  H  in  Ilomi- 

list. 

"  Preaching  to 
some  hearers  is 
like  throwing  a 
ball  against  a 
wall ;  all  that  is 
said  to  them 
seems  to  rebound 
upon  the  preach- 
er, without  pro- 
ducing any  sen- 
sible effect.  It 
is  like  playing 
upon  a  piano 
whose  strings 
are  all  broken  ; 
there  is  no  mu- 
sical resnonse. 
How  is  'this  !" 
They  are  dead 
to  "the  impres- 
sions which  tha 
truth    is    calcu- 


88 


JEREiflAR. 


[Cap.  xxiil.  5-13; 


]atf<l  to  proiluoo 
within  tliem." — 
John  Bate. 


aPs.  Ixxii.  2;  Is. 
xi.  5,  .xxxii.  1. 

6  "  He  by  whom 
Jeiiovah  works 
rigliteoiisness."— 
Jiengstenbeig. 

c  "  This  view 
equally  contains 
the  doctrine  of 
the  Goilheail  of 
the  Messiiili,  but 
not  so  directly. 
Forit  implies  the 
existence  of  a 
vicegerent  of  G  od 
upon  earth,  by 
whom  God  will 
impart  that  per- 
fect righteons- 
ness,  to  wh.  no 
man  can  attain 
by  himself." — 
Spk.  Com. 

d  Eta  in  400  Sks. 

e  Beta  in  400  Sks. 

"  National  happi- 
ness must  be  pro- 
duced through 
the  influence  of 
religions  laws." 
— Sout/iei/. 

/  Q.  Brooks 


a  Je.  xi.  3. 

b  "  Bxternal  cir- 
cumstances as- 
sist in  urging  on 
to  rnia  thobC 
who  choose  the 
dangerous  path 
of  vice.''— -S^'i. 
Com. 

After  Br.  Scud- 
dor's  return  from 
India,  he  was 
up'^u  a  steam- 
boat    with     Uis 


the  sublime  coiitomplations  of  rolig-ion,  its  dignifying  effect  and 
powerlul  consolations,  clearly  depiiid  on  the  grand  i>riuciple 
that  there  is  a  Being  who  made  and  who  governs  the  universe. 
Such  a  Being  must  be  infinitely  worthy  of  the  adoration  of 
His  rational  creatures  :  He  must  have  a  claim  on  their  implicit 
obedience  ;  and  to  Him  they  must  all  be  accountable.  Here  lie  the 
foundations  of  human  happiness,  and  particularly  of  that  moral 
excellence,  which  even  in  this  life  approximates  the  rational 
creature  to  its  highest  attainable  perfection  ;  here  too  arc  the 
securities,  and  the  only  effective  securities,  of  every  constitution 
calculated  to  promote  the  i^resent  or  the  future  felicities  of  man.* 

5 — 9.  ('.'>)  righteous  iDrancll,  comp.  Is.  iv.  2,  xi.  1,  liii.  2; 
Zee.  iii.  8,  vi.  12.  execute  juclgmcut,  the  characteristic  of 
the  kingdom  of  Christ."  (<))  llis  days,  De.  xxxiii.  28.  name, 
Jcliovah  Tsidkemi,  '•  the  Lord  our  righteousness." '  Righteousness 
here  means  "personal  holiness,"  ratiier  than  " justification."' « 
(7)  brought  .  .  Egypt,  this  had  hitherto  been  regarded  as  the 
very  highest  manifestation  of  God"s  power  and  grace.  (8)  north 
country,  the  Prophet's  description  of  Chalda;a.  (9)  prophets, 
i.e.  the  false  proph':>ts.  like  a  drunken  man,  staggering 
under  the  words  of  Divine  threatening  which  he  had  to  utter. 

'The.  liingdom  of  the  M(i<.nah  (c.  .5).- — I.  The  person  of  the 
Messiah.  1.  His  human  incarnation  ;  2.  His  personal  perfection  ; 
3.  His  sovereign  character.  II.  The  nature  of  His  kingdom. 
1.  Universal ;  2.  Mediatorial ;  3.  Spiritual ;  4.  Celestial.  III. 
The  character  of  His  reign.  1.  Legitimate  :  2.  Eighteous  :  3. 
Prosperous  ;  4.  Everlasting-.'' — Mcsn'iah'.t  vc'ign  (r.  R). — I.  The 
character  of  Christ.   There  are  three  things  we  look  for  in  a  king. 

1.  Supreme  power ;  2.  Legislative  authority  ;  3.  Righteous 
administration.  II.  The  nature  of  His  reign.  1.  Spiritual :  2. 
Benevolent ;  3.  Equitable ;  4.  Perpetual.  III.  The  prosperity 
with  which  that  reign  shall  be  attended.  1.  Increase  of  willing 
subjects  ;  2.  Provision  for  all  their  wants  ;  3.  Security  of  their 
happiness:  4.  Subjugation  of  their  foes.  Apply: — (1)  How 
great  the  folly  of  His  opponents  :  (2)  How  full  of  joy  should  be 
His  subjects  ;  (3)  How  zealous  should  they  be  for  the  extension 
of  His  power.' — The  Lord  our  rir/hfrous/ie.'<,<t  (r.  G). — I.  Explain 
the  title  here  given  to  the  Redeemer.  L  The  dignity  of  Hia 
nature  :  2.  The  importance  of  His  work  :  3.  The  interest  of  His 
people  in  Ilim.  H.  Assign  some  reasons  for  the  prominence  of 
this  title.  Because  ij  exhibits — 1.  A  grand  view  of  His  character  ; 

2.  Views  of  His  character  which  have  been  most  virulently 
opposed  ;  3.  But  which  must  be  most  cordially  embraced  by  His 
people./ 

10—12.  (10)  adulteress,  those  living  in  immorality  and  sin. 
swearing,  or  of  the  curse,  wh.  ini<iuity  has  brought  upon  it." 
pleasant  places,  or  pastures,  course,  or  mode  of  life,  force, 
or  heroism  :  "  that  on  which  they  pride  themselves  as  mighty 
men."  (11)  profane,  common  and  unholy  by  reason  of 
iniquity.  (12)  slipperj^  ways,  down  v.-hich  they  must  surely 
fall,  driven  on,  pressed  on  l)y  their  very  sins.'  visitation, 
or  the  set  time  of  Divine  judgment. 

C/trc  (\f  pvojnnlty. — A  merchant  on  fitting  out  a  ship  for  India, 
told  the  captain,  at  the  time  of  making  the  contract  for  the 
voyage,  that  he  must  engage  not  to  swear,  nor  have  any  swear- 


Cap.  xxiii.  13-20 J 


JEREMUB. 


89 


ing  among  the  crew.  This  must  be  the  law  of  the  ship.  The 
captain  said  he  was  willing  to  reform.  •'  But  how  can  I  suddenly 
break  off  an  inveterate  habit.'"  he  inquired.  "  I  will  take  care 
you  are  reminded  of  your  duty,"  replied  the  owner.  "  AVear  the 
ring"  that  I  will  give  yon.  and  let  the  law  of  the  vessel  be  ex- 
pliciily  known."  The  ring  was  provided,  beaiing  this  motto, 
'■  Swear  not  at  all."  The  vessel  performed  the  voyage,  and  re- 
turned to  port.  On  inquiry,  it  was  found  that  there  had  been  no 
prof  anen  ess  on  board,  excepting  a  little  within  the  hrst  twenty 
days  after  sailing  ;  and  the  old  habit  was  entii'ely  destroyed. 

13 — 16.  (13)  folly,  the  stupidity  of  prophesying  by  Baal. 
Heb.  word  nieariB,  Jiaronrlesx.  an  unsavoury  thing.  (14)  horrible 
tiling,  even  worse  things  than  in  Samaria,  bcc.  the  jirivileges 
of  Jerusalem  were  greater,  strengthen,  by  the  influeuceof 
their  bad  example.  As  Sodom,  Is.  i.  9.  (15)  "wormwood, 
ch.  viii.  U,  ix.  1.5.  profaneness,  or  hypocrisy ;  but  better. 
dc.iccrution.  (16)  vain,  i.e.  they  deceive  you."  vision  .  . 
heart,  Lr.  one  of  their  own  invention,  in  wh.  is  no  truth. 

Strenijtlinilng  the  hands  of  tlie  niched  (v.  14). — I.  All  sin  is 
horrible  in  its  nature.  II.  To  strengthen  the  hands  and  hinder 
the  repentance  of  sinners  is  to  oppose  the  great  plan  of  God's 
government.  III.  It  tends  to  the  misery  of  mankind.  IV.  It  is 
to  operate  with  the  spirit  of  evil  who  works  in  the  children  of 
disobedience.  V.  It  is  a  hoiTible  thing  because  we  thus  become 
partakers  of  their  sins.  VI.  It  is  directly  contrary  to  God's 
commands,  and  is  marked  with  His  peculiar  abhorrence.  Apply 
—  1.  To  teachers  of  religion,  to  Christians  in  general,  to  heads 
of  families,  and  the  young  ;  2.  It  is  also  a  horrible  thing  t/O  be 
strengthened  in  evil-doing.'' 

17 — 20.  (17)  still,  they  keep  on  saying,  have  peace,  ch. 
vi.  14.  imagination,  or  stubbornne.ss.  (18)  who  hatli 
stood?  meaning,  "manifestly  they  have  not."  (19)  whirl- 
wind, ch.  xxx.  2:!.  or  tempest,  tornado.  (20)  not  return,  not 
be  restrained  or  withdrawn."  latter  days,  those  following  on 
the  great  calamities. 

Iinportance  of  ,ielf -knowledge. — Knoiv  thyself  ia  one  of  the 
most  useful  and  comprehensive  precepts  in  the  whole  moral 
system  ;  and  it  is  well  known  in  how  great  a  veneration  this 
maxim  was  held  by  the  ancients,  and  in  how  high  esteem  the 
dut}'  of  self-examination  necessary  to  it.  Thales,  the  Milesian, 
the  prince  of  the  philosophers,  who  floui'ished  about  a.m.  SBHO, 
and  was  contemporary  with  Josiah,  king  of  Judah,  is  said  to  be 
the  first  antlior  of  it,  who  used  to  say.  that  '•  for  a  man  to  know 
himself  is  the  hardest  thing  in  the  world."  It  was  afterwards 
adopted  by  Chylon  the  Laciedemonian  ;  and  is  one  of  those  three 
precepts  which  Pliny  affirms  to  have  been  consecrated  at  Deljihos 
in  golden  letters.  It  was  after-n-ards  greatly  admired  and  fre- 
quently adopted  by  others,  till  at  length  it  acquired  the  au- 
thority of  a  divine  oracle,  and  was  supposed  to  have  been  given 
originally  by  Apollo  himself  ;  of  which  general  opinion  Cicero 
gives  us  this  reason,  "  Because  it  hath  such  a  weight  of  sense 
and  wisdom  in  it  as  appears  too  great  to  be  attributed  to  any 
man."  And  this  opinion  of  its  coming  originally  from  Apollo 
himself  perhaps  was  the  reason  that  it  was  written  in  golden 
capitals  over  the  door  of  his  temple  at  Delphos.* 


sou,  when  he 
heard  a  person 
using  profane 
language.  Ac- 
costing him,  he 
s;iicl,  "  This  boy- 
was  born  and 
hronglit  up  in  a 
lioathen  country 
and  a  land  of 
idohitry ;  but,  in 
all  his  life,  ha 
never  heard  a 
man  blasplieme 
his  Maker  until 
now."  The  man 
apologised,  and 
moved  a  w  a  y 
ashamed. 
a  "  Tliey  delude 
you  with  \-aia 
promises  of  se- 
curity.'"-J/durtr. 

'••  15.  C.  Barker, 
•21. 

"  Beware  of  flat- 
tery ;  'tis  a 
flowery  weed 
wliich  oft  offends 
tlie  very  idol 
vi  c  e  whose 
shrine  it  would 
pe  r  f  lime.  "  — 
Fenlon. 

b  Di:  LaOircp. 


a  "  Tlie  expres- 
sion i.s  taken 
from  a  messenger 
that  comes  back 
\\itIio>it  doing 
his  business." — 
Lutcl/i. 


"  .'^elf-love  never 
yet  could  look  on 
truth  but  with 
blear'd  beams. 
Sleek  Flattery 
and  she  are  twin- 
born  sisters,  and 
so  mix  tlieir  eyes, 
as  if  you  sever 
one,  the  otiier 
dies." — £iH  Jun- 
son. 

"Whitefield,  when 
flattered,  saiil, 
'■  Tal;e  care  of 
fire  :  I  cuiry 
liowder     about 


b  Afason, 


90 


JEREmAIT. 


[Cap.  xxiii.  21—23. 


a  .Te.  xiv.  11, 
xxvii.  15,  xxix.  9. 

t  "  Are  ye  so  ig- 
norant as  to  sup- 
pose that  I  can 
only  see  things 
near  Me,  viz.. 
thing.?in  heaven, 
ami  not  earthly 
things  as  being 
too   remote  ?  " — 

vv.  23.  24.  Dr.  J. 
JoHin,\.  US;  1)'. 
RU:hiu-dson,\.22. 
V.  2t.  S.  C/i'ir- 
nnck,  i.  527  ;  Dr. 
W.  Luplon,  422  ; 
Dr.  R.  Moss,  vi. 
3fi3  ;  Dr.  W. 
JBrnckt^nridji: 
115  ;  C.  /'.■l':rs. 
17i)  ;  J.  HV.rft'w, 
Vii.  238  ;  Dr.  Ji. 
Pricf,  108 ;  A. 
Jli,:lviald,  51  ; 
J.  Fnocett,  i.  1  ; 
H'.  Dealtry,  22. 
c  Dr  T/iomas. 
"  Many  a  time 
■when  we  stami 
in  the  pulpit 
some  sinner  may 
be  jireseut  to 
whom  we  are 
R'llressiug  our 
la  it  message  — 
who  will  never 
he.vr  the  Gospel, 
or  be  exhorteil 
to  take  care  of 
liis  soul  ag.iin. 
Shoall  we  not 
wish  to  pour 
upon  sucli  a 
0U3  the  whole 
force  of  our 
power.?  o£  per- 
suasion ;  to  speak 
to  him  emph.ati- 
cally,  in  tlio 
words  of  Baxter. 
'as  a  ilying  man 
to  (lying men'  ?  ' 
— (Jhrisliaii  lie- 
virw. 
d  D.:  Wheedon. 

V.  28.     R.  P.  lind 

dicmnhf,  ii.  Ifill  : 
R.  Ci'cil,  iii.  ITS  ; 
W.     Jf.     J/'-lhiloil\ 

15 ;  Dr.  J.  FM- 
clitr,  iii.  75. 


"  Dreams,  where 
t  li  o  \i  g  h  t,  in 
fancy's  m  a  v.  c. 
runs  mad."  — 
young. 


21 — 24.  (21)  ran,"  taking  prophetical  respon.slbilities  upon 
themselves,  aud  niauifesting-  in  the  Proi)het's  work  great  eager- 
ue.ss.  (22)  my  counsel,  r.  18.  The  sign  of  the  true  prophet 
is  his  influence  in  favour  of  morality.  (2:5)  at  hand,  tliea 
surely  I  see  the  wickeduess  of  these  false  prophets.  (24J  hide 
himself,  Ps.  cxxxix.  7.* 

77/Y'  tr/<r  pu/pit  (r.  22). — The  text  enables  us  to  sketch  aa 
ideal  preacher.  I.  Ilis  mental  position,  '•  If  they  had  stood  ia 
My  counsel."  This  mental  position  is — 1.  Most  necessary  :  2. 
Most  ennobling.  II.  His  grand  work  caused  JMy  people  to  hear 
My  words.  1.  A  most  dirlicult  work  ;  2.  A  most  urgent  work. 
III.  His  true  test.  1.  Conversion  from  evil  is  the  great  want  of 
mankind  ;  2.  The  great  tendency  of  God's  Word."^ 

Sonl-cnnrcrthui  preao/irrs. — There  are  preachers,  by  myriads 
and  majorities,  and  deeply  pious  ones  too,  that  never  once  in  all 
their  lives  distinctly  concentrated  their  purposes  to  the  single 
point  of  converting  men.  Their  efforts  are  to  finish  an  eloquent 
sermon,  to  develop  theological  or  Biblical  truth,  to  thiill  aostheti- 
cally  an  audience,  to  pour  forth  general  religious  emotion,  to 
spread  a  popular  fame,  to  gather  crowds,  to  build  a  large  church. 
etc.  Verily  these  have  often  their  reward,  namely  success  in 
their  objects.  But  here  is  a  lonesome  preacher,  who  does  not 
object  to  all  these  ;  but  with  or  without  them,  by  study,  by 
closet,  by  pulpit,  by  pastoral  work,  some  or  all,  he  means  to  con- 
vert souls,  and  just  so  many  as  he  can.  Where  this  is  attained 
all  the  other  success  is  well  enough.  Where  this  is  not  attained, 
all  the  other  success  does  not  comfort  him  a  i^enny  :  he  goes  oS 
crestfallen  and  disappointed,  indignant  at  the  devil  and  himself. 
He  will  not  stay  there  where  Satan  has  beaten  hira  :  but  he  will 
go  where,  please  God,  he  can  get  some  souls.  Maffitt,  in  his 
golden  days,  did  convert  his  thousands,  surpassing  jMr.  Caughey 
in  this  respect,  for  that  was  his  unerring  aim.  Bascom  aimed  to 
be  the  jjulpit  orator  ;  his  purpose  terminated  in  the  elaborate 
harangue,  the  thrilled  audience,  and  the  gathering  crowd.  He 
did  not  entertain  the  downright  purpose  of  conversion.  Sum- 
merfield  terminated  his  effort  with  pouring  his  own  rich  religious 
emotions  upon  his  melting  congregation  ;  but  his  emotion  did 
not  go  forth  into  the  sharp  volition  and  the  determined  practical 
drudgery  of  action.  And  we  think  that  this  same  analysis  ex- 
ercised upon  every  minister  of  strength  aud  ability  would,  in 
nearly  every  case,  bring  out  the  answer  to  the  question,  What 
prevents  this  able  minister  from  converting  souls .'  He  does  not, 
in  the  full  force  of  the  word,  try.** 

25—28.  (2.-.)  dreamed,  De.  xiii.  1.  (26)  deceit . .  heart, 
none  are  so  fully  deceived  as  those  who  are  xrlf-fh'rrir/'d.  (27) 
as  their  fathers,  sec  Ju.  iii.  7,  viii.  3;s.  (28)  hath  a  dream, 
;.(;.  one  really  given  to  him  by  God.  chaff,  dreams  out  of  mens 
mere  invaginations,     wheat,  dreams  communicared  by  God. 

^l  .iii!/!/r.<<fci/  riDifr/hsf:  (r.  2S). — The  contrast  in  this  })assage 
admits  of  a  threefold  application.  1.  To  true  and  false  doctrines  ; 
2.  To  true  and  false  teachers  ;  :•].  To  true  and  false  professors. — 
/{rHf/i(iii.<t  truth  and  error  (r.  2S). — I.  That  religious  error  is  a 
human  dream,  but  religious  truth  is  a  Divine  word.  1.  Because 
they  imply  a  partial  dormancy  of  the  soul  :  2.  Because  they  are 
temporary  illusions.  II.  That  religious  error  as  well  as  truth  is 
allowed  a  voice  in  this  world.      This  fa^-t   indicates— 1.  The 


Cap.  xxiii.  29-38] 


JEREMIAH. 


91 


superior  force  of  truth  ;  2.  Man's  inalienable  right  to  free  speech. 
Hi.  That  the  relative  value  of  religious  truth  and  religious  error 
does  not  admit  of  comparison  ;  these  dreams,  errors,  are  chaff. 
This  applies — To  ideas  and  their  expressions,  to  religion  and  its 
forms,  to  character  and  its  accidents,  to  spiritual  and  secular 
worth." 

29 — 32.  (20)  like  .  .  fire,  you  can  tell  it  by  its  purifying 
power,  hammer,  breaking  down  man's  pride,  and  convicting 
him  of  sin.  (3!)j  against  .  .  propliets,  i.e.  purposing  judg- 
ments on  the  false  prophets,  steal  .  .  neighbour,  i.e.  try  to 
catch  up  and  imitiite  the  true  Prophets,  bee.  they  have  no 
message  of  their  own.  (31)  use,  heXtev  smooth.  The  intimation 
is  that  they  talk,  but  liave  really  nothing  to  say."  (32)  light- 
ness, vain,  frivolous  talking. 

The  liihh'  like  a  fire  and  a  liammer  (i'.  29). — I.  Like  a  fire 
heaven-kindled,  all-penetrating,  destructive,  discriminating, 
refining,  sanctifying.  II.  Like  a  hammer,  heart  hard  and 
unimpressible,  breaks  down  pride  and  self-righteousness. 
Apply  : — 1.  Employ  the  Bible  for  our  personal  salvation  ;  2. 
Maintain  its  authority  and  power  against  all  gainsayers ; 
3.   Beware  of  immoderate  expectations  concerning  effects.'' 

iSiq)crio]'ity  of  the  Bible. — This  book  is  the  mirror  of  the 
Divinity,  the  rightful  regent  of  the  world.  Other  books  are 
planets  shining  with  reflected  lustre  ;  this  book,  like  the  sun, 
shines  with  ancient  and  unborrowed  ray.  Other  books  have,  to 
their  loftiest  altitudes,  sprung  from  earth  ;  this  book  looks  down 
from  heaven  high.  Other  books  appeal  to  understanding  or 
fancy  ;  this  book  to  conscience  and  faith.  Other  books  solicit 
our  attention ;  this  demands  it,— it  speaks  with  authority,  and 
not  as  the  scribes.  Other  books  guide  gracefully  along  the 
earth,  or  onward  to  the  mountain  summits  of  the  ideal  ;  this, 
and  this  alone,  conducts  up  the  awful  abyss  which  leads  to 
heaven.  Other  books,  after  shining  their  season,  may  2ierish 
in  flames  fiercer  than  those  which  consumed  the  Alexandrian 
library  ;  this,  in  essence,  must  remain  pure  as  gold,  and  uncon- 
snmable  as  asbestos,  amidst  the  flames  of  general  conflagration. 
Other  books  may  be  forgotten  in  the  universe  where  suns  go 
down  and  disappear  like  bubbles  in  the  stream  :  this  book, 
transferred  to  a  higher  clime,  shall  shine  as  the  brightness  of 
that  eternal  firmament,  and  as  those  higher  stars,  which  are  for 
ever  and  ever." 

33-36.  (3.3)  forsake  you,  cast  j-ou  away  :  throw  you  as 
a  burden  away  into  captivity.  (34)  say  the  burden,  pro- 
fessing to  be  burdened  with  a  Divine  message.  (3.5)  answered, 
they  were  to  S2ieak  in  this  fomi  henceforth  bee.  the  false  prophets 
were  making  use  of  the  word  Intrden."  (3(3)  word  .  .  burden, 
i.e.  it  shall  become  a  crushing  burden  to  him. 

Hints  to  jire/u'/iei:?. — I.  Preach  Christ  crucified,  and  dwell 
chiefly  on  the  blessings  resulting  from  His  righteousness,  atone- 
ment, and  intercession.  li.  Avoid  all  needless  controversies  in 
the  pulpit  ;  except  it  be  when  your  subject  necessarily  requires 
it  :  or  when  the  truths  of  God  are  likely  to  suffer  by  your  silence. 
III.  When  you  ascend  the  pulpit,  leave  your  learning  behind 
you  :  endeavour  to  preach  more  to  the  hearts  of  your  people  than 


a  Br.  Thomas. 


a   Vo.T    et   prae* 
tL"rc?a  iiiliil. 

V.  20.    II.  P.  Bud' 

dkcinbc,      ii.    1  ; 

Bji.  a.  WUbei'/orce, 

129. 

b  G.  Brocks. 

"  As  thieves  be 
loth  to  assault  a 
house  where  they 
know  there  be 
good  armour  and 
artillery,  so, 
wherever  the 
liooks  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures 
be  well  occupied 
and  e,\erci.->ed, 
there  neither  the 
devil  nor  any  of 
his  .lugels  dare 
come  near."  — 
Varrdniy. 
"  The  truths  of 
the  Bible  are 
like  gold  iu  the 
soil.  \\'hole  gene- 
lationswalk  over 
it,  and  know  not 
what  treasures 
are  hidden  be- 
neath. So  cen- 
turies of  men 
pass  over  the 
Scriptures,  and 
know  not  what 
riches  lie  under 
the  feet  of  tlieir 
i  nt  erpretation. 
Sometimes,  when 
they  discover 
them,  they  call 
them  new  truths. 
One  might  as 
well  call  gold 
newly   dug    new 

gold."— yjt(rcV(tV. 

c  (J.  Gilfiilan. 

a  This  had  been 
Jeremiah's  cha- 
racteristic word, 
and  Isaiah's. 
I'rob.  the  false 
prophets  took  it 
up  and  useil  it 
partly  in  ridicule. 
b  Brc'ifer. 
"'1  here  is  a  kind 
of  preachers  risen 
up  of  late,  who 
shroud  and  cover 
every      rustical. 


92 


JEREmAB. 


[Cap,  xxlli.  37-40. 


and  unsavoury, 
ami  cliildisli,  and 
aboiu'il  sermon, 
under  the  name 
of  tlie  simple 
kind  of  teacli- 
Inif  ;  like  the 
I'Dljisli  priests, 
■who  make  igno- 
rance the  mother 
of  devotion.  But, 
indeed,  to  preach 
timply  is  not  to 
preach  rudely, 
nor  unlearnedly, 
nor  confusedly, 
but  to  i)reacli 
plainly  and  per- 
spicuous-ly,  that 
the  simplest  man 
may  umlorstand 
what  is  taugiit, 
as  if  he  did  hear 
his  n  a  me."  — 
Henry  Umith, 
1592. 


«  Or  I  ■will  carry 
you  away  as  a 
burden.  There 
is  eviilent  play 
on  the  ■word 
burden  in.  these 
verses, 

A  clerpryman,  ob- 
servintf  a  poor 
man  by  the  road 
breaking  stones 
■with  a  picka.xe, 
and  kneeling  to 
get  at  his  work 
better,  made  the 
remark,  "Ah, 
John  1  i  wish  I 
could  break  the 
stony  hearts  of 
itiy  hearers  as 
easily  as  yon  are 
breaking  those 
stones."  The 
man  replied, 
"  Perhaps,  mas- 
ter, you  do  not 
■work  on,  your 
knees." 

He  that  will 
learn  of  none 
but  luniself  is 
sure  to  have  a 
fool  for  his 
master. 


(  Beecher. 


to  their  heads.      IV.   Do  not  affect  too  much  oratory.      Seek 
rather  to  prclit,  than  to  be  admired."* 

Duty  (if  t lie  dcrtjy. — 'Ihe  London  Times  delivered,  some  time 
since,  an  excellent  homily  to  the  En;4lish  clergy,  which  aii])lie3 
equally  well  to  mini.stcrs  of  all  countries  and  denominations  : 
"The  clergy  are  ready  to  relj'  ujion  everything  rather  than  on 
the  .subslanlial  claims  of  their  message.  One  party  take  to  gay 
drosses,  banners,  and  processions :  another  to  penny  readings, 
political  lectures,  and  concerts.  They  change  from  one  thing  to 
another  day  by  day,  and  the  result  is  only  a  weary  wa.-tc  of  their 
own  time,  and  the  creation  of  a  certain  amount  of  social  feeling 
which  might  equally  be  produced  without  the  supei'natural  aid 
of  the  Church  and  religion.  Religious  truths,  if  they  are  what 
thej'  are  bolieved  to  be,  cannot  need  all  this  trivial  machinery 
to  recommend  them  ;  and  the  religious  convictions,  which  are  to 
be  of  anv  value,  mui*t  be  produced  and  sustained  by  more  simple 
and  permanent  means.  If  we  may  judge  by  the  liistory  of  the 
Chnrch.  both  in  early  and  modern  times,  a  man  of  truly  religiotis 
feeling  needs  nothing  but  a  room  and  a  Bible  to  bring  about  the 
greatest  results.  The  one  thing  essential  is  not  new  plans  and 
tlaily  changes,  but  a  belief  in  the  jjower  of  the  permanent  truths 
of  the  Christian  religion,  and  a  devotion  to  these  alone.  The 
l)ersonal  example  and  the  public  teaching  of  religion  are  the 
only  necessary  instruments  of  a  clergyman,  and,  in  our  opinion, 
the'  less  he  is  diverted  from  those  to  novel  devices  and  elastic 
webs  the  better." 

37_40.  (.37,  38)  ye  say,  Avilfully  refusing  in  this  to  yield 
to  My  commands.  (SU)  forget  yoil,  or  burden  you.'  forsake 
you,  by  withdrawing  jMy  prdtection  from  you.  leaving  you  to 
your  calamities.    (40j  everlasting  reproach,  ch.  xx.  11. 

The   qlfice  nf  the  itrcaclur. — If  a  man  wants   to  indulge  in 

levities,  or  fantasies,  or  imaginations,  let  him  do  it :  I  am  not 

beset  with  super.stitions.    But  still,  if  a  child  woirld  play  mum- 

1  blety-peg.  I  would  not  advise  him  to  go  into  the  graveyard  and  play 

I  on  his  father's  and  mother's  graves.     There  are  proprieties  and 

I  adaptations,  and  if  a  man  is  called  merely  to  please,  if  he  ia 

I  to  be  a  pleasure-monger,  even  of  ideas,  let  him  take  the  lectui*e- 

!  room  or  the  theatre,  let  him  go  where  pleasure  is  the  normal 

I  end.     But  to  take  the  Church,  to  take  the  crucified  Saviour,  to 

j  take  the  everlasting  issues  of  human  life,  and  in  tlie  midst  of 

I  these  tremendous  verities,  think  of  nothing  but  soft  sentences, 

and  sv/eet  figures,  and  sentimental  graces,  and  preaching  these 

short  sermons  that  please  everybody,  and  particularly  Ihe  closing 

passages  of  them — this  I  do  not  think  is  salutary.     But  if  there 

is  any  case  in  which  it  is  allowable,  it  is*  the  case  of  men  that 

preach  for  the  sake  of  pleasing,  and  for  that  only.      But  they 

are  said  to  be  refined.     Yes.  they  are  refined.     Oh!  but  they  are 

said  to  be  eloriuent.     Yes.  they  are  eloquent.     Oh  !  but  they  are 

said  to  be  attraolive.     But  when  they  stfind  on  that  awful,  final 

day,  between  the  living  and  the  dead,  before  God  AlnuThty's 

judgment,  and  all  God"s  angels  are  gatliered  togelher.  and  there 

is    nothing    to    stand    between    tbein    and    damnation,    except 

elegancy,  and  refineTuent.  and  pleasant  voices,  and  words,  and 

gestures — in  that  hour,  will  it  seem  to  them  to  have  been  worth 

their  while  to  have  bought  their  destruction  at  such  a  pricfv'* 


Cap.  xxiv.  1—7.] 


JEREUTAB. 


93 


CnAPTER  THE  TJFENTY-FOURTH. 

1 — 3.  (1)  after,  etc.,  2  King-s  xxiv.  12  ;  2  Chr.  xxxvi.  10,  In 
the  eighth  year  of  Nebuc.'s  reign.  (2)  one  basket,  of  the  two 
(v.  i.)  put  in  the  appointed  place  for  offerings  of  firstfruits  in 
the  forecourt  of  the  Temple.  (2)  first  ripe,  the  fig  bears  three 
crops,  of  %vh.  the  first  is  considered  the  best,  so  bad,  perhaps 
bruised,  perhaps  of  a  bad  sort.''  (3)  what  seest  thou  ?  di- 
recting- the  Prophet's  special  attention  to  these  figs. 

Firtorial  illiistraiioii. — Saints  Cyril  and  Methodius,  the  earliest 
apostles  of  the  Sclavonic  tribes, — the  Moravians,  Bohemians, 
Hungarians,  and  Bulgarians, — were  two  Greek  monks  of  the 
order  of  St.  Basil,  known  as  St.  Cyril  and  St.  Methodius,  and  con- 
nected in  a  very  interesting  manner  with  the  history  of  religious 
art.  Cyril  Avas  learned  and  eloquent,  a  philosoplier  and  a  pioet  : 
Methodius  was  considered  an  excellent  painter  of  that  time, 
■when  his  country  produced  the  only  painters  kno'mi.  These  two 
monks  departed  together,  by  order  of  the  patriarch  of  Constanti- 
nople, to  preach  to  the  savage  nations  along  the  shores  of  the 
Danube.  Bogaris.  the  king  or  chief  of  Bulgaria,  having  heard 
of  the  art  of  Methodius,  required  of  him  that  he  should  paint 
a  picture  in  the  hall  of  his  palace  ;  and  that  it  should  bo  "  some- 
thing terrible,"  to  impress  his  subjects  and  vassals  with  awe. 
Methodius  accordingly  painted  the  Day  of  Judgment,  represent- 
ing at  the  summit  our  Lord  seated  in  glorj^  and  surrounded 
with  angels  :  on  His  right,  the  resurrection  of  the  blessed  ;  and, 
on  His  left,  the  doom  of  sinners,  swallowed  up  in  flames,  and 
tormented  by  the  most  hideous  demons.  When  the  king  desired 
to  have  the  interpretation  of  this  "  terrible  "  ijicture,  Cj'ril,  who 
was  as  eloquent  in  words  as  Methodius  was  in  colours  and  forms, 
preached  to  the  barbarian  monarch  and  his  attendants  such  a 
sei'mon  as  converted  them  all  on  the  spot.  Their  mission  was 
extended  successfully  through  the  surrounding  nations.  Wliile 
Methodius  painted  "the  doctrines  of  the  Christian  faith,  Cyril 
explained  them  in  the  language  of  the  people.* 

4 — 7.  (4,  .5)  acknowledge,  or  regard  with  special  interest." 
for  their  good,  with  a  view  to  their  deliverance  from  idolatry 
and  to  their  spiritual  blessing.  (G)  bring  .  .  land,  fulfilled  in 
the  restoration  under  Zerubbabel,  etc.  (7)  return  .  .  heart, 
i.e.  heartily  give  up  their  idolatry,  and  give  themselves  again 
sincerely  to  the  worship  of  Jehovah.  "  Repentance,  though  not  |  rr.s— 7.  //.  Oicen, 
the  cause  of  pardon,  is  its  invariable  accompaniment."  |  ^^-  ^^• 

Fonri'  of  Uhi.itraf'ion. — We  may  safely  assert  that  Jeremy 
Taylor  is  none  the  less  vigorous  for  illustrating  the  long-suffer- 
ing of  God  by  the  rabbinical  story  that  the  Archangel  Michael, 
being  God"s  messenger  of  vengeance,  had  but  one  wing,  that  he 
might  labour  in  his  flight :  while  Gabriel  had  two  wings,  that  he 
might  "fly  swiftly  "  when  bringing  the  message  of  peace.  And 
the  nature  of  repentance  and  faith  is  set  before  lis  all  the  more 
clearly,  when  Adams  likens  Faith  to  a  great  queen  in  her  pro- 
gress, having  Repentance  as  her  messenger  going  before  her,  and 
Works  a«  the  attendants  following  in  her  traiu.* 


a  "The  bad  fiprs 
may  have  been 
those  of  the 
sycamore  tree, 
wliicli,  unless 
they  are  punc- 
tured as  they 
riiien.  contain  an 
acriil  juice  which 
renders  tlieni  un- 
eatable." —  Tiis- 
trum. 

"  This  prophecy 
was  designed  to 
encourage  the  de- 
spairing e\iles, 
and  to  reprove 
the  people  at 
home  who  prided 
themselves  as  su- 
perior to  those  in 
Babylon,  and 
abused  the  for- 
bearance of  G-od." 
— Faiisset. 

I  A  bisliop  of  the 
Church  of  Eng- 
land, who  was 
tutor  to  a  prin- 
cess, said  to  her, 
"  I  find  that  my 
instructions 
have  made  you 
but  little  better." 
l?he  replied,  "Ah  I 
but  my  lord,  you 
do  not  know  how 
nuich  worse  I 
should  have  beeu 
without  tliem." 
6  Mrs.  Jameson. 


a  " To  have  a 
kindly  feeling'  to- 
wards the  olijpct 
r  e ga  r  d  e  d." — 
headi'rson. 


V.  7.  n.  VTarn- 
ford.  1.  227;  T. 
liotvdler,  ii.  2S7. 

b  J.  a.  PilkingtotK 


94 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  XXV.  1—3. 


«  C  o  m  p.  D  e. 
xxviii.  25,  37. 

"  Sin    is    of   one 

nature  all  tlu> 
■worM  over ;  for 
thnu^li  a  liar  is 
not  a  Jrunkanl, 
nor  a  swearer 
a  wlioreiiionger, 
nor  either  pro- 
perly a  miirrleror, 
yet  tliey  are  all 
of  a  clinrch,  all 
branches  of  the 
one  wicked  rnnt, 
all  of  kin ;  they 
liave  but  one 
father,  the  devil, 
as  Christ  said  to 
the  professinpr 
Jews,  the  visible 
Church  of  that 
ap;e  ;  He  slighted 
their  claims  to 
Abraham  and 
Moses,  and  plain- 
ly told  them, 
'  That  he  that 
coMiniitteth  sin, 
was  the  servant 
of  sin.'  "  —  IF. 
I'enn. 

"  I  have  heard  of 
a  fatlier  who  ob- 
jected to  teach 
ills  child  to  pr.TV. 
The  child  broke 
liis  leg  ;  and, 
■wliile  his  leg 
was  being  taken 
off,  he  continued 
to  curse  and 
swear  all  the 
time.  '  See  !  ' 
said  the  physi- 
cian, ' yon  have 
a  point  of  con- 
science about 
teacliing  your 
child  to  pray ; 
but  Satan  has  no 
conscience  about 
teacliing  him  to 
swear.' "  —  Spur- 
geon. 

b  Beecher. 


"  .Tudge  not  the 
preacher ;  for  ho 
is  thy  judge :  if 
thou  uiislike  him, 
thou  conceiv'.'it 
biui    not.      God 


8—10.  (8)  evil  figs,  V.  .3.  by  this  term  Zcdekiah.  and  the 
remnant  still  in  JudiDa,  are  indicated.  They  were  left  in  thoir 
corruptions,  M-hile  by  the  captivity  the  rest  of  the  nation  were 
purified.  (!))  for  their  lliirt,  in  distinction  from  the  Divine 
purpose  in  the  Bal)ylouian  captivity."  These  were  to  be  scattered 
without  hope  of  return,  (lo;  be  consuined.,  BO  as  never  to  be 
gathered  to,5"ether  aj^^ain. 

Confirmed  bnpcnttcncr,  flic  vnparclnnnhle  abi. — In  point  of  fact, 
anything  that  is  supposed  to  constitute  blasphemy  against  the 
Holy  Ghost  has  ap]iarcntly  been  committed  and  recovered  frorii 
by  men.  It  is  said  that  it  is  speaking  directly  against  the  opera- 
tions of  God's  Spirit.  But  thousands  of  men  have  spoken  directly 
against  them.  "  Ah  I  "  it  is  said.  "  but  it  is  doing  it  wantonly." 
But  thousands  have  done  it  wantonly.  "  Well,'  it  is  said,  '"  it  ia 
doing  it  maliciously."  But  thousands  do  it  maliciously.  There 
are  thousands  that  rail  at  and  revile  the  most  notable  fruits  of  a 
revival  of  religion,  and  are  foamingly  Avicked,  who  yet,  by-and- 
by,  are  broken  down,  become  subjects  of  saving  grace,  and  are 
made  penitent.  Was  there  ever  a  worse  t;ase  than  Paul's— a  case 
in  which  there  was  more  malignity,  more  bitterness,  more  venom, 
more  railing  against  the  Spirit  of  God,  and  more  hatred  towards 
the  fruits  of  it  in  His  children,  than  in  his  ,'  And  was  there 
ever  a  case  in  which  a  man  Avas  more  gloriously  traiisformcd 
than  in  his  ?  There  is  not  one  single  element  v/hich  commenta- 
tors and  teachers  have  been  accustomed  to  describe  as  blasphemy 
against  the  Holy  Ghost,  which  Ave  do  not  know  to  be  pai'donable, 
because  it  has  been  pardoned.  If  it  be  a  single  act  which  men 
are  liable  to  fall  upon,  it  is  remarkable  that  the  Apostles  did  not, 
after  the  time  of  Christ,  seize  it,  both  for  Avarning  and  for  aAvful 
condemnation.  How  would  it  have  fallen  upon  the  heads  of 
doomed  men  ?  But,  except  one  passage  in  the  first  of  John  and 
the  fifth  chapter,  there  is  almost  no  recognition  of  sins  that  are 
not  to  be  pardoned.  There  is  all  the  way  through  the  Xcav  Tes- 
tament the  recognition  of  states  that  do  not  encourage  much 
hope.  "  Can  the  Ethiopian  change  his  skin,  or  the  leopard  hi 
spots  ?  then  may  ye  also  do  good,  that  are  accustomed  to  do 
evil."  This  the  Old  Testameut  said  centuries  ago,  and  it  has 
been  sounding  on  in  human  experience  and  in  human  philosophy 
ever  since.  There  is  a'  state  in  which  a  man"s  conscience 
becomes  so  torpid,  so  dead,  that  there  is  no  resurrection  from 
it  in  this  life  ;  and  that  is  what  I  understand  to  be  substantially 
meant  by  the  unpardonable  sin.  It  is  the  sin  of  condition — of 
the  whole  moral  condition — and  not  the  sin  of  a  specific  act.  In 
this  case  there  Avas  a  specific  act ;  but  it  brought  the  SavioTir's 
condemnation  upon  it  because  it  was  symptomatic  of  a  hopelessly 
sinful  condition.* 


CUAPTER  THE  TIVENTY-FIFTK 

1 — 3.  (1)  fourth  year,  comp.  Da.  i.  1.  Jehoiakim  Avas  prob. 
set  on  the  throne  by  Necho  about  July,  and  Nebuc.  mounted  the 
throne  in  January,  ()()4  B  c.  So  Nebuc. 's  first  year  was  partly  the 
third  and  partly  the  fourth  of  Jehoiakim.  (2.  ii")  from  .  .  years, 
nineteen  years  in  Jcsiah"s  reign,  three  months  of  Jehoahaz'e,  and 


Cap.  XXV.  4—7.] 


JEREMIAH. 


95. 


four  years  of  Jelioiakim's.  rising  early,  the  fig.  for  earnestly, 
ch.  vii.  13. 

^'c^lln's  account  of  Whltrfield. — To  give  your  ladyship  any  just 
description  of  what  our  eyes  have  witnessed  and  our  hearts  felt, 
within  the  last  few  days,  exceeds  my  feeble  powers.  My  inmost 
soul  is  penetrated  with  an  overwhelming  sense  of  the  awful 
power  and  presence  of  Jehovah,  who  hath  visited  us  with  the 
blessed  effusion  of  His  Spirit,  on  this  occasion,  in  a  very  eminent 
manner.  Under  Mr.  Whiteiield's  first  sermon,  there  was  a  visible 
appearance  of  miTch  soul-concern  among  the  immense  crowd 
that  tilled  every  part  of  the  burial-ground  ;  so  that  many  were 
overcome  with  fainting ;  others  sobbed  deeply  ;  some  wept 
silently  :  and  a  solemn  concern  appeared  on  the  countenance  of 
almost  the  whole  a-sembly.  When  he  came  to  press  the  injunc- 
tion in  the  text  (Lsa.  li.  Ij  upon  the  unconverted  and  the  ungodly, 
his  words  seemed  to  cut  like  a  sword  upon  several  in  the  con- 
gregation :  so  that,  whilst  he  Avas  speaking,  thej'  coukl  no  longer 
contain,  but  burst  out  in  the  most  piercing,  bitter  cries.  At  this 
juncture  Mr.  Whitefield  made  a  pause  of  a  few  seconds,  then 
bui"st  into  a  flood  of  tears.  During  this  short  interval,  Mr.  IMadan 
and  myself  stood  up,  and  requested  the  people  as  much  as  possible 
to  restrain  from  making  anj'  noise.  Twice  afterwards  we  had  to 
repeat  the  same  counsel,  still  advising  the  people  to  endeavour 
to  moderate  and  bound  their  feelings,  but  not  so  as  to  resist  or 
stifle  their  convictions.  Oh.  with  what  eloquence,  what  energy, 
what  melting  tenderness,  did  ]\Ir.  "Whitefield  beseech  sinners  to 
be  reconciled  to  God — to  come  to  Him  for  life  everlasting,  and 
rest  their  weary  souls  in  Christ  the  Saviour  !  When  the  sermon 
was  ended,  the  people  seemed  chained  to  the  ground,  Mr.  Madan, 
Mr.  Talbot,  Mr.  Downing,  and  myself,  found  ample  employment 
in  endeavouring  to  comfort  those  who  seemed  broken  down 
under  a  sense  of  guilt.  We  separated  in  different  directions 
among  the  crowd,  and  each  was  quickly  surrounded  by  an  atten- 
tive audience,  still  eager  to  hear  all  the  words  of  this  life.  Of 
such  a  season  as  this  it  may  well  be  said.  ••  I  hnve  heard  thee  in 
a  time  acceirted,  and  in  the  day  of  salvation  have  I  succoured 
thee  :  behold,  now  is  tlie  accepted  time  ;  behold,  now  is  the  day 
of  salvation." 

4 — 7.^  (i  I  prophets,  besides  Jeremiah,  Urijah,  Zephaniah, 
and  Ha'balckuk  had  prophesied  during  this  period,  {a)  turn, 
etc.,"  2  Ki.  xvii.  1.3;  Je,  xviii.  11.  xxxv,  1.5,  (6)  works., 
hands,  a  sevei-e  and  scornful  description  of  the  idols.  (7)  not 
hearkened,  this  was  evident,  for  they  had  not  oheijcd. 

Fidi'Vitij. — .Some  time  a.go.  on  a  winter  night,  when  the  snow 
was  falling  heavily,  a  poor  woman,  with  five  children,  reached  a 
village  in  Essex,  just  as  a  farmer's  lad  was  shutting  up  a  barn. 
She  begged  him  to  ask  his  master's  leave  for  them  to  pass  the 
night  in  the  barn.  The  lad  did  so  :  and  the  master,  who  was  a 
kindj  feeling  man,  ordered  him  to  take  a  bundle  of  straw,  and 
make  them  a  comfortable  bed.  The  poor  woman  felt  grateful, 
and  asked  the  lad  if  he  would  like  to  h€ar  a  song.  He  hoped 
that  it  would  bo  something  amusing,  and  replied.  '•  Yes  ; ''  upon 
which  she  and  her  children  sung  one  of  Watts's  hymns.  The  lad 
felt  interested — she  asked  him  if  he  had  ever  prayed  to  God.  and 
thanked  Him  for  the  mercies  he  had  enjoyed  ;  and  said  that  she 
\s'as  going  to  pray  with  her  children,  and  he  might  stay  if  he 


calletli  preaching 
fol!.v.  Do  not 
grudge  to  jiick 
out  treasures 
from  nil  earthen 
pot.  Tlie  worst 
speak  SMiietliing 
.good ;  if  all  want 
sense,  God  takes 
a  text  and 
preaches  pati- 
ence."— Hetbert. 

An  Indian  hav- 
ing heard  from  a 
wldte  man  some 
strictures  on  zeal, 
re]>lipd,  "I  don't 
know  about  hav- 
ing too  much 
ze.il,  but  I  think 
it  is  better  the 
pot  should  boil 
over,  than  not 
boil  at  all," 


Count  Ziska,  the 
brave  Bohemian 
captain,  com- 
manded tliat, 
after  death,  his 
body  should  be 
flayed,  and  the 
s:.in  be  made 
into  drum-heads 
to  send  dismay 
into  the  hearts 
of  tlieir  enemies 
when  his  fol- 
lowers went  out 
to  battle  for  the 
faith. 


a  "The  great! 
summons  of  God 
to  mankind, 
wliether  given 
b.v  the  Propliets 
of  old.  by  John 
the  Baptist,  or 
b}'  the  Apostles 
and  their  succes- 
sors."— fiik.  Com. 
V,  4.  ./.  O'/osse,  ii. 
81;  J.  Darison, 
Warh.  L,'C.  31. 
V.  6.  B.  Bt'ddome, 
V.  119. 

During  a  flood  in 
.^t.  Petersburg, 
the  sentiuel  be- 
fore the  jialace 
rofuseii  to  leava 
his  post  (though 
ordered  so  to  do 


96 


JEREMIAIT. 


[Cap.  XXV.  8—11. 


by  the  empress, 
anil  (Icalli  by 
firo\viiiii{,'s(pnieil 
jniniiii^ni)  lillre- 
lieveil  by  the 
proper  officer. 

b  WIdlecross. 

a  "  The  sound 
of  the  liaml-niill 
is  a  familiar 
one  in  the  East, 
anil  its  cessa- 
tion is  aptly  nieu- 
tioneil  bj'  the 
Prophets  as  one 
of  the  signs  of 
utter  desola- 

t  i  o  n."  —  V  a  n 
Len  ncp. 

b"  'i^onight-Jight : 
so  universal  in 
the  East,  that  tlie 
poorest  honse  has 
it  burning  all 
night." — Faussel. 

Job  xxi.  17. 

vv.  11, 12.  /.  Ely, 
232. 

"  There  arc  some 
diseases  tliat  are 
called  the  re- 
proaches of  phy- 
sicians;  and 
there  ai'e  some 
people  that  may 
be  truly  called 
the  reproaches  of 
ministers;  and 
those  are  they 
who  are  great 
hearers,  and  talk- 
ers, and  .admirers 
of  ministers,  but 
never  obey  the 
doctrines  deli- 
vered by  them." 
—T.  Hi  ooks. 

e  Hi-nnj  Smith. 

"  Those  auditors 
who  can  find  no- 
thing to  do  but 
note  elegant. 

w  o  r  d  s  an  d 
phrases,  or  rhe- 
torical colours, 
or  perhaps  an 
ill  grace  of  ges- 
ture iu  a  pithy 
and  material 
speech,  argue 
themselves  full 
ere  tiiey  come  to 
the  feast ;  and 
therefore  go 
awiiy  with  little 
pleai!ure.  and  no 
l!rofit."-i'>>. //a;/. 


pleased.  The  lad  stayed  while  she  ofTered  up  her  thanks  for  the 
mercies  she  cnjoj'ed  ;  and  begged  for  a  blcs.sing'  upon  him.  lie 
then  went  away,  but  could  not  rest,  and  after  passing-  a  i-leepkss 
night,  he  resolved  on  going  again  to  the  barn  to  talk  with  the 
woman.  She  was  gone— he  saw  her  no  more,  but  from  that  day 
he  became  a  changed  character.* 

8—11.  (8,  9)  families  .  .  north,  ch.  i.  13,  14,  races  from  the 
great  region  watered  by  the  Tigris  and  Euphrates,  my  servant, 
so  called  as  being  appointed  to  execute  a  Divine  commis.sion. 
astonishment,  ch.  ii.  U,  v.  30.  hissing,  ch.  xviii.  IG.  xix.  8. 
(10)  millstones,  the  household  mill,  at  which  each  day's  supply 
of  corn  was  ground  by  the  women."  light  .  .  candle,''  in  inha- 
bited houses  the  candle  was  kept  burning  thro"  the  night,  and  it 
was  the  sign  of  life. 

Motives  of  hearers. — As  there  were  wise  virgins  and  foolish 
virgins  ;  so  there  are  wise  hearers,  and  foolish  hearers.  Some 
are  so  nice,  that  they  had  rather  pine  than  take  their  food  of  any 
which  is  licensed  by  a  bishop  ;  as  if  Elias  should  refuse  his  food 
because  a  raven  brought  it  to  him  and  not  an  angel  ;  some  come 
unto  the  service  to  save  forfeiture,  and  then  they  stay  the  sermon 
for  shame ;  some  come  because  they  would  not  be  counted 
atheists  ;  some  come  because  they  woitld  avoid  the  name  of 
papists  ;  some  come  to  please  their  friends.  One  hath  a  good 
man  to  his  friend,  and  lest  he  should  offend  him,  he  frequents 
the  preacher's,  that  his  friend  may  think  well  of  him  :  some  come 
with  their  masters  and  mistresses  for  attendance  :  some  come 
with  a  fame  ;  they  have  heard  great  speech  of  the  man.  and 
therefore  they  will  spend  one  hour  to  hear  him  once,  but  to  sea 
whether  it  be  so  as  they  say  :  some  come  because  they  are  idle, 
to  pass  the  time  they  go  to  a  sermon,  lost  they  should  be  weary 
of  doing  nothing  ;  some  come  with  their  fellows  :  one  saith.  let 
us  go  to  the  .sermon  ;  content,  saith  he,  and  he  gceth  tor  com- 
pany ;  some  hear  the  sound  of  a  voice  as  they  pass  by  the  church 
and  step  in  before  they  be  aware  :  another  hath  some  occasion  of 
business,  and  he  appoints  a  friend  to  meet  him  at  such  a  sermon, 
as  they  do  at  St.  Paul's  ;  all  these  are  accidental  hearers,  like 
children  which  sit  in  the  market,  and  neither  buj-  nor  sell.  But, 
as  many  foxes  have  been  taken  when  they  came  to  take,  so  Ihey 
which  come  to  .spy.  or  wonder,  or  gaze,  or  scoff,  have  changed 
their  minds  before  they  went  home,  like  one  which  finds  when 
he  doth  not  seek." 

The  ramhlint]  hearer. — He  belongs  to  no  Christian  church. 
One  minister,  however  excellent,  he  thinks,  cannot  be  sufficient 
"  A  variety,  a  varietj',  you  know,"  he  says,  "  is  always  best." 
From  place  to  place  he  wanders,  and  may  justly  be  called  "the 
strolling  professor."  "  Oh."  says  he.  "  I  have  found  .'<uch  an  ex- 
cellent man  !  I  never  heard  his  equal !  If  you  could  hear  him, 
you  would  be  charmed  indeed  !  "      But  this   rambling    hearer 

cannot  be  a  fixed  one  long.     "  Mr.  M is  come  to  town.    Such 

a  preacher  !  "  Away  he  goes.  His  favouiite  preacher  is  deserted 
for  a  time  ;  but  he  returns  ;  and  now  his  favourite  minister  is 
rather  fitit.  ■'vord.y,  uninteresting.  In  short,  this  man  is  every- 
where. Tiiei-e  is  no  preacher  but  he  knows  ;  no  church  or  chapel, 
but  he  is  there  for  a  time.  Ah  !  l)ut  where  is  the  benefit  from 
all  this  ]    "  A  roihug  Btoue  gathers  no  iuobs." 


Cap.  XXV.  12—17.] 


JEREMIAH. 


97 


12 — 14.  (12)  seventy  years,  this  number  may  be  intended 
as  a  figure  for  the  complete  period  ordered  in  the  Divine  Provi- 
dence." The  number  sercn  is  in  Scrip,  the  symbol  of  perfection 
or  completion,  punish,  etc.,''  comp.  Isa.  x.  5,  ItJ.  perpetual 
desolations,  r.  '.),''  true  of  its  condition  to  the  present  day.  (13) 
this  book,  i.e.  the  record  of  Jeremiah's  prophecies.  (14)  serve 
themselves,  i.e.  they  shall  carry  out  their  own  schemes  by 
reducing-  the  Chaldnsans  to  slavery.  This  was  fulfilled  in  Cyrus 
and  his  confederates,     deeds,  treatment  of  the  Jews. 

Fiiljihnc7it  of  'pTopliecy. — Two  rabbis,  approaching  Jemsalem, 
observed  a  fox  running  upon  the  hill  Zion.  And  Eabbi  Joshua 
wept ;  but  Eabbi  Eliezer  laughed.  "  Wherefore  dost  thou  laugh  ?  " 
eaid  he  who  wept.  ''  Nay,  wherefore  dost  thou  weep  ? "  demanded 
Eliezer.  "  I  weep,"  replied  the  Rabbi  Joshua,  "  because  I  see 
what  is  written  in  the  Lamentations  fulfilled  :  "  Because  of  the 
Mount  Zion,  which  is  desolate,  the  foxes  walk  upon  it."  "And 
therefore,"  said  Rabbi  Eliezer,  "  do  I  laugh  ;  for,  when  I  see 
with  mine  own  eyes  that  God  has  fulfilled  His  threatenings  to 
the  very  letter,  I  have  thereby  a  pledge  that  not  one  of  His 
promises  shall  fail ;  for  He  is  evermore  ready  to  show  mercy  than 
judgment." 

15 — 17.  (15)  wine  .  .  fury,  lit.  "  The  cup  of  wine,  even  this 
fury.""  This  figure  expresses  ''stupefying  judgments."*  to 
drink  it,  this  offering  of  the  wine-cup  took  place  in  vision. 
(IG)  moved  .  .  mad,  having  all  the  sjTnptoms  of  drunkenness  ; 
excited,  restless,  unable  to  plan  wisely,  sword,  the  sj-mbol  of 
war.  (17)  took  the  cup,  Jer.  is  here  narrating  what  he  had 
done  in  /tis  i-'tsion.  Micharlis  needlessly  suggests  that  Jer.  oiiered 
the  wine-cup  to  the  ambassadors  of  the  nations  who  were  at 
Jerusalem. 

The  fiend  of  alcoliol. — 

There  walketh  a  fiend  o'er  the  glad  green  earth, 

By  the  side  of  the  reaper.  Death, 
He  dazzles  alike  with  the  glow  of  his  mirth, 
Or  quenches  the  light  of  the  household  hearth, 

With  his  foul  and  withering  breath. 

He  stalketh  abroad  with  his  hydra-head, 

And  there  gather  in  his  train 
The  falling  foot  and  the  strong  man's  bread, 
The  restless  living — the  ghastly  dead, 

And  misery,  want,  and  pain. 

He  nerves  the  arm  of  relentless  hate, 

With  the  goblet's  headed  foam  ; 
He  lurks  in  the  halls  of  the  rich  and  great. 
In  the  beggar's  hut — at  the  palace  gate, 

And  curses  the  jjoor  man's  home. 

He  barters  the  wealth  of  a  good  man's  name, 

For  the  wine-cu])"s  treacherous  glow  ; 
An<l  snatches  the  pinions  of  deathless  fame. 
Till  they  drop  with  their  burden  of  guilt  and  shame, 

'Mid  the  dregs  of  sin  and  woe. 
yoL.  IX.    o.T.  a 


a  Comp.  Da.  ix. 
2,  2-1. 

b  "Thongli  the 
CliaUlafaiis  and 
other  nations 
wereinstrumeuts 
I  in  the  hands  of 
Cioil  in  punish- 
ing the  Jews, 
yet,  as  tliey  had 
no  knowledge  of 
tliis  fact,  but 
merely  gratified 
their  cruel  and 
ambitious  pas- 
sions, they,  in 
their  turn,  there- 
by contracted 
guilt  for  which 
Jehovah  threat- 
ens to  punisli 
them." — Iltnder- 


c  Je.  L  40. 


a  Vs.  Ix.  3;  Je.' 

xiii.  12,  13. 

6  "  God"s  judg. 
ments  are  nieta- 
pliorically  repre- 
sented by  a  cup 
of  intoxicating 
liquors,  bee.  they 
fill  men  with 
astonishment, 
and  bereave  them 
of  tlieir  commoa 
judgment  and 
discretion." — ■ 
LoMcth. 

Ps.  Ixxv.  8;  Is. 
li.  17  ;  Je.  xlviii. 
26,  xlix.  12,  li.  31 ; 
Ha.  ji.  16;  Ke. 
xiv.  10,  xvi.  19. 
"  This  is  an  allu- 
sion to  those 
i  n  toxioating 
draughts  which 
used  to  be  given 
to  malefactors 
just  before  their 
execution.totaka 
away  their  senses. 
Immediately  be- 
fore the  execu- 
tion began,  says 
the  Talmud,  they 
gave  the  con- 
demiied  a  quan- 
tity of  frankin- 
cense in  a  cup  of 
wine,  to  stupefy 
him,  «nd  render 
him  insensible  of 
his  pain.  The 
com  passionate 
ladies  of  Jerufar 


98 


J  ERE  MIA  IT. 


[Cap.  XXV.  18-2^ 


lem        generally 

provided  tliis 
draught  at  their 
own  cost.  The 
foundation  of 
tliis  custom  was 
the  command  of 
Solomon,  I'ro. 
xxxi.  6." — Leiris. 
e  Household 
Words. 


a  "  Jerusalem 
must  first  drink 
of  it,  because 
judgment  begins 
at  the  house  of 
God."  —  Kurds- 
Horth. 

h  Mat.  Hewy. 

"  This  clause 
may,  however, 
have  been  in- 
serted by  Jer.,  at 
his  final  revision 
of  his  prophecies 
in  Egypt."— 
Fausset. 

e  "  Auxiliaries." 
— Gesenius. 

d  Herodotus. 

e  "  The  islands 
and  maritime  re- 
gions where  the 
Phoenicians  had 
planted  colonies." 
— Henderson. 

"  Contempt  is 
frequently  regu- 
lated by  fashion." 
— Zimmerman. 

"It  is  the  cur.se 
of  kings,  to  be 
attended  V>y 
slaves,  that  take 
tlieir  humours 
for  a  warrant  to 
break  within  the 
bloody  house  of 
life :  and,  on  the 
winking  of  au- 
thority, to  un- 
derstand a  law." 
— Shakespeiire. 
• 
"  I  am  no  cour- 
tier, no  fawning 
dog  of  State,  to 
lick  and  V.\m  the 
hand  that  buf- 
fets me  ;  nor  can 
1  smile  u])on  my 
guest,  Bud  praise 


For  the  fiend  .still  walketh  with  cruel  will, 

AVith  a  swift  and  res^tless  tread. 
That  he  may  l)y  his  g-uilesomc.  subtle  skill, 
Gather  alike  both  the  .i,'-ood  and  the  ill 

"With  the  ruined  and  the  dead. 

But  a  summons  we  hear  that  comes  from  heaven, 

With  this  deadly  fiend  to  fig-ht  : 
And  thoug-h  his  power  be  sevenfold  seven, 
To  us  that  oppose  'tis  assuredly  given 

To  conquer,  and  put  him  to  flight."^ 

18 — 22.  (18)  kings,"  poss.  to  include  Jeeoniah  and  Zedekiali, 
the  successors  of  Jehoiakim.  as  well  as  that  monarch,  as  .  .  day, 
"  in  the  fourth  year  of  Jehoiakim  things  had  come  into  a  very 
bad  posture."  *  (I'O  Pharaoh.,  the  general  title  of  the  Eg-j-ptiau 
kings,  like  Shah,  or  Czar.  (20)  mingled  people,  Heb.'  Ertb, 
prob.  foreign  mercenaries,  serving  in  Egypt ;«  or  the  mixed 
races  on  the  shores  of  the  Red  Sea.  Uz,  a  district  of  Edom. 
Philistines,  on  the  southern  borders  of  the  Mediterranean. 
Azzah,  or  Gaza,  remnant  of  Ashdod,  this  town  had  been 
captured  and  destroyed  by  Psammcticus,''  after  a  siege  of  29 
years.  (21,  22)  Tyrns  .  .  Zidon,  the  great  Phoenician  sea- 
ports,    isles,  or  coast-lands  of  the  Jlediterranean.* 

Ihmxc-wnrming. — On  the  marriage  of  their  majesties,  some 
difficulties  existed  as  to  a  suitable  residence  :  St.  James's  Palace 
was  falling  fast  to  decay  ;  Buckingham  House  required  great; 
repairs  ;  and  Windsor  Castle  was  actually  in  a  state  of  dilapida- 
tion. After  due  consideration,  the  little  palace  at  Kew  was 
adopted  as  the  temporary  residence  of  the  royal  pair,  while  the 
necessary  repairs  were  made  on  Buckingham  House  and  Windsor 
Castle.  When  the  latter  was  put  in  a  state  fit  for  their  reception, 
their  majesties  gave  what  is  called  a  house-warming.  The  king' 
showed,  on  this  occasion,  his  real  kindness  of  disposition,  by  the 
activity  which  he  displayed  in  making  ready  for  his  guests — 
exploring  kitchen,  storerooms,  and  every  apartment,  to  see  that 
all  was  going  on  right,  and  that  proper  cheer  was  provided,  not 
merely  for  the  higher  orders,  but  even  for  the  soldiers  in  attend- 
ance. No  host  could  receive  all  his  visitors  in  a  more  friendly, 
courteous,  and  hospitable  manner.  He  had  an  abundance  of  civil 
things  to  say  to  everybody — pithy  observations  to  the  men, "and 
agreeable  compliments  to  the  ladies.  He  kept  every  one  in  a 
good  humour,  and  always  spared  them  the  trouble  of  making- 
long  ceremonious  answers.  The  royal  family  dined  at  a  separate 
table,  a  table  elevated.  This  etiquette  of  a  distinct  table  was 
kept  up  all  through  the  reign,  though  in  some  of  the  proudest 
courts  of  Europe  it  is  by  no  means  strictly  adhered  to.  It  was 
observed  also  when  his  majesty  visited  any  of  hia  subjects.  He 
commenced  the  dignity  of  his  habits  early,  and  preserved  it  to 
the  end.  Ilis  i^redecessors  of  the  Brunswick  line  were  more 
familiar  on  this  point,  and  coxvrt  anecdotes  mention  the  fears 
entertained  by  a  certain  German  lady  of  the  convivial  eftects  of 
Sir  Robert  AValpole's  punch  on  a  monarch's  conversation.  Her 
fears  were,  by  the  way,  not  altogether  unreasonable,  for  Sir  R. 
Walpole  himself  used  to  say  that  he  governed  the  king  M"ith 
good  punch  and  bad  Latin.  The  love  of  punch  was  one  of  the 
German  faults  of  the  old  monarch  ;  and  was  strikingly  contrasted 


Cap.  XXV.  23—29.] 


JEREMTAIT. 


99 


with  the  extreme  abstcmioueness?  which  distinguished  his  suc- 
cessor, George  the  Third,  who  seldom  indulged  in  more  than  a 
ghxss  of  weak  wine  at  a  time.  'When  calling  it  a  German  fault. 
we  must,  at  the  same  time,  do  to  tlie  Gennan  character  the 
justice  of  observing  that  it  is  a  fault  of  old  date,  and  one  from 
which,  at  more  recent  times,  it  has  almost  wholly  redeemed  itself. 
The  queen  used  to  tell  on  this  head  a  pleasant  anecdote,  which 
the  king  took  great  pleasure  in  repeating.  The  Duke  of  Meck- 
lenburg, father  of  the  queen,  being  once  in  familiar  conversation 
with  the  late  Pope,  he  was  asked  by  his  Holiness  "  whether  his 
countrymen,  the  Germans,  continued  to  drink  as  hard  as  they 
used  to  do?"  "Oh,  no,"  replied  the  duke  ;  ''the  sottish  custom 
is  quite  given  over,  except  in  the  ecclesiastical  electorates  ! "/ 

23—26.  (2,3)  Dedan,  Ge.  xxv.  .3,  4  :  Is.  xxi.  13.  Tema  . . 
Buz,  neighbouring  tribes  of  Arabia.  Job  xxxii.  2.  corners, 
lit.  "All  who  have  the  corners  of  their  hair  shorn  : "«  a  description 
of  the  tribe  of  Kedar.  (24)  mingled  people,  not  the  same  as 
r.  20.  Prob.  the  mixed  tribes  east  and  south  of  the  Dead  Sea.' 
(25)  Zimri,'^  prob.  a  tribe  on  the  east  side  of  the  desert,  towards 
Persia  :  but  not  identified.  Elam,  at  the  head  of  the  Persian 
Gulf,  used  for  Persia.     (I'G)  Sheshach,  or  Babylon.''  ch.  li.  41. 

The  money  xpr?it  in  alcohol  in  Great  Uritain  would  every  year 
support  200,000  missionaries  (which  would  be  about  one  to  every 
3.000  adult  heathen)  at  £200  each  :  2,000  superannuated  mis- 
sionary labourers  at  £100  each  ;  100,000  schoolmasters  at  £100 
each  ;  build  2,000  churches  and  chapels  at  £2.000  each  ;  build 
200  schools  at  £r)00  each  ;  give  to  .00.000  widows  5s.  each  per 
week  ;  issue  .50,000  Bibles  every  day  at  Is.  Gd.  each,  and  100,000 
tracts  every  day  at  4s.  per  hundred  ;  and  present  to  192,815  poor 
families  £10  each  on  Christmas  Day  ;  or  it  would,  in  one  year, 
supply  each  human  being  on  the  globe  with  a  Bible  :  or  it  would, 
in  one  year,  provide  200  hospitals  at  £20.000  each  :  12,000  churches 
and  chapels  at  £2,000  each  :  10,000  schools  at  £600  each  ;  2.000 
mechanics'  institutions  and  lecture  halls  at  £2.000  each  ;  25.000 
almshouses  at  £200  each:  1.000  baths  at  £2.000  each:  2,000 
libraries  at  £500  each:  200  public  jmrks  at  £5,000  each;  give 
400.000  poor  families  £10  each  :  and  present  a  new  Bible  to  each 
man.  woman,  and  child  in  Great  Britain.  So  that  the  money 
spent  in  Great  Britain  alone,  for  strong  drink,  would,  as  far  as 
outward  ministry  is  concerned,  evangelise  the  world — besides 
providing  largely  for  temporal  distress.' 

27—29.  (27)  be  drunken,  etc.,  "metaphors  denoting  the 
utter  helplessness  to  which  the  nations  ar*e  reduced  by  drinking 
the  wine-cup  of  fury."-"  (28)  refuse  to  take,  endeavour  to 
master  the  circumstances  of  difficulty  and  distress  in  which  they 
will  be  placed.*  (2'.))  should  .  .  unpunished  ?  if  God  did  not 
spare  His  own  people,  there  could  be  no  hope  for  them. 

Dttti/  and  ehuif/ei'.-'—The  perils  of  good  men  in  former  days. 
Persecution  ;  special  trials  and  deliverances  ;  Apostles  the  only 
preachers,  hence,  and  for  other  reasons,  God  specially  protected 
them.  The  common  prison  ;  strong,  where  common  malefactors 
■were  kept.  Subject, — Duty  and  danger.  I.  Duty  often  involves 
danger.  This  the  case  with  nearly  eveiy  duty.  Work,  a  duty, 
exposes  to  various  risks.  To  save  one  from  drowning  or  burning, 
a  duty,  yet  there  may  be  danger.  A  duty  to  live  a  Christian 
a2 


his  stomachj 
when  I  know  ha 
feeds  (111  poison, 
iinil  ilcatli  riis- 
p\)iscd  sits  grin- 
ninqr  at  my 
table." — Seicel. 

f  Percy  Anee. 


a  Je.  ix.  26. 

6  "  A  mixture  of 
people  in  that 
part  of  Arabia, 
jiroperly  called 
the  Desert,  cotj- 
pifting  of  the 
Nabatheans, 
Anialekites,  Mi- 
diaiiites,  and 
other  nati(ais, 
called  in  Scrip, 
by  the  general 
name  of  the  chil- 
dren of  the  £ast." 
— Lojcth. 

Nomad  Arabs. 

c  SjT.  renders 
Zamron,  which 
may  connect 
with  Zimran,  see 
Ge.  XXV.  2. 

d  "  In  the  Ca- 
balistic system, 
called  Athbash ; 
the  first  Heb. 
letter  being  ex- 
jiressed  liy  tlie 
last,  Sheshach, 
would  exactly 
answer  to  Eabel." 
—  Wordiwoith. 

e  A^ttcman  Hall. 


a  Spl:  Com. 

b  "If  they  either 
do  not  believe 
thy  tlireaten- 
ings,  or  else  dis- 
regaid  them,  as 
thinking  tliem- 
selves  sufficiently 
provided  against 
any  host'ile  inva- 
sion."— Lotcth. 

"  There  is  no  sin 
Wliich  doth  more 
deface  nod's  im- 
age tliau  drunk- 
enness ;    it    (iiS' 


100 


JEREiHAn. 


[Cap.  XXV.  30-33, 


guiseth  a  person, 
nii'l  dntli  even 
u  n  m  a  n  h  i  m. 
1)  r  n  n  k  e  n  n  e  s  s 
makes  liim  liave 
tlie  throat  of  a 
fish,  the  belly  of 
a  swine,  anil  the 
)iea(l  of  an  ass. 
Drunkenness  is 
the  shame  of  na- 
ture, tlie  extin- 
guisher of  reason, 
the  shipwreck  of 
chastity,  and  the 
murder  of  con- 
science. Drunk- 
enness is  hurtful 
to  the  body  ;  the 
cup  kills  more 
than  the  cannon; 
it  oau.ses  dropsies, 
catarrhs,  apo- 
ple.\ies ;  it  fills 
the  eye  with  fire, 
and  the  legs  with 
water,  and  turns 
the  body  into  a 
hospital."— r. 
Watson. 

e  Hive. 

"We  talk  about 
'fetching  up  '  a 
lost  hour,  but 
the  thing  is  im- 
possible. A  mo- 
ment once  lost  is 
lost  for  ever. 
We  could  as  ra- 
tionally set  out 
to  find  a  sound 
that  had  expired 
in  air,  as  to  find 
a  lost  moment." 
— Angell  Jumes. 

d  R.  T.  S. 


a  Joel  iii.  16 ; 
Am.  i.  2. 

6  •Com p.  Is.  xvi. 
9,  lU;  Je.  xlviii. 
33. 

c  "  The  thunder- 
storm seen  first 
on  the  edge  of 
the  horizon  over- 
Bpreads  the 
heaven,  and  tra- 
vels frorw  iiatiun 
to  nation  in  its 
destructive 
course." — Spk. 
Com. 

"  If  a  catalogue 
were  made  of  all 
the   ti-uths  that 


life,  but  it  often  entails  danger  :  cross  >rov(ls.  opposition,  petty 
persecution.  II.  Danger  docs  not  absolve  ns  from  duty.  When 
the  doors  were  opened  the  ang-el  did  not  t';ll  the  Apostles  to  go 
away  from  the  citJ^  but  to  ])rocecd  with  tlieir  work  and  in  the 
most  public  place.  Other  men  would  be  in  great  danger,  s  dritual 
and  eternal,  if  they  did  not  hear  "  all  the  words  of  this  life.'' 
III.  God  our  trust  and  protection  from  danger,  while  we  are  in 
the  way  of  duty.  He  saw  His  servants  in  jirisou  :  did  not  aban- 
don them,  sent  an  angel,  etc.  IMay  not  work  a  miracle  in  our 
behalf  :  but  will  not  neglect  us.  sends  inward  supports  if  not 
outward  deliverances.  Learn  : — Better  to  have  external  things 
against  us,  and  our  conscience  at  peace,  than  conscience  disturb- 
ing us  in  the  midst  of  surrounding  prosperity.' 

A  minLttcr. — The  late  Rev.  R.  Hall  observed,  in  conversation. 

with  a  friend,  "  You  remember  Mr. ,  sir  ? "   "  Yes.  very  well." 

'•  Were  you  awai-e  of  his  fondness  for  brandy  and  water .' "  "  No." 
"  It  was  a  sad  habit ;  but  it  grew  out  of  liis  love  of  story -telling  ; 
and  that  also  is  a  ba^l  habit,  a  very  l)ad  habit,  for  a  minister  of 
the  Gospel.  As  he  grew  old,  his  animal  spirits  flagged,  and  his 
stories  became  defective  in  vivacity  ;  he  therefore  took  to  brandy 
and  water;  weak  enough,  it  is  true,  at  fir.st.  but  soon  nearly 
'  half-and-half.'  Ere  long,  he  indulged  the  habit  in  a  morning  ; 
and  when  he  came  to  Cambridge,  he  would  call  upon  me,  and 
before  he  ha<l  been  with  me  five  minutes,  ask  for  a  little  brandy 
and  water,  which  was  of  conr.se  to  give  him  artificial  spirits  to 
render  him  agreeable  in  his  visits  to  others.  I  felt  great  diffi- 
culty, for  he,  you  know,  sir,  was  much  older  than  I  was  :  yet 
being  persuaded  that  the  ruin  of  his  character,  if  not  of  his 
peace,  was  inevitable,  unless  something  was  done,  I  resolved 
upon  one  strong  eiiort  for  his  rescue.  So  the  next  time  that  he 
called,  and,  as  usual,  said,  '  Friend  Hall,  I  will  thank  you  for  a 
glass  of  brandy  and  water ; '  I  replied,  '  Call  things  by  their 
proper  names,  and  you  shall  have  as  much  as  you  please.'  •  ^^'hy  ! 
do  I  not  employ  the  right  name  ?  I  ask  for  a  gla.'^s  of  brandy 
and  water.'  '  That  is  the  current,  but  not  the  appropriate  name  ; 
ask  for  a  glass  of  liquid  fire,  and  distilled  damnation,  and  you 
shall  have  a  gallon  ! '  Poor  man  !  he  turned  pale,  and  for  a 
moment  seemed  struggling  with  anger.  I'ut  knowing  that  I  did 
not  mean  to  insult  him,  he  stretched  out  his  hand,  and  said, 
'  Brother  Hall,  I  thank  you  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart.'  From 
that  time  he  ceased  to  take  brandy  and  water.'"' 

30 — 33.  (30)  roar,  etc.."  as  a  lion,  filling  with  consternation 
both  the  shepherds  and  their  sheep,  upon  Ills  habitation, 
upon  S\\([ixia,\\\^  pnstiirage.  shout,  the  vintage  cry.*  (31)  a 
noise,  that  made  by  the  trampling  of  the  invaders.  (32 )  evil, 
in  the  sense  of  cahunitij.  whirlwind,  ch.  xxiii.  10.  coasts, 
or  sides,  as  ch.  vi.  22.';     (33)  not  lamented,  ch.  viii.  2.  xvi.  4. 

Hypocrisy. — In  the  pursuit  of  pastoral  duty,  I  stood  a  little 
while  ago  in  a  cheesemonger's  shoji.  and'  being  in  a  fidgety 
humour,  and  having  a  stick  in  my  hand,  I  did  what  most  Engli.<h- 
men  are  sure  to  do — I  was  not  content  with  seeing,  but  must 
needs  touch  as  well.  ls\y  stick  came  gently  ujion  a  tine  cheese 
in  the  window,  and,  to  my  surpri.se,  a  mo.'^t  metallic  sound  ema- 
nated from  it.  1'he  sound  was  rather  liollow,  or  one  miglit  have 
surmised  that  all  the  tastelKiles  had  been  iilled  up  with  soverci<Tn8, 
and  thus  the  cheese  had  been  greatly  enriched,  and  the  n-erchait 


Cap.  xxvi.  1-7.] 


JEREMIAH. 


101 


had  been  his  own  banker.  There  was,  however,  a  sort  of  crockery 
jingle  in  tne  sound,  like  the  ring  of  a  hnge  bread  or  milk  pan. 
Buch  as  our  country  friends  use  so  abundantly  ;  and  I  came  to 
the  very  correct  conclusion  that  I  had  found  a  very  well  got-up 
hypocrite  in  the  shop-window.  Mark,  from  this  time,  when  I 
pass  by,  I  mentally  whisper,  "Pottery:"  and  the  shams  may 
even  be  exchanged  for  realities,  but  I  shall  be  long  in  believing 
it.  In  my  mind  the  large  stock  has  dissolved  into  jiotsherds,  and 
the  fine  show  in  the  window  only  suggests  the  potter's  vessel. 
The  homely  illustration  is  simply  introduced  because  we  find 
people  of  this  sort  in  our  churches,  looking  extremely  like  what 
they  should  be,  yet  having  no  substance  in  them,  so  that  if,  acci- 
dentally, one  happens  to  tap  them  somewhere  or  other  with 
eudden  temptation  or  stern  duty,  the  baked  earth  gives  forth  its 
own  ring,  and  the  pretender  is  esteemed  no  longer.'* 

34—38.  (31)  shepherds,  fig.  for  kings  and  rulers,  wallow, 
cover  yourselves  over  with:  loU  yourselves  about  in.  prin- 
cipal .  .  flock,  lit.  ■■  the  strong  ones  of  the  flock,"  i.e.  the  leaders 
of  society  ;  the  great  and  rich  men.  pleasant  vessel,  or 
vessel  of  desire. »  '•  Destroyed  as  a  crystal  glass."  (35)  to  flee, 
lit.  flight  shall  fail  the  shepherds.  (;!(i)  hath  spoiled,  or 
spoileth,  ch.  vi.  2,  3.  (37)  peaceable  habitations,  or  pastures 
of  peace  :  where  the  flocks  lately  dwelt  safely.  (38)  forsaken 
his  covert,  and  come  forth  to  judgment,  oppressor,  Heb. 
Jonah,  signifying  also  a  doce.^ 

Jljipucriaii  and  sincerity. — Consider,  hypocrisy  lies  close  in  the 
heart ;  if  thou  art  not  very  careful  thou  mayest  easily  pass  a 
false  judgment  on  thyself.  They  who  were  sent  to  search  the 
cellar  under  the  Parliament,  at  first  saw  nothing  but  coals  and 
winter  provisions  ;  but  upon  a  review,  when  they  came  to  throw 
Bway  that  stuff,  they  found  all  but  provision  for  the  devil's 
kitchen  :  then  the  mystery  of  iniquity  was  uncased,  and  the 
barrels  of  powder  appeared.  How  many  are  there  that,  from 
gome  duties  of  piety  they  perform,  some  seeming  zeal  they  ex- 
press in  profession,  presently  cry,  "  Omnia  bene,''  and  are  so  kind 
to  themselves  as  to  vote  themselves  good  Christians,  who,  did 
they  but  take  the  pains  to  throw  those  aside,  they  might  find  a 
foul  hypocrite  at  the  bottom  of  them  all.  Hyi:)ocrisy  often  takes 
np  her  lodging  next  door  to  sincerity,  and  so  she  passes  unfound,  j 
the  soul  not  suspecting  hell  can  be  so  near  heaven.  And  as 
hypocrisj',  so  sincerity  is  hard  to  be  discovered.  This  grace  often 
lies  low  in  the  heart,  like  the  sweet  violet  in  some  valley  or  near 
some  brook,  hid  with  thorns  and  nettles — infirmities,  I  mean  ; 
so  that  there  requires  both  care  and  wisdom,  that  we  neither  let 
the  weed  of  hypocrisy  stand,  nor  pluck  up  the  herb  of  grace  in 
its  stead.  ■= 


CHAPTER  TEE  TWENTY-SIXTH. 

1 — 7.  (1)  beginning,  etc..  "prob.  soon  before  the  critical 
hattle  of  Carchemisli.  wh.  established  the  supremacy  of  Xebu- 
chadnezzar  and  Babylon.""  (2)  in  the  court,  the  largest 
court,  where  the  males  assembled  for  worship.  (3)  repent  me, 
oil.  xviii.  8.     ^■i — 6)  like  Slliloh,  ch.  vii.   12,  14,     (J)  heard,  i  any  retm-n.    Sha 


have  been  disco* 
Tcreil  bj'  wrang- 
ling in  company; 
or  by  solemn  dis- 
putation in  the 
sci:ool.s.  I  believe 
it  would  appear 
tliat  the  contend- 
ing parties  might 
have  been  em- 
ployed as  advan- 
tageouslyto  man- 
kind, and  much 
more  so  to  them- 
selves, in  whip- 
ping a  top  or 
brandishing  a 
r  a  t  t  \&:'  —Dr. 
Brat  lie. 

d  C.  H.  Spurgeon. 
a  "  Your  past 
excellency  shall 
not  render  you 
safe  now.  I  will 
turn  to  your  ig- 
nominy what- 
ever glory  I  con- 
feiTed  on  you." 
— Calvin. 

LXS.  render, 
"  Ye  shall  faU 
like  chosen 
rams." 

6  "  There  may  be 
a  covert  allusion 
to  the  Chalda?au 
standard  bearing 
a  dove  on  it,  in 
honour  of  Semi- 
ramis,  the  first 
queen,  said  in 
popular  supersti- 
tion to  have  been 
nourished  by 
doves  when  ex- 
posed at  birth, 
and  at  death  to 
have  been  trans- 
formed into  a 
dove.' '—  Fausset. 

c  A  Divine  of  the 
.'^erenlceilth  CViIf 
lary. 


It  Je.  XXV.  1, 11. 

Clytie  ■was  a 
water-nymph 
who  loved  the 
sun-god  without 


102 


JE  RE  if  I  AH. 


rCap.  xxvi.  8-11. 


constantly  prized 
nt  the  ohjuct  (pf 
lier  affectiiin, 
looking  at  liiin 
wlien  lie  rose, 
ami  while  he 
passed  his  daily 
course.  Slie  saw 
no  other  ohicot. 
At  last  her  limbs 
rooted,  and  her 
face  became  the 
sun-flower, 
which  turns  on 
its  stem  so  as 
always  to  look  at 
the  sun. 

"  Honour  with 
some  is  a  sort  of 
paper  credit, with 
vhicU  men  are 
obliged  to  trade 
Avho  are  deficient 
in  the  sterling 
cash  of  morality 
and  religion." — 
iSimmernmnn. 


a  "  They  accused 
him  of  uttering 
falsehooil  in  the 
name  of  Jehovah, 
a  crime  wh.  was 
threatened  in  the 
law  of  Moses  with 
deat  h." — Hen- 
de.'son. 

b  Comp.  Ac.  vi. 
13,  li. 

e  Lit.  "  a  sen- 
tence of  death  is 
to  this  man,"  i.e. 
is  due  to  him. 

"  Honour,  my 
lord,  is  much  too 
proud  to  catch  at 
every  slender 
twig  of  nice 
distinction. 
These  for  tli'  un- 
feeling vulgar 
may  do  well  ; 
but  those  whose 
Bouls  are  by  the 
nicer  rule  of 
virtuous  deltcaoy 
only  s  w  a  y  '  d, 
stand  at  another 
bar  than  that  of 
laws."  -  T/iumsoii . 

'Houoara   a- 


efc,  Jer.  spoke  publicly,  and  at  a  time  when  the  court  was  full 
of  people. 

Jfcrnic  cnnsfancy. — A  mother  and  her  seven  sons  were  brought 
before  the  tyi-aut  Antiochus  in  the  persecution  of  the  Jews,  and 
offered  a  discharge  if  they  would  but  taste  swine"s  flesh.  They 
unanimously  refused,  were  "  tormented  with  scourges  and  whips," 
but  still  refused.  ''  What  wouldst  thou  ask  of  us  ?  We  are  ready 
to  die  rather  than  tran.sgress  the  laws  of  our  fathers,"  they  said. 
The  enraged  king  ordered  the  speaker  to  be  slain  in  the  most 
excruciating  manner.  His  mother  and  six  brothers  were  com- 
pelled to  witness  his  awful  agony,  yet,  with  unshaken  constancy, 
exhorted  one  another  to  die  manfully.  The  second  son  follows 
the  first  to  martyrdom.  The  third  stretched  out  his  hands  to  the 
executioner  to  be  cut  off.  saying.  '•  These  I  had  from  heaven,  and 
for  his  laws  I  despise  them."  The  fourth,  fifth,  and  sixth  sons 
endured  torture  and  death  with  the  same  dauntless  fidelity.  The 
mother  and  her  youngest  son  remain.  The  ma?'.gled  members  of 
her  six  sons  strew  the  ground.  Antiochus  now  lays  bribes  before 
the  youth.  Wealth  and  station  are  pi-offered  him,  if  he  will  but 
taste.  The  nobler  than  Spartan  mother  addresses  him  :  "  I  beseech 
thee,  my  son,  look  upon  the  heaven  and  the  earth,  and  all  that  is 
therein,  and  consider  that  God  marie  them  of  things  that  were 
not ;  and  so  was  mankind  made  likewise.  Fear  not  this  tor- 
mentor, but,  being  worthy  of  thy  brethren,  take  thy  death,  that 
I  may  receive  thee  in  mercy  again  with  thy  brethren."  O 
wonderful  woman  !  The  record  runs,  "  Last  of  all,  after  the 
sons,  the  mother  died."  These  Jewish  martyrs  inherited  the 
promise,  being  "  faithful  unto  death." 

8—11.  (8)  priests  and  prophets,  these  were  more  bitter 
against  Jer.  than  the  princes  were,  took  him,  apprehended 
him,  to  put  him  on  his  trial,  as  a  disturber  of  the  Government, 
and  for  discouraging  the  people  from  defending  their  country 
against  the  enemy."  (t))  why,  they  assume  that  the  thing  that 
Jer.  prophesied  was  absolutely  impossible.*  (10)  princes,  who 
would  not  have  the  priests  and  people  take  the  government  out 
of  their  hands,  new  gate,  or  east  gate.  A  judicial  court  was 
at  once  constituted.  (11)  worthy  to  die,"  and  they  demand 
in.stant  judgment  and  execution. 

FaUiiHj  hi  Christian  constancy. — You  are  thinking  of  the 
thriving  tradesman  whose  upward  course  you  marked  for  so 
many  years.  How  regular  he  was  in  the  sanctuary  1  How 
fervent  his  zeal !  How  admirable  his  devotedness  to  God  !  In 
business  affairs  he  was  honest,  and  affable,  and  diligent,  and  the 
hand  of  the  Lord  prospered  him.  His  liberality  increased,  and 
many  rejoiced  in  his  light,  or  sat  under  his  .shadow  with  .great 
delight.  He  was  a  pillar,  at  once  adding  to  the  comeliness  and 
to  the  strength  of  the  building.  His  beneficence  continues  to 
this  day  ;  but  Avhat  about  his  personal  service  ?  "VNTiat  about  his 
religious  habits.'  Where  is  his  former  activity?  Where  is  now 
his  zeal,  once  so  urgent  that  it  almost  verged  upon  fanaticism  ? 
Ah  !  was  it  then,  just  then,  when  the  Lord  increased  his  capa- 
bilities and  augmented  his  resources  of  \isefulness — was  it  then 
that  the  spirit  of  the  world  crept  in?  Is  his  zeal  a  matter  of 
histoiy  ?  Do  the  children  of  the  church  know  an\i:hing  about 
him  1  Do  they  wonder  that  he  was  ever  such  an  orderly,  punc- 
tual, active  office-bearer  as  their  fathers  tell  them  he  was — he,  so 


Cap.  xxvi.  12—19.] 


JEREillAIt. 


103 


infrequent  in  liis  attendance  on  the  sanctuary — lie,  so  proverbial 
for  his  lateness,  partly  haljitual,  partly  sensational  when  he  does 
come — he,  whose  voice  is  so  seldom  heard  in  prayer — he,  who 
never  gladdens  the  humhle  ones  of  the  Lord's  vintag-e  by  his 
presence  in  their  goodly  fellowship — he,  who  has  left  all  the  toil 
of  the  Redeemer's  service  to  be  done  by  his  poorer  brethren,  con- 
doning for  his  forsalsen  labour  by  his  willingness,  it  may  be  to 
direct,  and  it  may  be  to  subscribe.  Is  it  so  that  the  spirit  of  the 
world  has  crept  in,  and  that,  in  grievous  abandonment  of  his 
former  energy,  he  has  grown  weary  in  well-doing  ?  <^ 

12—15.  (12)  tlie  Lord  sent  me,  so  as  a  Divinely  com- 
missioned prophet  he  was  above  all  human  tribunals.  The 
answer  of  Jer.  is  simple  and  straightforward.  (13)  amend, 
etc.,  ch.  vii.  3.  (11)  in  your  hand,  he  wns  quite  willing  to 
submit  to  lawful  government,  but  v/hatever  the  result,  he  must 
simply  deliver  .the  Divine  message."  (15)  innocent  blood,  i.e. 
the  guilt  of  putting  the  innocent  to  death. 

Chavacter  of  a  minkter.- — A  minister's  character  is  the  lock  of 
his  strength,  and  if  once  this  is  sacrificed  he  is,  like  Samson 
shorn  of  his  hair,  a  poor,  feeble,  faltering  creature,  the  pity  of 
his  friends  and  the  derision  of  his  enemies.  I  would  not  have 
ba<l  ministers  screened,  nor  would  I  have  good  ones  maligned. 
"When  a  preacher  of  righteousness  has  stood  in  the  way  of  sinners, 
and  walked  in  the  counsel  of  the  ungodly,  he  should  never 
again  open  his  lips  in  the  great  congregation  until  his  repen- 
tance is  as  notorious  as  his  sin.  But  ■while  his  character  is 
unsullied,  his  friends  should  jireserve  it  with  as  much  care 
against  the  tongue  of  the  slanderer  as  they  would  his  life  against 
the  hand  of  tlie  assassin.  When  I  consider  the  restless  malignity 
of  the  great  enemy  of  God  and  holiness,  and  add  to  this  his 
subtlety  and  craft ;  when  I  consider  how  much  his  malice  would 
be  gratified  and  his  schemes  promoted  by  blackening  the 
character  of  the  ministers  of  the  Gospel ;  when  I  consider  what 
a  multitude  of  creatures  there  are  who  are  his  vassals,  and  under 
his  influence,  creatures  so  destitute  of  moral  principle  and  so 
filled  with  venomous  spite  against  religion  as  to  be  prepared  to 
go  any  lengths  in  maligning  the  righteous,  and  especially  their 
ministers,  I  can  account  for  it  on  no  other  ground  than  that  of 
a  special  interposition  of  Providence,  that  the  reputation  of 
Christian  pastors  is  not  more  f  retpiently  attacked  by  slander  and 
destroyed  by  calumny.  But  probably  we  see,  in  this  as  in  other 
cases,  that  wise  arrangement  of  Providence  by  which  things  of 
delicacy  and  consequence  are  preserved  by  calling  forth  greater 
Bolicitude  for  their  safety.  Church  members  should,  therefore, 
be  tremblingly  alive  to  the  importance  of  defending  their  minis- 
ter's character.  They  should  neither  expect  to  see  him  perfect 
nor  hunt  after  his  imperfections.  "When  they  cannot  but  see 
his  imperfections  —  imperfections  which,  after  all,  may  be 
consistent  with  not  only  real  but  eminent  i)iety — they  should 
not  take  pleasure  in  either  magnifying  or  looking  at  them, 
but  make  all  reasonable  excuse  for  them,  and  endeavour  to 
lose  sight  of  his  infirmities  in  his  virtues,  as  they  do  the  spots 
of  the  sun  amid  the  blaze  of  radiance  with  which  they  are 
eurroundt'd.* 

16—19.  CIG)  spoken  . .  name,  if  Jer.  was  a  true  prophet,  it 


chieved  far  ex- 
ceed those  that 
are  created."^ 
Solon. 

"A   Christian  ia 

the  bigliest  style 
of  man." — Pope. 

d  W.  M.  Punshon. 


a   See  De.  xriii. 

20. 

Comp.  Jos.ix.  25; 
2  Sa.  XV.  26  ;  Da. 
iil.  IC. 

"  D  i  pr  n  i  t  y  ot 
honour.  —  Base, 
grov'lhng  sonls 
ne'er  know  true 
honour's  worth, 
but  v.'eigh  it  out 
in  mercenary 
scales:  tlie  secret 
pleasure  of  a 
.LTcnerous  act  is 
the  great  mind's 
preat  bribe." — 
Dry  den. 

"  Love's  common 
unto  all  the  mass 
of  creatures,  as 
life  and  breath ; 
lion  our  to  maa 
alone;  honour 
being  then  above 
life,  dislionour 
ni  ust  be  worse 
than  death ;  for 
fate  can  strike 
but  one,  reproach 
doth  reach  whole 
families." —  C'a/'i- 
wright. 

"As  all  things 
that  have  life 
court  whatever 
helps  and  solaces 
and  succours  it, 
and  siiuns  inju- 
rious influences, 
so  the  believer 
applies  to  all  the 
appointed  means 
for  the  support 
and  nourishment 
of  his  life,  and 
guards  it  from 
tlie  attack  of  all 
adverse  powers, 
within  and  with- 
out."— Dr.  Lei/' 
child. 


b  J.  A.  Jamet, 


104 


JEUEMIATT. 


fCap.xxvil.  1- 


«  "  A  prophet 
couM  not  be  put 
to  dentil  uiilcis 
he  proplmsieil  in 
the  liiim'  nf  othrr 
gniis;  or  after  his 
proptiecy  lial 
failed  in  its  ac- 
co  in  pHshment." 
—Fausscl. 
h  Ac.  V.  21. 
c  "  He  prophesied 
In  tlie  time  of 
Jotliam.  Alia?,, 
and  Hczel<iah, 
and  was  contem- 
porary with 
llosea  and  Amo^ 
In  Israel,  and 
•witli  Isai.ah  in 
Judah.'-JKtf/-cfi- 
tcoi'lh. 

d2Chr.xxxii.26. 
e  Dr.  Porter. 
a  "  The  circum- 
stances detailed 
in  this  and  the 
three  following 
«rerses  appear  to 
have  been  ad- 
duced in  opposi- 
tion to  what  had 
been  related  re- 
Bpecting  Micah  ; 
and  as  they  had 
takeu  place  in 
tlie  reign  of  the 
present  monarch, 
they  furnished  an 
apt  precedent  for 
the  c  o  u  d  e  m- 
nation  of  .Jere- 
miah."—  Hender- 
tnii. 

"  Without  con- 
stansy  there  is 
neither  love, 
friendship,  nor 
virtue  in  the 
■world."- Addison. 
b  Spencer. 


a  Ncigelsbach,  Spk. 
Com.,  etc. 

b  "  The  task  as- 
si|:fned  to  Jer. 
rei]uircd  great 
faith,  as  it  was 
Fiire  to  provoke 
alike  his  own 
counfrymon,  and 
the  foreign  nui- 
ba-'s.adors,  and 
their  kings,  by  a 
set^niing  insult, 
at  the  very  time 
that  all  were  full 
of  confident 
hopes  ground(Ml 
on  the  confeile- 
tacy." — Fausset, 


■was  thoir  duty  to  listen  to  his  message.*  CI  7)  elders/  i.e.  some 
of  the  elder  ones  among  these  princes.  CI8j  Mieall,  rtr..'^  comp. 
Mic.  i.  1,  iii.  12.  '^his  Avas  a  denunciation,  and  a  prophecy  of 
national  calamities,  like  the  prophecy  of  Jeremiah.  (19)  fear 
the  Lord,  so  as  to  give  heed  to  His  message,  'besoilgh.t  tlie 
Lord,  liL  "  soothed  by  prayer  the  face  of  the  Lord."  ^  thus, 
etc..  i.e.  by  doing  any  evil  to  Jer. 

/iiiin  a  dt'.wlation. — Morning  dawned  :  .and  with  my  kind  host, 

to  whom  every  spot  in  and  around  Jerusalem   was  familiar,  1 

ascended  to  the  terraced  roof.    Just  b'^liind  Moriah,  the  Tyropeau 

!  valley  was  distinctly  inii-k3d  by  a  deeply-shaded   dell,  running 

I  from  north  to  south  through  the  city.     B'yond  it   rose   Zion, 

!  higher  and  longer  than  Moriah As  I  looked,  a  moviiigr 

'  object  in  one  of  the  fiel'is  riveted  my  attantion.  '•  Haste,  giva 
me  the  glass,"  I  said.  I  turned  it  unon  the  spot.  Yes,  I  waa 
right ;  a  plough  and  a  yoke  of  oxen  were  there  at  work.  Jere- 
miah's prophecy  was  fultlUed  before  my  eyes.« 

20—24:.  (2  ))  Urijall,  wo  have  no  other  reference  to  this 
prophet."  Kirjath-jearim,  Jos.  ix.  17.  (21)  niigdity  men, 
captains  of  his  army.  (22)  Elnathan,  2  Ki.  xxiv.  8.  Achbor, 
2  Ki.  xxii.  12.  (23)  fetohed,  etc.,  Jehoiakim  was  at  the  time  a 
vassal  of  Egypt,  so  one  accused  of  treason  would  be  readily  sur- 
rendered to  him.  graves,  etc.,  2  Ki.  xxiii.  G.  (21)  nevertlie- 
less,  in  spite  of  this  attempt  to  urge  the  prince  to  jrat  Jer.  to 
death.     Ahikam,  2  Ki.  xxii.  12,  14. 

Advantarje  of  consfaiioj. — It  is  easy  to  keep  that  armour  bright 
which  is  daily  used;  bat,  hanging  by  the  wall  till  it  be  rusty,  ifc 
will  take  some  time  and  pains  to  furbish  it  over  again.  If  an 
instrument  be  daily  play;id  ujion.  it  is  easily  kejit  in  tune  ;  bub 
let  it  be  awhile  negi^ctad,  and  the  strings  and  frets  break,  the 
bridge  flies  off,  and  no  small  labour  is  required  to  bring  it  into 
order  again.  And  thus  also  it  is  in  things  spiritual,  in  the  per- 
formance of  holy  duties  :  if  we  continue  them  with  a  settled 
constancy,  they  will  be  enaj,  familiar,  and  delightful  to  us  :  but, 
if  once  intermitted,  it  is  a  new  work  to  begin  again,  and  the 
former  estate  will  not  be  attained  but  with  much  endeavour  and 
great  diificulty.* 


CHAPTER  TEE  TWENTY-SEVENTH. 

1 — 4.  (1)  Jehoiakim,  this  is  prob.  an  error  for  Zedekiah.a 
(2)  bonds  and  yokes,  the  yoke  here  is  the  carved  piece  of 
wood  attached  to  the  two  yokes  on  the  pair  of  oxen,  and  connect- 
ing them  :  but  it  stands  for  the  entire  instrument.  The  bonds 
are  the  straps  or  fastenings  of  these  yokes.  (3)  send  them, 
this  was  to  be  actually  done.  Tlie  nations  referred  to  were  those 
wh.  God  had  given  into  the  hand  of  the  king  of  Babylon.  The 
ambassadors  of  these  kings  had  ])rob.  come  to  Jerus..  to  make  a 
league  for  resisting  the  king  of  Babylon.'  (l)  their  masters, 
the  great  kings,  v.  3. 

God  and  the  earth,  (rr.  4,  ■'i). — I.  God  is  the  Crc.ntor  of  all 
earthly  things  ;  the  earth  is  not  eternal,  not  the  production  of 
chance,  not  the  work  of  many  gods.  II.  God  is  .he  Sovereign 
Disposer  of  all  earthly  things  :  might  have  built  it  and  left  it 
uninhabited  ;  might  have  populated  it  with  other  creatures  than 


Cap.xxvii.  5—15.] 


JEREMIAB. 


105 


those  who  tenant  it  now  :  He  has  given  what  He  thinks  fit  of  it  I  <^  ^''-  ^^'C"^*- 
to  individuals,  tribes,  and  nations." 


5—8.  (5)  given  it,"  Da.  iv.  17,  2.5,  32.  God  acts  in  the 
sovereignty  of  His  will,  but  infinite  wisdom  and  goodness  guide 
His  will.  (6)  my  servant,  ch.  xxv.  9,  xliii.  10.  beasts,  tfc, 
"  the  territories  of  these  nations  were  to  become  mere  hunting 
grounds  for  him."'*  (7)  son  .  .  son's  son,  Evil-Merodach  was 
his  son,  and  Belshazzar  his  grandson."  serve  .  .  him,  or  bring 
him  into  servitude.  (8)  yoke,  see  note  on  v.  2. 
The  creation. — 

I  saw  when  at  His  word  the  formless  mass, 
The  world  s  material  world,  came  to  a  heap  ; 
Confusion  heard  His  voice,  and  wild  uproar 
Stood  ruled,  stood  vast  infinitude  confined  ; 
Till  at  His  second  bidding  darkness  fled. 
Light  shone,  and  order  from  disorder  sjirung : 
Swift  to  their  several  quarters  hasted  then 
The  cumbrous  elements,  earth,  flood,  air,  fire  ; 
And  this  ethereal  quintessence  of  heaven 
Flew  upward,  spirited  with  various  forms, 
That  roU'd  orbicular,  and  turned  to  stars 
Kumberless,  as  thou  seest,  and  how  they  move  ; 
Each  had  his  place  appointed,  each  his  course  ; 
The  rest  in  circuit  walk  this  universe* 

9 — 11.  (9)  diviners,  etc.,  these  arts  were  exjiressly  forbidden 
to  the  Jev/s."     enchanters,  or  soothsayers.     (10)  to  remove 
you,  i.e.  the  certain  effect  of  the  delusion  will  be  to  remove  you. 
(11)  bring  .  .  neck  under,  i.e.  yield  to  the  conqueror,  and  put 
themselves  into  su Injection  to  him. 
I'ietiive  of  a  ivitcli. — 
Through  a  close  lane  as  I  pursued  my  journey, 
And  meditating-  on  the  last  night's  vision, 
I  spied  a  wrinkled  hag,  with  age  grown  double, 
Picking  dry  sticks,  and  mumbling  to  herself  ; 
Her  eyes  with  scalding  rheum  were  galld  and  red, 
And  palsy  shook  her  head  ;  her  hands  seemed  wither'd  ; 
And  on  her  crooked  shoulder  had  she  wrapp'd 
The  tatter'd  remnant  of  an  old  striped  hanging, 
"\^'hich  served  to  keep  her  carcase  from  the  cold. 
So  there  M'as  nothing  of  a  piece  about  her. 
Her  lower  weeds  were  all  o'er  coarsely  patched 
With  different  coloured  rags — black,  red,  white,  yellow, 
And  seem'd  to  speak  variety  of  wretchedness. 
I  ask'd  her  of  the  way,  which  she  informed  me ; 
Then  craved  my  charity,  and  bade  me  hasten 
To  save  a  sister.* 

12 — 15.  (12)  Zedekiah,  who  was  restless  under  the  Baby- 
lonian yoke,  and,  revolting,  brought  the  final  ruin  on  the  land, 
bring  .  .  under,  fig.  for  quietly  submitting.  (13)  die,  by 
stubborn  and  wilful  resistance.  (14)  a  lie,  ch.  xiv.  11,  xxiii. 
21,  xxix.  8,  lyingly.  (15)  not  sent  them,  so  no  kind  of  trust 
is  to  be  put  in  their  prophecies. 

Detection  of  hjinrj. — The  folly  of  lying  consi.sts  in  its  defeating 
its  own  puri)ose.  A  habit  of  lying  is  generally  detected  in  the 
end  ;  and  after  detection  the  liar,  instead  of  deceiving,  will  not  | 


a  "  Gorl  liere,  as 
elsewhere,  con- 
nects with  the 
symbol  doctrine, 
wljicli  is  as  ib 
were  its  fOul, 
witliovit  whicli  it 
wduld  be  not 
only  cold  amj 
frivolous,  but 
even  dead."  — • 
Oilvin. 
b  S}ik-.  Com. 
c  '•  The  two  kings 
mentioned  in 
Ptolemy's  Canon 
between  Evil-Me- 
rodach and  Bel- 
shazzar (or  Na- 
boncilus)  —  viz., 
Neri  g  lissarus  ami 
Labor  osoarcho- 
dus,  had  no  right 
by  lineal  descent: 
for  Keriglissaru3 
was  only  husband 
to  Evil-llero- 
dach's  daugliter, 
and  Laborosoar- 
cUodus  was  son 
to  Nori^lissarus." 
—Lnirlli. 
d  Milton. 

a  De.  xviii.   11 ; 
Is.  ii.  6. 

"  There  is  also  an 
affected  igno- 
rance, such  a  one 
as  is  contracted 
by  a  wilful  neg- 
lect of  the 
means ;  and  this 
is  not  excusing 
but  conilemni'jg. 
...  In  the  midst 
of  liglit  to  be  in 
darkness  ;  for  an 
Israel  to  have  an 
Egypt  in  a 
Goslien;  this  is 
higldy  provok- 
ing, ami  may 
justly  cause  God 
to  lay  hold  oa 
vengeance."  -Z>c. 
Sfinih. 
b  Olicay. 

"To  perceive 
truth  by  its  pro- 
per eviilence,  is  of 
the  forni.al  na- 
ture of  tlie  ra- 
tional mind  ;  as 
it  is  of  the 
physical  nature 
of  the  eye  to  see 
an  object  by  the 
lipriit  tliat  it  re- 
flects, or  oi   the 


108 


JERK  in  AH. 


[Cap.  xxviii.l— 4* 


ear  to  hoiir  ttie 
sounils  wliioh  the 
air  conveys  to 
it."—lip.lioisley. 


a  Oilpfn. 

a  2  Ki.  xxir.  13  ; 
2  Chr.  xxxvi.  5 — 
7. 

6  2  Ki.  XXY.  13— 
17 ;  2  Chr.  xxxvi. 
18. 

"  Do  not  as  some 
ungracious  pas- 
tors do,  sliow  me 
tlie  steep  and 
thorny  way  to 
lieaven,  wliiUt 
like  a  puff'd  and 
reckless  liliertine. 
himself  the  prim- 
rose path  of  dal- 
liance treads,  and 
recks  not  his  own 
roa<l."  —  Shake- 
t pea  re. 

c  Mrs.  Jameson. 
a  2  Ki.  XXV.  1 3  ; 
Je.  lii.  17,  20,  21. 

The  gennineness 
of  these  four  i-r. 
(19—22)  is  dis- 
puted. 

b  Ezr.  i.  7,  v.  13, 
14. 

Toil  needn't  liave 
such  a  reverence 
for  truth  as  al- 
w.ays  to  stand  at 
an  aw  fill  distance 
from  it. 


a  "  The  Jews 
often  divided  any 
period  into  two 
halves,  the  begin- 
ving  ami  the^/i  I. 
Eo  tlie  fonrth 
year  would  lie  in 
the  b'yiiiniiig  of 
Zedekiah's  reign; 
and  during  the 
first  tliree  years 
the  country  was 
ill  a  Very  dis- 
turbed state."— 
Fausset. 
h  Better  render, 


even  bo  believed  when  he  happens  to  speak  the  truth.  Nay, 
every  sinfclc  lie  is  attended  with  such  a  variety  of  circumstances 
which  l''a<i  to  a  detection,  that  it  is  often  discovered.  The  uso 
grenerally  made  of  a  lie  is  to  cover  a  fault ;  but  as  this  end  is 
seldom  answered,  we  only  aggravate  what  we  wish  to  conceal. 
In  point  even  of  prudence,  an  honest  confession  would  serve  u3 
better." 

16—18.  (Ifi)  vessels,  etc.,  these  had  been  carried  away  in 
the  reigns  of  Jeconiah,  and  also  of  Jehoiakim."  (17,  is)  go 
not,  etc.,  Nebuzaradan,  captain  of  the  guard  under  Nebuchad- 
nezzar, carried  all  away.*  , 

Preparation  for  m/nistri/. — Once  on  a  time,  when  St.  Ildefonso 
was  entering  his  cathedral  at  the  head  of  a  midnight  pi'ocession, 
he  perceived  the  high  altar  surrounded  by  a  blaze  of  light.  He 
alone  of  all  the  clergy  ventured  to  approach,  and  found  the 
Virgin  herself  seated  on  his  ivory  episcopal  throne,  and  sur- 
rounded by  a  multitude  of  angels  chanting  a  solemn  service  from 
the  Psalter.  He  bowed  to  the  ground  before  the  heavenly  vision  ; 
and  the  Virgin  thus  addressed  him  :  '•  Come  hither,  most  faithful 
servant  of  God,  and  receive  this  robe,  which  I  have  brought  thee 
from  the  treasury  of  mj'  Sou."  Then  he  knelt  before  her  :  and 
she  threw  over  him  a  chasuble,  or  cassock,  of  heavenly  tissue, 
which  was  adjusted  on  his  shoulders  by  the  attendant  angels." 

19—22.  (10)  pillars,  etc..  1  Ki.  vii.  1.5,  2.S,  27.'^  (20—22) 
then  .  .  restore,  after  the  captivity,  when  God  Himself  shall 
arrange  for  the  return  of  His  people.  This  was  fulfilled  in  the 
commission  of  Cyrus.' 

Divine  f (lit li fill ne-iis. — A  storekeeper  of  the  Christian  Commis- 
sion was  requested  to  cut  the  slices  of  bread  thinner,  as  the 
supply  was  running  low.  He  said,  "  Oh,  no  !  I  can't :  the  poor 
fellows  are  so  hungry  ! "  ''  But  our  brea<^l  will  soon  be  gone." 
"  "Well,  I  have  faith  to  believe  the  Lord  will  send  us  more  before 
we  are  quite  out."  He  did  as  he  liked,  feeding  the  hungry 
soldiers  that  pressed  about  him.  The  last  loaf  was  taken  from 
the  shelf,  and  hundreds  were  still  unfed,  when  an  immense  load 
of  provisions  was  driven  up  to  the  head-quarters  of  the  Commis- 
sion,— more  than  enoiigh  to  supply  all  their  wants.  It  came 
moi-e  than  a  hundred  miles  to  Gettysburg,  just  in  time.  The 
Lord  does  not  require  thin  slices,  but  a  strong  faith. 


CHAPTER  THE  TJFENTY-EIGHTH. 

1 — 4.  (1)  beginning,  or  earlier  half.  Zedekiah  reigned 
eleven  years."  of  Gibeon,  a  priestly  city,  Jos.  xxi.  17.  (2) 
broken'  .  .  king,  by  this  declaration  Hananiah  assures  the 
peoi)le  that  they  will  be  relieved  of  Babylonian  dependence  and 
bondage.  (."!)  Wo  fnll  years,  lit.  '-two  years  of  days."'  (4) 
Jeconiah,  whom  the  people  regarded  as  their  rightful  king. 

The  vtini.tter's  asftnciation  ovit.h  Chrint. — After  preaching  over 
twenty-five  years — aaid  among  you  during  the  greatest  number 
of  those  years — in  looking  back  upon  my  experience,  that  parfc 
of  my  life  which  stands  out,  and  which  I  remember  most  vividly, 
is  just  that  part  that  has  had  some  conscious 'association  with 
Christ.    All  the  rest  is  pale  and  thin,  and  lies  like  a  cloud  ou  the 


Cap.  xxviii.  5—14.] 


JEREMIAH. 


107 


horizon.  I  remember  so  mucli  of  my  life  in  the  ministry  as  has 
been  full  of  Christ,  and  almost  all  the  rest  I  have  forgotten. 
Doctrines,  systems,  measures,  methods — what  may  be  called  the 
necessary  mechanical  and  external  part  of  worship  ;  the  more 
obvious  part  ;  the  ]iart  which  tlie  senses  would  recognise — this 
Beems  to  liave  withered  and  fallen  off  like  the  leaves  of  last 
summer  ;  but  that  part  which  has  taken  hold  of  Christ  remains, 
abides.'* 

5 — 9.  (5)  said,  in  answer  to  this  iitterly  false  prophecy.  (6) 
amen,  or  even  so  I  could  heartily  wish  it  might  be.  (7) 
nevertheless,  Le.  spite  of  all  your  prophecies  and  my  wishes.  I 
must  give  you  God's  message.  (8)  prophets  .  .  pestilence, 
Jer.  here  intimates  that  he  does  not  stand  alone.  He  only  carries 
on  former  Divine  denunciations.  Considering  the  corruption  of 
the  times,  prophecies  of  calamity  were  much  more  likely  to  be 
given  than  prophecies  of  peace."  (9)  when  .  .  pass,  Jer.  is 
eatisfled  to  wait  the  testing  of  events. 

Ladij  Iluntiniidnn  and  Mr.  M'hitrfiihl. — A  Christian  minister 
relates  an  anecdote,  which  he  heard  from  Lady  Anne  Erskine. 
after  he  had  Vieen  x^reaching  in  Spafields  Chapel,  London,  oir  the 
evening  of  February  7,  1  71)8,  to  a  large  and  attentive  congrega- 
tion, it  relates  to  a  brother  of  the  Eev.  George  'Whitefield.  Mr. 
"Whitefield,  it  appears,  had  been  in  a  backsliding  state  ;  but,  under 
a  sermon  preached  by  his  broth  er  in  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon's 
chapel,  Bath,  it  pleased  God  to  arouse  him  from  that  state  :  after 
which,  however,  he  became  melancholy  and  despairing.  He  was 
takiug  tea  with  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,  on  a  service  even- 
ing, in  the  chapel-house,  and  her  ladyship  endeavoured  to  raise 
his  desponding  hopes  by  conversing-  on  God's  infinite  mercy 
through  Jesus  Christ ;  but,  for  a  while,  in  vain.  '■  My  lady,"  he 
replied,  "  I  know  what  you  say  is  true.  The  mercy  of  God  is 
infinite  :  I  see  it  clearly.  But,  ah  !  my  lady,  there  is  no  mercy 
for  me — I  am  a  wretch,  entirely  lost."  '"I  am  glad  to  hear  it, 
Mr.  Whitefield,"  said  Lady  Huntingdon.  '•  I  am  glad  at  my  heart 
that  yon  are  a  lost  mar ."  He  looked  with  great  surprise.  '"Wliat, 
my  lady,  glad  !  glad  at  your  heart  that  I  am  a  lost  man  2 "  '•  Yes. 
Mr.  "Whitefield,  truly  glad  ;  for  Jesus  Christ  came  into  the  world 
to  save  the  lost ! "  He  laid  down  his  cup  of  tea  on  the  table. 
"  Blessed  be  God  for  that,"  said  he.  "  Glory  to  God  for  that 
word,"  he  exclaimed.  "  Oh,  what  unusual  power  is  this  which  I 
feel  attending  it !  Jesus  Christ  came  to  save  the  lost !  then  I 
have  a  ray  of  hope."  and  so  he  went  on.  As  he  finished  his  last 
cup  of  tea.  his  hand  trembled,  and  he  complained  of  illness.  He 
went  out  into  the  chapel  court  for  the  benefit  of  tlie  air,  but 
staggered  to  the  wall,  exclaiming,  "  I  am  very  ill."  A  poor  old 
woman,  who  was  going  into  the  chapel,  lent  him  her  staff  to 
suppoi't  him  into  the  house,  saying  she  would  call  for  it  when 
Divine  service  was  over,  and  inquire  after  him.  But  his  time 
was  come.     Soon  after  he  was  brought  into  the  house  he  expired. 

10 — 14.  (10)  took  .  .  yoke,"  ch.  xxvii.  2.  This  was  done  as 
a  sign  that  Hauaniah  regarded  Jer.'s  predictions  as  wholly  false. 
He  matched  Jer.'s  symbolic  act  by  an  answering  symbolical  act. 
(11)  all  nations,  ch.  xxvii.  7.  went  liis  way,  not  deigning 
any  reply.  fl2.  1:5)  siialt  make,  better,  vllt  make;  i.e.  your 
conduct  in  encouraging  the  people  to  resist  is^ebuchadncz2it>a:  will 


"  I  liave  cleter- 
niiiifil  to  break." 
c  "  H  a  n  a  n  i  a  h 
jirob.  fixed  tliis 
date  by  the  ex- 
pectation tbat 
the  confederacy 
tlien  on  foot 
would  defeat  Ne- 
b  u  c  h  a  dnezzar." 
— ''^pk.  Com. 
d  Bt^echer. 
(I "  Hauaniahliad 
given  no  warn- 
ing as  to  the 
need  of  repent- 
ance and  cunver- 
sii  n,  but  had 
foretold  prospe- 
rity uncondition- 
ally."— Fausset. 
One  Sabbath  af- 
ternoon, soon 
after  lie  had  be- 
gun Ills  sermon, 
I  Jlr.  Fuller  ob- 
!  served  several  of 
I  his  congregation 
asleep.  Grieved 
with  their  im- 
proper conduct, 
I  he  disturbed 
j  them  by  a  smart 
rap  with  his  hand 
I  on  the  pulpit, 
and  said,  "  I  have 
often  been  afraid 
of  preaching  you 
to  sleep  ;  but  it 
cannot  be  my 
fault  to-day,  for 
you  are  asleep 
almost  before  I 
have  begun." 
"  I  want  to  be 
better  acquaint- 
ed with  God'a 
Holy  Word;  to 
have  its  inesti- 
mable truths 
lodged  in  my 
m  e  ni  0  r  y,  its 
heavenly  doc- 
trines impressed 
upon  my  heart; 
that  my  tempera 
may  take  their 
fashion  from  it, 
and  my  public 
a  d  m  inistrations 
be  enriched  by 
it."— y/wrt!/. 

a  "  Ilananiah  re- 
sorts to  violence, 
tears  the  yoke  fr. 
the  Prophet's 
neck,  and  breaks 
it,  prob.  to  the 
great  delight  or 
the  multitude, 
wiio  saw  iu  tliia 


'108 


JEREXflAIT. 


[Cap.  xxiz.l— 7. 


spiritecl     net      a 
Bjiiiliol     of     de- 
liverance."— !:>pk. 
Com. 
b  Je.  xxvii.  6,  7. 

Pt.  Diilip  (le 
Neri  followed  tlie 
anticipations  of  a 
young  law  stu- 
dent tbrougli  all 
the  stages  of  lii.s 
e  X  ])  e  c  t  e  il  tri- 
iimphs  with  tiie 
question,  "  And 
then?"  It  came 
in  at  every  point; 
and,  last  of  all, 
with  his  ima- 
gined victories 
won,  the  impres- 
sive question 
■was,  "And 
then?"  TlKi 
student  felt  its 
force,  and  was 
led  to  give  up 
the  law  for  the 
ministry. 

c  £.  Da  vies. 

V.  16.  W.  May,  1  ; 
S.  Darifs,  ii.  130; 
J.  liiddock,  iii. 
33;  W.  T.  Young, 
ii.  234;^'. /y/i'iH'7- 
ton,  it.  285;  T. 
Dwiy/il,  ii.  244. 

a  Dr.  TaJmage. 

"He  that  finds 
Truth,  without 
loving  her,  is 
like  a  bat ;  wh., 
.though  it  have 
eyes  to  discern 
that  there  is  a 
sun,  yet  hath  so 
evil  eyes  tliat  it 
cannot  delight 
in  the  sun." — Hir 
Philip  Sidney. 

You  may  know 
real  Christians,  as 
you  know  any- 
thing else;  causes 
by  their  effects. 

t  Pret.  Davies. 


only  rosult   in   makingf  their  captivity  the  r.iore  bitter.     (14) 
yoke  of  iron,  imjio.-fsible  to  break.  an<l  heavy  to  bear.* 

Jrii)ora)icr  of  the  fiif lire. — None,  indeed,  can  open  the  "  seven- 
sealed  book,"  or  look  forward  ovei;  the  dim  and  shadowy  field 
stretching  out  inimitably  before  him.  The  astronomer  discourses 
on  the  rate  at  which  a  sunbeam  travels,  and  explains  how  the 
flashing  lightning  may  be  dispersed,  and  its  terrible  swoop  evaded. 
He  even  indicates  those  spheres  where  storms  never  gather,  and 
thunders  never  roll ;  but  he  cannot  solve  the  anxious  problems 
of  our  future,  nor  help  us  by  his  great  wisdom  to  avoid  its  mani- 
fold evils,  because  they  come  uuf  ore  warned.  Nor  will  the  lives 
of  those  gone  before  avail  us,  seeing  no  two  lives  are  marked  by 
the  same  vicissitudes,  or  chequered  by  the  same  light  and  shades, 
the  same  joy  and  sorrow.  In  the  eloquent  words  of  a  foreiga 
divine,  •'  We  can  become  familiar  with  a  landscape  ;  we  know 
where  to  find  the  waterfall,  and  the  shady  ledge  where  the  violets 
grow  in  spring,  and  the  sassafras  gives  forth  its  odours  ;  but  we 
can  never  become  familiar  witli  our  life-landscape  ;  we  can  never 
tell  where  we  shall  come  upon  the  shady  dell,  or  where  the 
fountains  will  gush,  and  the  birds  sing.  That  is  with  God." 
And  Ilis  name  be  praised  that  it  is  so  !  for  a  definite  iirescience 
thereof  would,  in  most  instances,  cloud  the  whole  course  of  life, 
poison  every  stream  of  enjoyment,  and  render  existence  a  curse 
of  no  ordinary  magnitiide." 

15 — 17.  (15)  not  sent  thee,  Jer.  had  courage  to  make  this 
distinct  charge  when  he  had  received  the  new  message  from  God. 
(1(5)  this  year,  Ilananiah  actually  died  two  months  after  utter- 
ing his  false  prophecy,  taught  "rebellion,  De.  xiii.  .">.  (17) 
seventh  month,  comp.  fifth  month  of  r.  1.  This  fulfilment  of 
Jer.'s  word  must  have  greatly  strengthened  his  authority  as  Gods 
Prophet. 

A  startling  antwnnccmrnt  (?".  10).— These  words  proved  true  in 
the  case  of  Hananiah.  The  first  Sunday  in  the  year  a  tim-C  for 
earnest  thought.  I.  Those  who  are  over  thirty  rears  of  age 
have  gone  beyond  the  average  of  human  life.  II.  The  character 
of  our  occupations  adds  to  the  probability.  III.  Eapid  climatic 
changes  threaten  our  lives." — The  grmt  jwi^xihllitii  of  the  ncm 
year. — I.  Life  is  the  greatest  uncertainty  in  the  world.  1.  Thou- 
sands have  died  since  the  last  New- Year's  day  ;  2.  Thousands  of 
others  will  die  before  the  next;  3.  Youth  no  prevuitive;  4. 
Health  no  safeguard  ;  5.  You  may  have  to  leave  j'our  schemes 
unfinished  :  tJ.  Your  education  may  be  only  begun  :  7.  You  may 
be  unprepared  :  8.  You  may  delay  pre[)aration  ;  0.  You  may  be 
unwilling  to  think  about  it.  II.  You  may  have  strong  hopes  of 
the  contrary.  Should  you  die  this  year — 1.  You  will  be  for  ever 
cut  off  from  all  the  i)leasures  of  life  ;  2.  All  your  hopes  will  be 
disappointed  ;  3.  You  will  be  deprived  for  ever  of  the  means  of 
salvation.* 


a  "It  would  have 
degraded  their 
wlifilo  moral  na- 
ture to  have  lived 


CHAPTER  THE  TJrEXTY-NINTII. 

1—7.  (1)  residue  of  the  elders,  those  of  them  who  were 

still  alive.    (2)  after  that,  etc..  2  Ki.  xxiv.  12.  etc.    queen, 

or  queen-mother.      (3)   Zedekiah   sent,    the   object   of    this 

is'^'conspii-ators^   embassy  is  not  indicated.      (4)  all  .  .  captives,  the  letter  waa 


Cap.  xxix. 8—14] 


JEREMIAIT. 


109 


^vritten  poon  after  they  were  caiTied  away,  and  was  intended  to 
console  them.  (5)  build,  etc..  i.e.  settle  quietly  down,  for  the 
captivity  will  certainly  be  prolong-ed.  (C)  increased  there, 
in  n'  mbers  and  wealth.  (7)  seek  tlie  peace,  or  be  peaceable 
citizens  in  the  land  of  sojourn,  duly  obeying  the  laws." 

l.'ai/iiiond  the  trarellev.  —  Raymond,  a  celebrated  European 
traveller,  speaking  of  the  Spanish  smugglers,  says :  "  These 
smugglers  are  as  adroit  as  they  are  determined,  are  familiarised 
at  all  times  with  peril,  and  mucu  in  the  very  face  of  death. 
Their  first  movement  is  a  never-failing  shot,  and  certainly  would 
be  an  object  of  dread  to  most  passengers  ;  for  where  are  they  to 
be  dreacled  more  than  in  deserts,  where  crime  has  nothing  to 
witness  it.  and  the  feeble  no  assistance  ?  As  for  myself,  alone 
and  unarmed,  I  have  met  them  without  anxiety,  and  have 
accompanied  them  without  fear.  We  have  little  to  ap]'rohcnd 
from  men  whom  we  inspire  with  no  distrust  or  envy,  and  every- 
thing to  expect  in  those  from  whom  we  claim  only  wh.at  is  due 
from  man  to  man.  The  laws  of  nature  still  exist  for  those  who 
have  long  shaken  off  the  law?  of  civil  government.  At  war 
with  society,  they  are  sometimes  at  peace  with  their  fellows. 
The  nssassin  has  been  my  guide  in  the  defiles  of  the  boundaries 
of  Italy  ;  the  smuggler  of  the  Pyrenees  has  received  me  with  a 
welcome  in  his  secret  paths.  Armed,  I  should  have  been  the 
enemy  ot  both  ;  unarmed  they  have  alike  respected  me.  In  such 
expectation,  I  have  long  since  laid  aside  all  menacing  apparatus 
whatever."  * 

8—11.  (8~)  diviners,  etc.,  ch.  xiv.  14.  (0)  falsely,  or  in  a 
lie.  (10)  after  seventy  years,  ch.  xxv.  II,  12.  (11)  peace, 
or  good  will,  expected  end,  or,  "  a  future  and  a  hope."  '■  An 
end.  and  that  such  an  end  as  you  wish  for,'' 

Dirliie  pttrpo.'^e.t  fiilJiUcd  in  rt7i.s>ver  to  j)raj/er  (vi\  8 — 13). — I.  A 
certain  danger  declared.  II.  A  blessed  deliverance  promised. 
1.  The  grounds  on  which  it  rested  :  2.  The  time  of  their  return 
expressly  declared  :  3.  In  their  restoration  the  Divine  faithful- 
ne  s  would  be  strikingly  manifested  ;  4.  The  procuring  cause  of 
their  deliverance  was  the  boundless  compassion  of  God.  III.  An 
important  duty  enjoined.  1.  It  is  Divinely  ordained  ;  2.  The 
greatest  encouragement  is  afforded  for  its  observance  ;  3.  To  be 
successful  it  must  be  attended  to  in  no  formal  manner. 

12—14.  (12)  call  upon  me.  Da.  ix.  3.  (13)  seek,  etc., 
Le.  xxvi.  39,  40  ;  De.  xxx.  1  ;  Ps.  xxxii.  G.  (14)  be  found,  etc., 
comp.  De.  iv.  29,  30,  xxx.  1 — 5. 

Heart  sea>xhinf/s  (r.  13). — I.  Man,  ihrough  all  ages  of  time, 
has  been  influenced  by  a  principle  of  reform,  so  all  spiritual 
l^rogress  must  be  the  outcome  of  diligent  searching.  II.  This 
searching  is  the  child  of  necessity.  III.  The  searching  to  be 
successful  must  be  thorough.  Apjjly  : — 1.  The  ultimate  and  in- 
evitable object  of  search  ;  2.  The  certainty  of  success  assured, 
dependent  only  upon  one  condition  named,  earnestness  ;  3. 
Searching  is  not  always  strenuous  exertion,  study  the  might  of 
systematic  inaction  ;  4.  Note  the  individual  reference  of  the 
text. 

Address  to  elder  scholars. — You  are  feeling  much  your  need  of 
salvation,  but  you  do  not  feel  it  more,  or  indeed  so  much,  as  you 
really  need  it.    (We  should  try  to  keep  up,  and  deepen  earnest 


handed  togetlier 
apainst  the  coun- 
try tliat  was  for 
tlie  time  their 
li  o  m  e,  and 
cherishing  feel- 
ings of  liatred 
towards  those 
v.'itli  wliom  tliey 
were  every  day 
brought  into  con- 
tact."— Spk.  Com, 


r.    7.    A. 
573. 


Fuller, 


"  Ml  true  opin- 
ions are  living, 
and  show  their 
life  hy  being 
capable  of  nou- 
rishment ;  tliere- 
fore  of  ch.Tuge. 
But  their  ch.inge 
is  that  of  a  tree, 
not  of  a  cloud." 
— Runkin. 

b  Cheever. 


"What  is  truth?" 
was  once  asked 
of  a  deaf  and 
dumb  boy.  lie 
moved  his  finger 
in  a  straight  line. 
"  What  is  false- 
hood?"  He 
male  a  zigzag 
motion  with  his 
linger.  Truth 
is  the  straight 
line,  falsehood  is 
the  crooked  way. 


r?).  12,  13.  /. 
&lade,  v.  19. 

a     T.  H.    B.,    in 

Analyst. 

"  The  truth  is 
infinite  as  the 
firmament  above 
you.  In  child- 
hood both  seem 
near  and  measur- 
able ;  but  with 
years  they  grow 
and  grow  ;  and 
seem  further  off, 
ar.d  further,  and 
grander,  and 
tleeper,  and  vast- 
er, as  God  Him- 
self ;     till     you 


110 


JEREMIAB. 


[Cap.  xxlx.  15-23, 


smile  to  remem- 
ber how  you 
thought  you 
could  touch  the 
sky,  airl  blusji 
to  recollect  the 
proud  auil  self- 
SulTicient  way  in 
■which  you  u^eil 
to  tiUk  of  know- 
ins:  or  preachinjf 
•Tlie  Trutli.'  "— 
F.  W.  Robertson. 

No  Christian 
man,  through  the 
operation    of 

grace,  loses  his 
identity ;  he  still 
retain?  some  pe- 
cialiai-itios  of  liis 
former  character. 
We  may  trace  in 
Paul  the  Apostle 
the  lineaments  of 
Saul  the  perse- 
cutor. 

6  Hive. 

"To  play  with 
Important 
truths,  to  dis- 
turb the  repose 
of  established  te- 
nets, to  subtilise 
objections,  and 
elude  proof,  is 
too  often  the 
sport  of  youthful 
vanity,  of  which 
maturer  expei-i- 
ence  commonly 
repents.  There 
is  a  time  when 
every  man  is 
weary  of  raisinar 
difficulties  only 
to  task  himself 
with  their  solu- 
tion, and  desires 
to  enjoy  truth 
without  the 
labour  or  hazard 
of  contest." — Dr. 
Siimuel  Johnson. 

a  Checver. 


a  "Burninpc  alive 
wag  a  mole  of 
punishment  cus- 
tomary among 
the  Chahhuaus." 
— Ilendfrson. 

b  Is.  xxxii.  6. 

Believers  are 
Gods . workman- 


feeling'  ;  injury  may  be  done  by  comforting'  too  soon.)  God  and 
Christ  and  the  Holy  Spirit  are  much  more  anxious  about  your 
salvation  than  you  are.  (See  Jer.  xxix.  11.)  Illustrating  the 
Divine  anxiety  for  salvation  of  men  :  the  Father  devises  the 
plan^tho  San  executes  it  at  cost  of  humiliation,  sacrilice,  and 
death — the  Holy  Ghost  has  been  striving  with  you  a  long-  time, 
until  almost  grieved  and  quenched.  Do  you  say,  But  why  make 
this  condition,  ■'  When  ye  shall  search  for  Me  with  all  your 
heart"  .'  Surely  if  you  are  really  in  earnest  you  would  not  wish 
to  bring  to  God  half  a  heart.  This  is  the  real  difficulty  :  we  are 
so  unwilling  to  seek  God  wholly,  to  give  all  for  Christ,  to  j^ield 
unto  Him  body,  soul,  aad  spirit.  To  help  you  in  getting  your 
whole  soul  united  in  seeking  God,  ponder  these  considerations. 
1.  The  priceless  value  of  the  soul ;  2.  The  shortness  and  un- 
certainty of  life  ;  3.  The  sadness  and  bitterness  of  sin  ;  4.  Your 
utter  helplessness  in  saving  yourself  ;  n.  The  full  and  sufficient 
salvation  provided  in  Jesus  Christ.  If  your  heart  is  wholly  set 
upon  the  search  for  God.  it  will  be  manifested  by  such  things  as 
these  : — (1)  The  immediate  and  resolute  giving  up  of  all  sin  ;  (2) 
The  earnestness  of  your  own  personal  decision  for  Christ  ;  (3) 
The  importunity  with  which  you  carry  your  cry  for  mercy  and 
salvation  to  the  throne  of  the  heavenly  grace.  Let  then  your 
whole  heart  seek.* 

15 — 19.  (lo)  ye  liave  said,  these  denunciations  are  addressed 
to  the  false  prophets.  (IG)  king  that  sitteth,  Zedekiah.  who 
was  not  the  actual  king  while  Jeconiah  lived.  (17)  vile  figs, 
ch.  xxiv.  8.  (18)  persecute  them,  ch.  xxiv.  9,  alsoxix.  8,  xxv. 
18.     (19)  becatise,  etc.,  ch.  xxv.  4.  xxxii.  33. 

I?c,tculH/j  a  droivmng  hoy. — The  Rev.  Blr.  Kelly,  of  the  town  of 
Ayr,  once  preached  an  excellent  sermon  from  the  parable  of  the 
man  who  fell  among  thieves.  He  was  i^articularly  severe  on  the 
conduct  of  the  priest,  who  saw  him,  and  ministered  not  unto 
him,  but  passed  by  on  the  other  side  ;  and.  in  an  animated  and 
pathetic  flow  of  eloquence,  he  exclaimed,  "  "What !  not  even  the 
servant  of  the  Almighty  !  he  whose  tongue  was  engaged  in  the 
work  of  charity,  whose  bosom  was  appointed  the  seat  of  brotherly 
love,  whose  heart  the  emblem  of  pity  :  did  he  refuse  to  stretch 
forth  his  hand,  and  to  take  the  mantle  from  his  shoulders  to 
cover  the  nakedness  of  woe  'J  If  he  refused,  if  the  shepherd  him- 
self went  astray,  was  it  to  be  wondered  at  that  the  flock  followed  .' " 
Such  were  the  precepts  of  the  preacher,  and  he  practised  what  he 
preached.  The  next  day,  when  the  river  was  much  increased,  a 
boy  was  swe^it  overboard  from  a  small  boat  by  the  force  of  the 
current.  A  great  concourse  of  people  were  assembled,  but  none 
of  them  attempted  to  save  the  boy  ;  when  Mr.  Kelly  threw  him- 
self from  his  chamber  window  into  the  cui'rent,  and  at  the  hazard 
of  his  own  life  saved  that  of  the  boy." 

20—23.  (20,  21)  Ahab  . .  Zedekiah,  false  prophets,  not 
otherwise  known.  (22)  roasted,  cutii]).  Da.  iii.  G."  (23) 
villany,  folly,  or  lewdness.* 

Ilijpocritcx  nfcldnff  iltcir  own  adrantage. — God  is  in  the  hypo- 
crite's mouth,  but  the  world  is  in  his  heart,  which  he  expects  to 
gain  through  his  good  reputation.  I  have  read  of  one  that 
offered  his  prince  a  great  sum  of  money  to  have  leave  once  or 
twice  a  day  to  come  into  his  presence,  and  only  say,  •'  God  save 


Cap.  xxix.  24-32.] 


JEREMIAH. 


Ill 


yonr  Majesty  ! "  T'ne  prince,  wondering-  at  this  large  offor  for  so 
Binall  a  favour,  asked  him,  "  What  advantage  would  this  afford 
him  .' "  "  0  sii-e,"  saith  he,  "  this,  though  I  have  nothing  else  at 
your  hands,  will  get  me  a  name  in  the  country  for  one  who  is  a 
great  favourite  at  court,  and  such  an  opinion  will  help  me  to 
more  at  the  year's  end  than  it  costs  me  for  the  purchase."  Thus 
some,  by  the  name  they  get  for  great  saints,  advance  their 
worldly  interests,  which  lie  at  the  bottom  of  all  their  profession.^' 

24 — 29.  (24)  to  Shemaiali,  a  false  prophet.  Nehelamite, 
or  from  the  village  of  Nehlem."  Shemaiali  is  onlj'  known  through 
this  passage.  (25)  letters,  prob.  one  to  the  people,  and  a  sepa- 
rate and  private  one  to  the  priest.  (2G)  officers,  lieb.  j^dkids; 
having  the  overcharge  of  the  Temple.  Overseers  to  keep  order, 
mad,  c/c,  intimating  that  Jeremiah  was  in  such  a  state.  (27) 
reproved,  exerted  your  authority  in  silencing.  (28)  is  long, 
this  was  the  brunt  of  Jer."s  olfending.  The  false  prophets 
declared  there  would  be  a  speedy  return.  Jer.  said  No,  not  for 
many  long  years.  (29)  read  this  letter,  whether  in  a  kindly 
spirit,  or  to  annoy  the  Prophet,  does  not  appear. 
Guards  agcunst  deceit. — 

For  the  dull  world  most  homage  pays  to  those 

Who  on  their  understanding  most  impose. 

First  man  creates,  and  then  he  fears  th'  elf  ; 

Thus  others  cheat  him  not,  but  he  himself. 

He  hates  realities,  and  hugs  the  cheat, 

And  still  the  only  pleasures  the  deceit. 

So  meteors  flatter  with  a  dazzling  dye, 

Which  no  existence  has  but  in  the  eye. 

At  distance,  prospects  please  us,  but  when  near, 

We  find  but  degerb  rocks  and  fleeting  air  ; 

From  stratagem  to  stratagem  we  run, 

And  he  knows  most,  who  latest  is  undone  ; 

An  honest  man  will  take  a  knave's  advice, 

But  idiots  only  will  be  cozend  twice  ; 

Once  warned  is  well  bewared.* 

30—32.  (30,  81)  trust  .  .  lie,  in  an  utterly  false  representa- 
tion.    (32)  man  .  .  people,    none  of  his   posterity   should   be 
spared  to  return  to  their  own  land  again."     taught  rebellion, 
ch.  xxviii.  IB. 
Ilijpocrife. — 

Devoured  the  widow's  house  and  orphan's  bread ; 

In  holy  phrase,  transacted  villanies 

That  common  sinners  durst  not  meddle  with. 

At  sacred  feasts  he  sat  among  the  saints. 

And  with  his  guilty  hands  touched  holiest  things  : 

And  none  of  sin  lamented  more,  or  sighed 

More  deeply,  or  with  grave  countenance, 

Or  longer  prayer,  wept  o'er  the  dying  man, 

Whose  infant  children,  at  the  moment  he 

Pla,nned  how  to  rob.     In  sermon  style  ho  bought, 

And  sold,  and  lived  ;  and  salutations  made 

In  Scripture  terms.     He  prayed  by  quantity  ; 

And  with  his  repetitions  long  and  loud. 

All  knees  were  weary.     With  one  hand  he  put 

A  penny  in  the  urn  of  poverty, 


ship ;  anrl  tbeend 
of  all  His  works 
is  to  form  one 
v.ist  mirror  in 
which  to  reflect 
His  own  image. 

c  Guniall. 


a  "  The  site  of 
this  villa.are  is  un- 
kudwii.  This  was 
aiUiressed  to  She- 
niaiah  after  the 
messengers  who 
delivered  the 
former  message 
to  the  captives 
in  Babj'lon  were 
returned  home, 
and  they  brought 
the  letter  of  She- 
maiali mentioned 
in  the  following 
verse."— ioer/A. 
"  In  the  E.  mad- 
ness is  regarded 
as  sometliiiig  di- 
vine, and  many 
of  tlie  symbolical 
actions  of  the 
Prophets,  such  as 
that  of  Jeremiah 
going  about  w-ith 
a  yoke  on  his 
neck,  would  be 
mocked  at  by 
tlie  irreverent  as 
passing  the  line 
between  pro- 
phecy and  niiui- 
uess."~;Spk.  Com. 
V.  26.  J.  a  Lie- 
tei-ic,  Ant.&ZQ. 
b  Drydm. 

a  "  As  he  despised 
the  lawful  time, 
and  wished  to 
return  befure  the 
time  God  had 
expressly  an- 
nounced, in  just 
retribution  ha 
should  not  .share 
ii\  the  restoratioa 
from  Baliylon  at 
all." — Fuusiel. 

"  It  is  not  wrang- 
ling disputes  and 
syllogistical  rea- 
sonings tlial  are 
the  aiiglity  pil- 
lars M'liichun.ier- 
prop  truth  iu  tlie 
world  :  if  we 
would  but  un- 
derset it  with 
the  holiness  of 
our  hearts  and 
lives,  it    eUuuid 


112 


JKREifTAir. 


[Cap.  XXX.  1—3, 


never  fail.  Truth 
is  a  prevailing^ 
and  conqupring 
tliiii.ir.  ■Till!  would 
quickly  overcome 
the  world,  did 
not  tlie  eartlii- 
ness  of  our  dis- 
positions and  tlie 
darkness  of  our 
false  hearts  liin- 
der  it."  —  Cud- 
worth. 

Ton  are  sure  to 
do  all  things  spi- 
ritually, if  you 
live  in  the  spirit 
of  sousbip. 

6  Pollok. 


a  "The  joyful 
transition  is 
marked  by  a  sud- 
den cliange  from 
grave  and 
mournful  accents 
in  solemn  pros?, 
to  a  jubilant  out- 
burst of  poetic 
ecstasy.  "-JI'uMii- 
xcorth. 

6  Je.  iii.  18;  Eze. 
xxxvli.  6,  21,  22 ; 
Ho.i.  11. 

"We  may  ]iossess 
earthly  comforts; 
but  we  must  not 
be  possessed  by 
them :  we  may 
use  them  as  flow- 
ers to  smell,  but 
not  as  garlands 
to  crown  our- 
selves with  :  we 
may  as  pilgrims 
Waik  with  them, 
as  staves  iu  our 
hands,  seeking 
the  country 
vliich  is  above ; 
but  we  niiiy  not 
load  ourselves 
■with  them,  or 
bear  them  as 
bui'dens  ui)on  our 
backs :  we  may 
niake  them  our 
encouragement, 
but  not  our  con- 
fiiU'iico ;  we  may 
use  tliem  as  ac- 
cessories ;  but  we 
nnay  not  love 
them      as      our 


And  with  the  other  took  a  shilling-  out — 

On  charitable  lists, — thone  trumps  which  told 

The  public  ear  who  had  in  secret  done 

The  poor  a  benefit,  and  half  the  alms 

They  told  of,  took  themselves  to  keep  them  pounding. 

He  blazed  his  name,  more  jdeased  to  have  it  there 

Than  in  the  book  of  life.     Secst  thou  the  man  I 

A  serpent  with  an  ang-el's  voice  !  a  grave 

With  flowers  bestrewed  !  and  yet  few  were  deceived. 

His  virtues  beinof  overdone,  his  face 

Too  grave,  his  prayers  too  long,  his  charitiea 

Too  pomi)ous:ly  attended,  and  his  speech 

Larded  too  frequently,  and  out  of  time, 

"With  serious  phraseology — were  rents 

That  in  his  garments  opened  in  spite  of  him, 

Through  which  the  well-accustomed  eye  could  866 

The  rottenness  of  his  heart.* 


CHAFTER  THE  THIRTIETH. 

1 — 3.  (1)  word,  etc.,  different  in  tone  to  the  preceding 
"  words.""  This  prophecy  chiefly  concerns  the  restoration  of  the 
exiles.  (2)  in  a  book,  so  that  t\\cy  might  be  carried  to  the 
captives,  and  might  be  preserved  safely  until  the  time  of  their 
fulfilment.  (3)  Israel  and  Judah,  note  that  loth  sections  of 
the  people  of  Israel  are  included  in  the  promises  of  restoration.* 
In  ch.  xxxi.  distinct  messages  are  given,  first  to  the  ten  tribes, 
then  to  Judah. 

The  ejl'ect  of  mercy. — A  soldier  in  the  — th  regiment  of  our 
army,  a  fine,  gallant  fellow,  heard  of  the  severe  sickness  of  his 
wife.  He  applied  for  leave  of  absence,  but  was  refused.  The 
ofBcers  of  his  regiment  then  made  a  new  application  in  his 
behalf,  which  was  again  refused.  He  left  the  army  :  but  before 
he  got  away,  was  retaken  and  brought  in  as  a  deserter.  He  was 
tried,  found  guilty,  and  summoned  before  the  commanding  officer 
to  receive  his  sentence.  He  entered  the  tent— a  fine,  tall,  soldierly- 
looking  man — saluted,  and  stood  perfectly  unmoved,  while  the 
officer  read  his  fearful  doom  —  "To  be  shot  to  death  with 
mu.sketry  on  the  next  Friday."  Not  a  muscle  of  his  face  twitched, 
not  a  limb  quivered.  "  I  deserve  it,  sir,"  he  replied,  resi:)ectfully  ; 
•'  I  deserted  from  my  flag.  Is  that  all,  sir  ? "  "  No,"  replied  the 
officer;  "I  have  something  else  for  you  ;"  and  taking  another 
paper,  he  read' aloud  the  doomed  man's  pardon.  The  undaunted 
spirit,  whom  severity  had  failed  to  move,  was  comidetely  broken 
down  by  clemency.  He  dropped  to  tlie  ground  shaking,  .sobbing, 
and  overcome  ;  and  being  restored  to  his  regiment,  i^roved  him- 
self grateful  for  the  mercy  shown  him,  and  was  soon  promoted 
for  good  conduct.  There  are  many  who  say.  '•  'We  are  not  going 
to  be  frightened  into  religion."  and  Avho  profess  to  be  too  brave 
to  fear  Gods  wrath.  But  will  you  withstand  the  proffers  of  His 
grace  .'  If  you  shrink  not  from  the  curse  of  the  law,  will  j'ou 
not  hear  the  tender  entreaty  of  the  Cross .'  Ah  1  if,  like  the 
deserter,  you  really  heard  the  sentence  ringing  in  your  ears  :  if, 
like  him,  you  really  felt  that  you  deserved  it ;  if  you  knew  (hat 
the  execution  of  it  was  near  at  hand,  like  him  you  would  be 


Cap.  XXX.  4—17.] 


JEREMIAH. 


113 


principal  liappl- 
II  ess."  —  Sp  ur- 
sloife. 

c  American  Mes- 
senger. 


a  Henderson. 

b  Je.  \v.  31,  vi.  24; 
Xab.  ii.  10. 

c  Je.  xxiii.  5,  6. 

The  fullest  re- 
ference of  thi3 
term  must  be  to 
5Iessiah,in\vliom 
all  the  promises 
made  to  David 
were  to  be  ful- 
filled. 

Is.  Iv.  3,  4;  Eze. 
xx.\iv.  23,  xxxvii. 
24 ;  Ho.  iii.  5. 


W.  Strong, 


broken  down  by  the  voice  of  Jesns  saying,  "  Thy  sins  are  forgiven 
thee  ;"  gladly  would  you  welcome  the  gracious  pardon.  Shut 
not  your  cars  to  that  compassionate  voice.  Throw  yourself  at 
Jesus'  feet,  take  the  forgiveness  He  freely  offers,  and  let  your 
life  henceforth  show  that  His  grace  has  not  been  bestowed  in 
vain." 

4—9.  (4.  .5)  voice  of  trembling,  "  depicting  the  state  of 
teiTor  into  which  the  Jews  were  thrown  on  the  approach  of  the 
Medo-Persian  army  to  the  attack  on  Babylon.""  They  feared 
the  approach  of  Cyrus,  who  nevertheless  was  to  be  their  deliverer. 
(())  a  man,  or  a  male.  The  men  seemed  as  full  of  trouble  as 
women  in  the  time  of  childbirth.'  paleness,  one  sign  of  fright. 
(7)  that  day,  the  day  when  Babjdon  is  captured.  (8)  break 
his  yoke,  i.e.  the  yoke  of  Babylon,  serve  themselves,  exact 
forced  labour  :  hold  in  bondage.  (9)  David  their  king,  or 
the  Siirout  of  David." 

Trust  in  the  nwrey  of  God  {Wilkiv.WTi's  dying  cn7)fe.t,iio7i).— 
When  the  venerable  Mr.  Wilkinson  had  nearly  reached  the  close 
of  his  life,  he  said  to  a  relative  who  came  to  vi.^it  him,  and  who 
attemjited  to  cheer  him  by  referring  to  his  Christian  character, 
"  Ah,  you  cannot  see  my  heart.  It  has  always  been  my  endeavour 
not  only  to  abstain  from  evil,  but  from  all  appearance  of  evil  : 
but  I  would  be  jealous  of  my  own  heart.  The  heart  is  deceitful 
above  all  things,  and  desperately  wicked  :  who  can  know  it  ? 
Well,  I  must  do  as  I  have  done  ten  thousand  times  befoz-e  under 
such  feelings,  cast  myself  entirely  on  the  mercy  of  God  :  '  G  od 
be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner  ' — the  vilest  of  sinners  :  and  after  all 
I  have  received,  a  most  ungrateful  sinner  1  I  shall  never  get 
beyond  that  prayer." 

10—13.  (10)  fear.  .  not,  eo7}ip.  Is.  xli.  13.  xliii.  5,  xliv.  1. 
from  afar,  even  '•  from  the  most  distant  provinces  of  the  Chal- 
da^an  empire."  in  rest,  having  external  peace  and  internal  j  Jews  in  Baby  1 
quietness  and  order.  (11)  full  end,  ch.  iv.  27,  v.  18.  correct 
.  .  measure,  ch.  x.  2:5,  24.  (12)  bruise,  etc..  ch.  xvii.  !).  Only 
to  be  cured  by  such  extreme  afflictions  and  chastisements, 
■wound  is  grievous,  ch.  x.  19,  xiv.  17,  xv.  18.  (13)  bound 
up,  or  for  the  pressing  together  of  thy  wound.  None  can  help 
or  heal." 

(rod's  fjraciovs  designs  tn^rards  His  chosc7i  people  (vr.  10,  11). — 
Observe  then — I.  That  God  has  glorious  things  in  reserve  for 
His  chosen  people.  1.  For  the  Jewish  people  :  2.  For  His  people 
afar  off  among  the  nation.s.  II.  That  even  His  darkest  dispensa- 
tions towards  them  are  intended  for  their  good.  1.  This  was, 
and  still  is,  the  case  M'ith  respect  to  the  Jews  ;  2.  And  may  we 
not  see  the  hand  of  God  ordering  and  overruling  everything  for 
our  good  ?  III.  That  His  presence  with  them  is  their  never- 
failing  security.  Exhort — (1)  Those  who  are  afar  off;  (2)  Those 
who  are  visited  with  any  great  affliction  ;  (3)  Those  who  are 
under  discouragement  of  any  kind.* 

14 — 17.  (14)  lovers,  i.e.  the  nations  which  formerlv  sought  "■  "God  conde- 
the  alliance  of  Judah.  esp.  Assyria  and  Egypt,  seek  thee  not,  fan^ua'^e.arla'^ted 
to  .'how  any  concern  for  thy  distress,  of  a  cruel  one,  i.e.  with  ^  Ijiiman  '  con- 
a  severity  which  looks  like  cruelty."  (1.5)  criest  thou,  ]>lead-  U  e  p  t  i  o  ns."— • 
ing  as  if  I  had  dealt  unjustly  with  thee  :  ch.  xv.  18.*  sorrow,  ^ausset. 
or  bodily  pain.    (16)  therefore,  or  surely,    be  devoured,  God 

VOL.  ix.    O.I.  H 


V.  7. 
164. 


A  man  is  estima- 
ted,in  God's  bock, 
at  wliat  his  love 
is  1o  Christ,  and 
uo  more. 


a  "  So  desperatp 
were  the  circum- 
tances     of     tlie 


while  enduring 
the  punisliment 
God  had  inflicted 
upon  them  for 
their  crimes,  that 
no  human  inter- 
jiosition  which 
they  could  ra- 
tionally expect, 
could  avail  for 
their  deliver- 
ance." —  Hender- 
son. 

It  is  a  good  sign 
when  you  love 
those  most  ia 
whom  you  see 
most  of  Christ. 

b  C.  Simeon,  M.A. 


114 


J  ERE  in  An. 


[Cap.  XXX.  18—22. 


h  "  i'lie  fuiilt  is 
in  tliysolf,  not  in 
Jle  ;  anil  the 
renipdyisin  thine 
own  hands.  Turn 
to  Jle  by  reijent- 
ance.  and  tliou 
Bhalt  be  liealed." 
—  Wordsworth. 

V.  17.  ir.  .A.  nai- 
ler, ii.  133;  lii>. 
Armstrong,  249. 

c  Archer  Sutler, 
M.A. 


a  "Generally 

there  was  a  castle 
or  citadel  in  the 
miildle  of  the  an- 
cient cities,  upon 
a  rising  ground, 
for  the  greater 
strength  and  se- 
curity of  the 
place." — Lowth. 


h  "  It  is  not  only 
foretold  that  a 
native  governor 
should  be  set 
over  the  house  of 
Israel,  but  that 
he  should  be  dis- 
tinguislicdforhis 
piety.  "-A'oi.//n//. 


V.  21.  Ii.  Ersl-ine, 
ii.  358;  Ji.  Bull, 
V.  277  ;  J.  Ailing, 
Op.  ii.  4,  128. 


c  R.  Cecil,  M.A. 


"  Truth  is  a  mir- 
ror which  reflects 
objects  that  pass 
before  it,  without 
addition,  diminu- 
tion, or  altera- 
tion in  any  sense 
or  degree  what- 
soever. It  is  a 
pure,  cry  s tal 
stream,  which 
shows  in  her 
depths  the  e.\act 
image  of  things 
as  they  may 
stand  on  her 
bank  s."  — John 
Mate. 


would  raise  up  Cyrus  ai^ainst  ihcm.  and  so  secure  the  deliverance 
of  His  people.  (17)  restore  health,  since  even  the  incurable 
God  can  cure,     outcast,  or  "  one  put  away  and  rejected." 

The  licstt'ircr  of  mankind  (r.  17). — How  deep  are  the  wants 
which  our  faith  supplies,  and  how  wide  is  the  feeling-  of  the 
beauty  and  the  power  of  the  remedy.  1.  Faith  in  the  C'hn.'itian 
sacrifice  and  its  attendant  revelation  of  the  Divine  character 
alone  answer  the  demands  of  the  heart  and  reason  of  man  for  a 
higher  state  of  moral  })erfection  ;  2.  Christianity  offers  to  main- 
tain a  communication  between  this  world  and  that  eternal  world 
of  holiness  and  truth  ;  8.  Faith  contirms  and  directs  that  prin- 
cii)le  of  hope  which  even  in  our  daily  life  we  are  per])etually 
forced  to  substitute  for  happiness  :  4.  But  above  all  its  recom- 
mendations to  the  wants  and  solicitudes  of  man,  the  Gospel 
commends  itself  by  the  adorable  object  which  it  presents  to  our 
affection." 

18—22.  (18)  Jacob's  tent,  ch.  iv.  20.  The  term  "tent"  is 
perhaps  iised  to  indicate  the  temporaiy  character  of  their  dwell- 
ings in  Chahhea.  own  heap,  or  '-iittle  hill."  Heb.  frl.  Re- 
ferring  to  Mount  Zion."  palace  .  .  remain,  or  "  each  palace 
shall  be  inhabited  suitably.  (19)  thanksgiving,  such  would 
be  becoming  to  the  restored  and  redeemed  people,  not  small, 
or  not  lightly  esteemed.  (20)  aforetime,  as  in  the  prosperous 
days  of  David.  (21)  of  themselves,  the  governors  shall  be 
natives,  not  foreigners.  Reference  is  to  Zerubbabel,  a  prince  of 
the  house  of  David,  draw  near,  as  a  specially  favoured  one.* 
engaged  his  heart,  the  sign  of  sincerity  and  earnestness.  (22) 
my  people,  ch.  x^xiv.  7. 

Enconrngrmcnt  to  seek  after  God  (v.  21). — From  this  passage  I 
shall  call  your  attention  to  the  following  propositions  : — ] .  That 
it  is  man's  grand  privilege  that  he  can  approach  unto  God  ;  2. 
That  he  has  from  Scripture  a  special  warrant  to  draw  near  to 
God  ;  3.  That  God  engages  for  the  success  of  that  man  who  thus 
seeks  to  approach  unto  Him.'' 

Egyptian-  hricloi. — The  bricks  anciently  used  by  the  Egyptians 
in  the  erection  of  their  cities  and  dwellings  were  made  of  clay, 
bound  together  with  chopped  straw,  and  baked  in  the  sun.  Such 
were  the  bricks  which  the  Israelites  were  employed  in  making. 
Their  composition  was  necessarily  perishable,  and  explains  why 
it  is  that  no  remains  of  the  ancient  cities  of  Egypt  are  to  be 
found.  They  would,  indeed,  last  longer  in  the  dry  climate  of 
that  country  than  in  any  other  ;  but  even  there  they  must 
gradually  decay  and  crumble  to  dust,  and  the  cities  so  constructed 
become  heaps.  Of  precisely  the  same  materi.tls  are  the  villages 
of  Egypt  built  at  this  day.  "  Village  after  village,"  says  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Jowett,  speaking  of  Tentyra,  '•  built  of  unburut  brick, 
crumbling  into  ruins,  and  giving  jilace  to  new  habitations,  have 
raised  the  earth  in  some  parts  nearly  to  the  level  of  the  summit 
of  the  temple.  In  every  part  of  Egypt  we  find  the  towns  built 
in  this  manner,  upon  the  ruins,  or  rather  the  rubbish,  of  the 
former  habitations.  The  expression  in  Jer.  xxx.  18  literally 
applies  to  Egypt,  in  the  meanest  sense  :  and  the  expression  in 
Job  XV.  28  might  be  illustrated  by  many  of  these  deserted 
hovels  :  '  He  dwelleth  in  desolate  cities,  and  in  houses  which  no 
'  xnan  iuhabiteth,  which  are  ready  to  become  heaps.'  " 


Cap.  szsi.  1—5.] 


JEREMIAH. 


115 


23,  24.  (23)  -whirlwind,  etc.,  2  Ki.  ii.  1  ;  comp.  Je.  xxiii. 
19.  20.  continuing",  or  a  cutting.  (2i)  latter  days,  first 
referring-  to  tiie  restoration  times  and  then  to  the  times  of 
Messiah. 

iJod'n  incs>iengcrs. — 

God  sent  His  singers  upon  earth 
With  songs  of  .sadness  and  of  mirth. 
That  they  might  touch  the  hearts  of  men, 
And  bring  them  back  to  heaven  again. 

The  first,  a  youth,  with  soul  of  fire, 

Held  in  his  hand  a  golden  lyre  ; 

Through  groves  he  wandered,  and  by  streams, 

Playing  the  music  of  our  dreams. 

The  second,  with  a  bearded  face, 
Stood  singing  in  the  market-place, 
And  stirred  with  accents  deep  and  loud 
The  hearts  of  all  the  listening  crowd. 

A  grey  old  man,  the  third  and  last. 
Sang  in  cathedrals  dim  and  vast, 
"While  the  majestic  organ  i-olled 
Contrition  from  its  mouths  of  gold. 

And  those  who  heard  the  singers  three 
Disputed  which  the  best  might  be  ; 
For  still  their  music  seemed  to  start 
Discordant  echoes  in  each  heart. 

But  the  Great  Master  said. — ■'  I  see 

No  best  in  kind  but  in  degree  ; 

I  give  a  various  gift  to  each, 

To  charm,  to  strengthen,  and  to  teach. 

These  are  the  three  great  chords  of  night, 
And  he  whose  ear  is  tuned  aright, 
"Will  hear  no  discord  in  the  three, 
But  the  most  perfect  hannony." 

CHAPTER  TIIE  THIRTY-FIRST. 

1 — 5.  (1)  same  time,  l.c.  in  the  latter  days  mentioned  ch. 
XXX.  21.  be  the  God,  be  manifcsthj  their  God  through  My 
intervention  on  their  behalf :  ch.  xxx.  22.  (2)  left  of  the 
sword,  referring  either  to  the  ancient  deliverance  from  Egj^pt, 
or  figuratively  to  the  restoration  from  Babylon."  went  .  .  rest, 
or  planned  to  guide  him  to  the  rest  of  Canaan.  (3)  of  old, 
msirg.from  afai',''  or  in  the  olden  time,  everlasting  love,  so 
as  truly  covering  and  blessing  thee  now  as  then,  drawn  thee, 
from  this  last  captivity."  (4)  tabrets,  alluding  to  Ex.  xv.  20. 
(5)  common,  or  abundant  things.  The  mountains  of  Samaria 
are  those  of  Israel. 

'J'/w  attract  he  force  pf  Blniiclofe  (v.  3).— I.  Divine  love — 1.  In 
its  object ;  2.  In  its  measure  ;  3.  In  its  duration.  II.  Divine 
attraction — 1.  In  its  nature  ;  2.  In  its  means.  Apply  : — (1) 
Let  saints  rejoice  in  the  Divine  love  ;  (2)  Let  sinners  yield  to  the 
Divine  attraction.'' 

Eastern  dunces. — Sj^eaking  of  the  Greek  dances,  and  particu- 
h2 


"  We  sliould  echo 
in  our  thankful- 
ness the  first  inti- 
mation that  God 
gives  in  His  pro- 
vidence of  an  ap- 
proacl  ling  mercy, 
ifyouilobuthear 
wlien  the  Idug  is 
on  liis  road  to- 
wards your  town, 
you  raise  your 
bells  to  ring  him 
in,  and  stay  not 
till  he  be  entered 
the  gates.  The 
birds  they  rise 
betimes  in  the 
morning,  and  are 
saluting  the 
rising  sun  with 
their  sweet  notes 
in  the  air.  Thus 
should  we  strilce 
up  our  Iiarps  in 
praising  God  at 
the  first  appear- 
ance of  a  mercy." 
— Gurnall. 

"  The  grand,  and 
indeed  the  only, 
character  of 
truth,  is  its  ca- 
pability of  en- 
during the  test 
of  universal  e.x- 
p  e  r  i  e  n  c  e,  and 
coming  un- 
changed out  of 
every  possible 
form  of  fair 
discussion." — air 
Jvlin  Ileiscltel. 

a  LongfeUow. 


a  "The  Eahy- 
lonish  captivity 
may  fitly  be 
spoken  of  figu- 
ratively as  a  wil- 
ilerncss  state." — 
Henderson. 

b  "  Israel  grate- 
fully  acknow- 
ledges in  reply 
Gild's  past  grace; 
but  at  the  same 
time  tacitly  im- 
plies bj'  the  ex- 
pression of  old, 
that  God  does 
not  appear  to  her 
now." — Fausset, 

c"  Or, 'Therefore 
I    draw    out,    I 


116 


JEnEMIAII. 


[Cap.  xxxl.e— 17. 


prolong,  or  ox- 
tonil,  p'^rppt'iiiil 
Ioiii;-^!utfcri  iifr 
ami  love  towanl 
thee."  —  Words- 
worth. 

d  0.  Brooks. 

e  Shaw. 


a  "  Tlio  schism  of 
Jeroboam  sliall 
be  li^ulcj  in  thi! 
captivity.  Tlie 
envy  of  fipliraim 
and  Juiiali  sliall 
ceasu  in  those 
happy  times." — 
Wordsicorlh. 

h  De.  xxvi.  ID. 

*  "The  house  of 
Joseph  is  thus  to 
be  restored  to  its 
old  pre  -  emi- 
nence."-.Spi.  Com. 

d  C.  Simeon,  M. A. 

Nature  is  true  to 
itself,  and  so  is 
grace ;  the  ox  is 
not  better  known 
by  its  lowing,  nor 
a  lion  by  its  roar, 
than  a  Cliristiau 
by  his  holy  life. 

«  A  T.  S. 


a  "  The  Jews 
call  all  countries 
islands  wh.  they 
go  to  by  sea." — 
Lomlh. 

h  "In  Jerusalem 
they  would  be 
occupied  with 
religious  duties, 
but  after  these 
are  rendered  to 
God,  they  are  to 
disperse  each  to 
his  own  fields." — 
;S>)/.-.  Com. 
e  1  Sa.  ii.  28. 

a  JIat.  ii.  18. 

b  "By  a  beautiful 
figure,  Il:ichcl, 
the  mother  of 
the  Kphraimites, 
wlio  was  buried 
at  this  pl.ace,  is 
personified,  and 
represented  as 
risen  from  her 
grave,  and  bit 
terly    lomeuling 


larly  of  that  called  the  crane.  Dr.  Chandler  says  :  •'  The  peasants 
peri'orm  it  yearly  in  the  streets  of  the  Greek  convent,  at  the  con- 
clusion of  the  viiitasre,  joininc:  hands,  and  preceding  their  mules 
and  their  asses,  which  ai"C  laden  with  grajies  in  ]ianuiers.  in 
a  veiy  curved  and  intricate  manner,  the  leader  waving-  a  hand- 
kerchief, which  has  been  imagined  to  denote  the  clue  given  by 
Ariadne."' 

6 — 9.  (G)  watclimen,  "these  were  placed  on  heights  at  the 
time  of  the  new  moon  to  give  first  notice  of  its  appearance." 
up  to  Zion,  both  sections  of  the  nation,  Israel  and  Judah, 
uniting  in  the  sacred  festivals."  (7)  among',  or  because  of  tho 
restoration  of  Israel,  regarded  as  the  chief  of  the  nations'"  (8) 
north  country,  the  Chaldajan  districts  to  which  Israel  had 
been  carried  :  ch.  iii.  12.  IS.  COasts,  ch.  xxv.  32.  thither,  to 
Palestine.  (9)  weeping,  that  of  gladness,  not  of  sorrow, 
supplications,  indicating  a  right  spirit  of  depeitdence  on  God. 
■walk  .  .  rivers,  indicating  full  su|)ply  during  their  desert; 
journey.    Ephraim  .  .  firstborn,  1  Chro.  v.  1,  2.' 

Chrinfinn  pi///rim.'i  (rr.  8,  !)). — I.  Their  character.  The  text 
implies — 1.  That  there  is  no  discouragement  which  God  will  not 
enable  us  to  surmount ;  2.  That  God  has  chosen  those  who  are 
in  the  most  discouraging  circumstances  on  purpose  that  His  own 
power  may  be  the  more  displayed  and  glorified.  II.  Their 
journey  is  here  described — 1.  In  its  commencement :  2.  In  its 
progress.  Address — (1)  Those  who  yet  are  in.  a  state  of  bondage  ; 
2.  Those  who  are  travelling  towards  Ziou.'' 

Arclihisliop  Leigh  ton.. — In  1018.  it  was  a  question  asked  of  the 
brethren,  at  the  meetings  of  ministers  twice  in  the  year,  "  If 
they  pi-cached  the  duties  of  the  times  ?"  And  when  it  was  found 
that  Leighton  did  not,  he  was  reproved  for  this  omission  ;  but  he 
replied,  ''  If  all  the  brethren  have  preached  on  the  times,  may 
not  one  poor  brother  be  suffered  to  preach  on  eternity  .'  "' 

10 — 14.  (10)  nations,  the  pagan  nations,  isles,  aS'  before, 
the  coast-lands  of  the  Mediterranean."  HI)  was  stronger, 
while  God  withheld  from  Israel  His  defence  and  help.  (12) 
flow,  like  a  river  from  Zion  for  the  cultivation  and  refreshing 
of  the  land.*  watered,  garden,  fresh  and  growing,  Is.  Iviii.  li. 
(13)  to  joy,  at  being  settled  in  their  own  land  and  under  God's 
blessings.  (14)  satiate,  i.e.  fully  satisfy,  fatness,  through 
the  great  abundance  of  the  thank-offerings." 

GofVs  r/ootlncfn  .wfi.-ifijing  (r.  11). — I.  The  objects  of  His  Divine 
complacency,— "  My  people."  II.  The  measure  of  their  joy. — 
"  shall  be  satisfied."  III.  The  source  of  their  delight, — "  My 
goodness." 

15 — 17.  (\r>)  voice  .  .  Ramall,"  "This  is  a  poetical  figure, 
representing  in  a  dramatic  form  the  miserable  condition  of  the 
kingdom  of  Ephraim  devastated  by  the  sword  of  the  Assyrians. 
Ramah  is  in  Benjamin,  two  hours'  journey  from  Jerusalem.* 
Rachel,  as  mother  of  Benjamin,  Ephi-aim,  and  Jlanasseh.  she 
stands  as  mother  of  the  ten  tribes."  (K!)  rewarded,  the  reward 
of  mothers  is  for  their  cliildren  to  grow  up,  and  dwell  in  the 
land.     (17)  in  thine  end,  ch.  xxix.  11.     For  thy  iiosterity. 

27ie  C/in.ff'uin'.i  liopr  in  ihc  drath  of  i»f/jnt.i  (vr.  lo.  It!). — I. 
Eachel's  sorrow,  death  of  infants,  affecting,  common,  few 
families  in  which  there  is  not  the  memory  of  a  lost  child.    II. 


Cap.  xxxi.  6—17.] 


JEREMIAH. 


117 


Ilaohers  consolation.  Apply — 1.  To  the  young-;  2.  To  parents; 
3.  Let  all  remember  that  none  but  little  children  enter  into  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.'' —  TIlc  captin-  Jews. — Briefly  allude  to  cir- 
cumstances under  which  the  words  of  text  were  spoken  :  while 
Ezekiel  was  prophesying  to  captive  Israel  in  ChaldcEa,  Jeremiah 
was  prophesying  in  Israel ;  the  former  preparing  the  captives 
for  their  return,  the  latter  encouraging  the  remnant  to  expect 
that  event.  Consider — I.  The  place  they  had  left.  The  promised 
land.  For  their  sins  God  had  permitted  their  captivity.  You 
are  now  surrounded  by  good  influences.  If  thoughtless,  God 
may  permit  the  loss  to  you  of  much  that  is  good.  Those  who 
see  this  will  grieve.  II.  The  place  they  had  gone  to.  Chaldaja, 
land  of  idolatry.  Left  home,  friends,  liberty  ;  and  worst  of  all, 
means  of  grace,  comfort,  instruction.  You  may  wander  to  the 
far  coiintry  (prodigal),  and  sigh  for  lost  good.  III.  The  hope  of 
their  return.  By  whom  entertained.  Old  friends,  teachers,  etc. 
How  brought  about.  Spirit  of  God  awakening  desire.  Memory 
recalling  the  past.  Providence  preparing  the  waj'.  Mercy 
calling.  Learn  : — 1.  Beware  of  indifference  ;  2.  Look  after  old 
scholars  who  have  wandered ;  3.  In  love  invite  them  back  ;  4. 
Pray  for  their  conversion." 

Historical  fi/pes  of  future  events. — It  is  worthy  of  note  that  in 
the  New  Testament  some  words  are  quoted  from  the  Prophets 
which  contain  no  prediction  at  all.  and  are  yet  spoken  of  as  being 
fulfilled,  because  the  event  to  which  they  allude  was  a  type  of 
that  to  which  they  are  applied.  Our  Lord,  and  after  Him  the 
Apostles,  laid  down  the  principle  that  past  history  may  re}.n-esent 
that  which  is  to  happen  hereafter.  Thus  the  Saviour  refers  to 
the  brazen  serpent,  and  to  Jonah  as  prefiguring  His  resurrection, 
and  even  the  time  of  it  on  the  third  day.  If  Paul  teaches  that 
Hagar  and  Ishmael  are  ty})ical  of  the  covenants ;  the  paschal 
lamb  of  Chrisfs  atoning  death  ;  the  passage  of  the  Red  Sea  of 
baptism  :  the  smitten  rock  of  Christ ;  the  author  of  the  Epistle 
to  the  Hebrews,  St.  Peter  in  his  allusion  to  the  deluge,  and  St. 
John  in  his  mystical  application  of  the  names  Sodom,  Egypt, 
and  Babylon,  confirm  the  principle  which  helps  us  to  inteipret 
passages  of  the  Old  Testament,  such  as  those  where  the  Messiah 
is  called  David,  and  to  understand  passages  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment where  what  was  spoken  of  David  is  applied  to  our  Lord. 
The  principle  also  solves  the  apparent  difficulty  of  the  two 
passages  cited  above, — a  difficulty  strongly  insisted  upon  by  the 
enemies  of  Christianity.  In  neither  case  does  St.  Matthew  quote 
predictions,  but  Hosea's  and  Jeremiah's  references  to  past  history. 
\Vlien  Hosea  said.  '•  Out  of  Egj'pt  have  I  called  My  Son,"  or  M'hen 
Jeremiah  spoke  of  Rachel  weej)ing  for  her  children,  neither  was 
uttering  a  prediction  of  the  future,  but  alluding  to  facts  long 
past.  Hosea  was  alluding  to  the  Exodus  eight  centuries  before, 
and  Jeremiah  to  the  carrying  away  of  the  ten  tribes  one  hundred 
years  before  he  wrote.  St.  Matthew,  therefore,  speaks  of  them 
as  being  fulfilled  in  the  only  way  in  which  facts  can  be  fulfilled, 
in  events  the  antitypes  of  those  referred  to.-'' 

Ilachcl  ivvepincj  fur  her  children. — 

Rachel  for  her  children  wailing, 
With  a  woe  how  unavailing 
Aught  to  soothe — and  comfort  failing 
To  assuage  her  moans. 


tlie  absence  of 
Ikt  desoeiiilants, 
who  hail  all  been 
carried  into 
exile."  —  Hender- 
son. 

c  "  The  imme- 
diate reference 
ol  the  allusion  is 
to  the  assem- 
blage at  Raniah 
of  lienjamin,  by 
the  captain  of  the 
ChaUUean  guard, 
of  the  unfortu- 
nate captives 
whiim  he  was 
carrying  away 
from  their  coun- 
try to  Babylon." 
—Dr.  W.  H.  Mill. 

V.  15.  Dr.  S. 
Clmrlres,  ii.  417 ; 
Dr.  8.  iliusse,  67  ; 
S.  Lavinglon,  ii. 
1U7;  Hi),  liorne, 
i.  287 ;  C.  J. 
Hoare,  1)5. 

d  J.  H.  Stewart. 
M.A. 

e  Hive. 

Rachel,  the  an- 
cestral mother  of 
the  Israelites.was 
buried  near  Ita- 
mah,  on  the  way 
to  Bethlehem. 
The  figure  of 
speech  by  which 
slie  is  made  to  ty- 
pify or  imperso- 
nate the  weeping 
mothers  who,  at 
Bethlehem, 
mourned  over 
their  lost  ones, 
refusing  to  be 
comforted,  is  pe- 
culiarly touching 
and  beautiful. 
The  m  o  t  h  e  r's 
love  in  every  age 
and  clime  is  the 
fame,  and  the 
grief  of  a  mother 
over  hfci'  de<ad  is, 
of  all  sorrow,  the 
most  helpless  and 
un  con  solable. 
But  even  this  has 
its  balm.  Could 
those  stricken 
mothers  have 
known  that  Jesus 
lived,  that  in  the 
heartless  slaugh- 
ter of  their  little 
ones  the  Savioiir 
of  the  world  had 
been    spared,  to 


118 


JEREMlAn. 


[Cap,  xxsl.  18-21* 


fulfil  His  mission 
of  R  e  (1  e  e  m  n  r, 
they  might  have 
smiled  even  amid 
their  tears. 

"  The  voice  of 
weeping.  —  The 
air  is  full  of 
farewells  to  the 
dying,  and 
mournings  for 
the  dead  ;  the 
heart  of  Kachel, 
for  her  children 
crying,  will  not 
be  comforted." — 
Lonij/ellow, 


fA.McCaul. 


"When  we  would 
convince  men  of 
an  error  by  the 
strength  of 
truth,  let  us 
withal  pour  the 
sweet  balm  of 
love  upon  their 
heads.  Truth  and 
love  are  two  of 
the  most  power- 
ful things  in  the 
world  ;  and  when 
they  both  go  to- 
gether they  can- 
not easily  be 
withstood.  The 
golden  beams  of 
tnith  and  the 
silken  cords  of 
love  twisted  to- 
gether will  draw 
men  on  with  a 
secret  violence, 
whether  they 
will  or  no." — 
Cudwoiili. 

a  "Ephraim  ac- 
knowledged that 
he  hail  been  chas- 
tised rightly,  and 
for  his  good,  bee, 
like  an  untrained 
steer,  he  had  re- 
sisted Jeliovah's 
will." — Spk.  Com. 


6  "Chastisements 
are  effects  of  dis- 
pleasure, I  ut  not 
of  a  displeasure 
intended  for  the 
destruction  of  its 
object,  but  the 
«me  ndmcnt." — 
Rob,  Hull. 


The  Jewish  mother,  Ramahs  daughter, 
When  her  babes  were  given  to  slaughter, 
Saw  their  pure  young  blood,  like  water, 
Poured  upon  the  stones. 

'Midst  her  martyred  infants  kneeling, 
High  the  wail  of  anguished  feeling, 
Mother's  love  and  woe  revealing, 

Thrilled  upon  the  air  ; 
Then  were  seen  bright  angels  bending 
O'er  the  slain, — white  wings  extending 
To  waft  the  spirits  heavenward  tending,— 

She  has  found  them  there. 

But,  ah  !  the  children  of  my  sorrow, 
Night  is  theirs — no  hopeful  morrow  ; 
Alas  !  worn  heart,  where  wilt  thou  borrow 

Words  tliy  grief  to  show  ? 
Oh,  my  sons  !  ere  sin  beguiling 
Plunged  you  into  depths  defiling 
Of  intemperance — treacherous  smiling— 

Gulf  of  sin  and  woe  I 

Ye  were  innocent  and  loving. 
Mother's  deepest  yearnings  moving  ; 
Her  soft  arms  and  bosom  proving 

Shelter  still,  and  rest. 
Babes  of  Bethlehem,  loved  and  cherished. 
Would  my  babes  like  you  had  perished  1 
Eeft  while  .sinless,  spotless,  cherished, 

From  the  mother's  breast. 

They  were  spared,  were  fostered,  nourished, 
Plants  of  hoi)e,  they  bloomed  and  flourished, 
Yet  they  withered,  fell,  and  perished 

In  their  summer  prime. 
Lost,  oh,  lost ! — Say  not  for  ever, 
One  there  is  who  can  deliver — 
Seek  and  save  the  lost — dissever 

Youth  from  guilt  and  crime. 

18 — 21.  (18)  bemoaning,  in  a  penitent  and  humble  frame 
of  mind,  bullock,  etc.,  lit.  like  an  untaught  calf,  Ho.  x.  ll." 
(Ifl)  turned,  by  God's  dispensations  of  chastisement,  in- 
structed, or  brought  to  my  senses  by  my  suffering.''  smote  .  . 
thigh,  tlie  natural  expression  of  one  who  is  suddenly  struck 
with  a  thought,  or  a  conviction,  reproach  .  .  youth,  burden 
of  the  memory  of  youthful  sins.'  (i^O)  against  him,  in  the 
purposo  to  chastise  him.  (21)  waymarks,  to  mark  the  way 
back  to  Palestine. 

The  trur pi'n'iti'Ht  (vr.  18,  10). — We  have  here — I.  The  picture 
of  a  true  jienitent.  1.  His  position  is  solitary  ;  2.  His  language 
that  of  self-rei)roach  ;  3.  He  refers  his  state  entirely  to  God  ;  4. 
He  at  length  ventures  on  the  filial  relationship.  II.  The  process 
of  his  restoration.  1.  It  was  by  affliction;  2.  Instruction:  3. 
Conviction:  4.  Humiliation.  Apply: — (1)  Consider  afflictions 
as  prc]iaratives  for  conversion  ;  (!')  Consider  them  subsequently 
to  conversion  as  preventives,  restoratives,  preparatives. 


Cap.  xxxi.  22—30.] 


JEREMIAH. 


119 


c    "  The    burden 

of  punishment 
and  shame  due 
to  tlie  sins  of  my 
youth,  my  former 
Chtate.  ever  t-inop 
the  exodus  from 
Egypt."  — IKordj. 
iDortli. 


r.     18.       Dr.    H, 

Hitmmnnii.  iv, 
^83  ;  R.  Hall.  r. 
303  :  S.  Darii's, 
i.  227  :  S.  Loiccll, 
103;  E  Close,  i. 
141  :  Dr.  E.  I'ay- 
svii,  ii.  -169. 


27ie  yol'r.— The  simile  is  a  most  apt  one.  I  had  frequent 
opportunities  of  witnessing-  the  conduct  of  oxen  when,  for  the 
fLvat  time,  put  into  the  yoke  to  assist  in  drag'g'ing'  the  wagons. 
On  observing'  an  ox  that  had  been  in  the  yoke  for  seven  or  eight 
hundred  miles  beginning  to  get  weak,  or  his  hoofs  to  be  worn 
down  to  the  quick,  by  treading  on  the  sharp  gravel,  a  fresh  ox 
was  put  into  the  yoke  in  his  place.  When  the  selection  fell  on 
an  ox  I  had  received  as  a  present  from  some  African  king,  of 
course  one  completely  unaccustomed  to  the  yoke,  such  generally 
made  a  strenuous  struggle  for  liberty, — repeatedly  breaking  the 
yoke,  and  attempting  to  make  ils  escape.  At  other  times  such 
bullocks  lay  down  upon  their  sides  or  backs,  and  remained  so  in 
defiance  of  the  Hottentots,  though  two  or  three  of  them  would 
be  lashing  them  with  their  ponderous  whips.  Sometimes,  from 
pity  to  the  animal.  I  would  interfere,  and  beg  them  to  be  less 
cruel.  '•  Cruel !  "  they  would  say,  "  it  is  mercy,  for  if  we  do  not 
conquer  him  now,  he  will  require  to  be  so  beaten  all  his  life."  ,=  CampheTl. 
Some  oxen  would  seem  convinced  of  the  folly  of  opposing  the 
will  of  the  Hottentots  by  the  end  of  the  first  day  ;  some  about 
the  middle  of  the  second  ;  while  some  would  continue  the 
struggle  to  the  third  ;  after  which  they  would  go  on  as  willingly 
and  quietly  as  any  of  their  neighbour  oxen.  They  seemed  con- 
Tinced  that  their  resisting  was  fruitless  as  kicking  against  the 
pricks,  or  sharp-pointed  iron,  which  they  could  not  injure,  but 
that  every  kick  tlaey  gave  only  injured  theinselves.« 

22—26.  (22)  daughter,  Israel,  compass,  or  give  her 
protection  to."  (23)  as  yet,  or  again.  The  old  form  of  blessing 
shall  be  renewed.  (24)  go  forth  with  flocks,  i.e.  the  scattered 
peoples  of  the  land,  who  live  by  shepherding.  (2.5)  satiated, 
fully  satisfied.  (2G)  I  awaked,  i.e.  the  Prophet,  who  had  seen 
all  this  joy  and  prosperity  of  the  restoration  time  in  his  dreams. 

Waijiiiarli.'i  in  the  Eat:t. — Dr.  Bonar,  writing   of  his  journey 
through  the  Wilderness  near  the  spot  of  Israel's  first  encampment, 
Bays,  '•  We  rode  off  about  nine,  through  a  fine  large  plain  ;  but   ,.  22.    ,/.  AlHng, 
quite  a  plain  of  the  desert. — no  stream,  no  vei-dure  ;  at  firsst  soft    up.   ii.   4,    136  ; 
sand,  then  hard  gravel,  then  stones,  and  all  these  generally  of  a    l^ossuet,  vii.  71. 
white  colour.     Has  Atakah  towered  upon  our  right,  full  in  the 
morning  sunshine.     No  trace  of  a  road  appeared,  for  though  the 
camels  do  form  a  track,  or  rather  a  number  of  parallel  tracks,  yet 
the  drifting  ,=and  obliterates  them,  or  washes  them  out.    Still  the 
waymarks  are  visible  everywhere, — consisting  of  small  heaps  of 
stones  set  up  on  each  side,  which  are  carefully  preserved  by  the 
Bedouin  ;  for  even  they  mi^ht  at  times  be  at  a  lo-  s  as  to  the 
way  so  great  is  the  sameness  of  the  region  for  miles  on  every 
hand.   Jeremiah's  words  came  into  mind,  •  Set  thee  up  waymarks  ; 
make  thee  high  heaps,  set  thine  heart  toward  the  highway,  even 
the  way  which  thou  wentest'  (chap.  sxxi.  21).     The  sand  docs 
not  seem  to  obliterate  these,  or,  if  it  does,  they  are  renewed  from 
time  to  time.     They  were  always  a  welcome  sight  to  us.  assuring 
us  that  we  were  in  the  right  track  ;  for  at  times  we  began  to  ask  i,  naysnnd  Kightt 
whether  even  our  Arabs  were  sure  of  their  way  ;  so  waste  did   '"  '/'f  -^'"*''- 
the  desert  appear,  without  a  mark  or  foot-trace  of  any  kind  what- 
soever."* 

27—30.  (27)  SOW  .  .  beast,  a  striking  fig.  to  represent  the  „  ^ 
Bwif  t  and  abundant  increase  of  the  population.''    (28)  watched,    n  ; 


a  "  Israel,  who  is 
feeble  as  a  wo- 
man, shall  be  su- 
perior to  the 
warlike  Chal- 
daeans." —  Calvin. 


The  Christian 
Fathers  see  a 
reference  in  this 
passage  to  the 
Virgin  Mary. 


"  There  are  three 
parts  ia  trutli : 
tirst,  tlie  inquiry, 
whioli  is  the 
wooing  of  it ; 
secondly,  the 
knowledge  of  it, 
wliich  is  the  pre- 
sence of  it ;  and 
tliirdly,  the  be- 
lief, which  is  the 
enjoyment  of  it." 
— Jidcon. 


(  Eze.  xtt:vi.  8— • 


120 


JEREMIAH. 


(Cap.  xxxl.  31—37 


6  "  TliP  provorb 
ainonjf  the  exiles' 
cliililren  boni  in 
Babvlon,  to  ex- 
press tliat  tliev 
suffered  tlie  evil 
Consequences  of 
tlieir  fathers' 
Biii-s.  rather  th:m 
of  tlieir  own." — 
Fausset. 

e  Ga.  vi.  5,  7. 

d  C.  Simeon,  if. A. 


V.  31.  Dr.  R. 
Gordon,  iy.  153 ; 
F.  D.  3fduri,v, 
Pro.  and  K<js. 
414. 

V.  33.  T.  Hartley, 
2G5. 

t'.  34.  J.  Scott, 
289. 

"After  all,  the 
most  natural 
beauty  in  tlie 
world  is  honesty 
and  mo;-;il  truth  ; 
for  all  beauty  is 
truth.  True  fe.a-  ! 
tures  make  tlie  ' 
beauty  of  a  face, 
and  true  propor- 
tions the  beauty 
of  architecture, 
as  true  measures 
that  of  harmony 
and  music.  In 
poetry,  which  is 
all  fulilo,  truth 
Btill  is  the  p"r- 
tectiou."-Smij''tiS- 
burij. 

a  S.  THldersham 
(1625J. 


nr.  3«— 10.  Dr. 
li.  Gordon,  iv. 
10  T. 

"  The  most  sub- 
lime spectacle 
in  the  world  is 
a  powerful  niiml 
V  i  n  d  i  c  a  t  i  n  pr 
truHi  in  the  pr(>- 
scnce  of  its  foes, 
an  1  a  martyr 
calmly  sealing 
his  fiiith  with 
his  blood."— 
Colton. 


for  the  risrhfc  opportunity  for  punishinjr  them,  "watch  .  .  build, 
iiain.iT  similar  earn  and  vio-ilaiice  in  tlie  besto\rment  of  vestciring 
mercies.  (2'.))  fathers,  c'/c..*  sec  Eze.  xvili.  2.  (Si))  owu 
iniquity ,<■  bcc.  tho  special  judgments  affecting  the  race  as  a 
whole  would  be  removed. 

The  sure  con^ciiucneca  of  sin  (r.  30). — I  shall  noticG  this  .solemn 
declaration — I.  As  an  answer  to  the  prevailing  sentiment  of  that 
day.  1.  It  must  be  confessod  there  was  ground  lor  it :  2.  But 
though  in  some  respects  this  proverb  was  true,  yet  as  uttered  by 
them  it  was  false  and  presumptuous.  II.  As  a  declaration  of 
God's  established  rule  of  procedure  in  all  ages,  sin  shall  not  go 
unpunished — 1.  In  this  world  ;  2.  In  the  world  to  come.  Appli- 
cation : — (1)  Contemplate  not  so  much  the  immediate  as  the 
remote  consequences  of  sin  ;  (2)  Contemplate  the  provision 
which  God  has  made  for  those  who  repent  them  of  their  sins.'* 

31—34.  (31)  new  covenant,  He.  viii.  8—12.  (.32)  with  . . 
fathers,  i.e.  not  the  old  Mosaic  covenant,  which  required  a 
formal  obedience,  an  husband,  having  authority  over  them, 
and  ever  dealing  with  them  compassionately  and  tenderly.  (23) 
inward  parts,  giving  them  right  principles,  and  a  right  dis- 
position, so  that  obedience  shall  become  easy  to  them,  their 
God,  ch.  xxxii.  38.  (31)  teach  no  more,  bee.  all  being  right- 
minded  none  will  need  to  be  constrained  to  do  right.  God  will 
give  greater  measure  of  His  grace. 

The  A^e/v  Carenant  (*,'.  31). — In  these  words  the  Old  and  the 
New  Covenants  are  placed  in  opposition  to  each  other.  The  latter 
is  represented  as  being — I.  More  effective  in  its  provisions. 
Under  it  obedience  will  be — 1.  Spiritual:  2.  Loving:  3.  Cheer- 
ful ;  '1.  Diligent ;  .5.  Persevering.  II.  Jlorc  conip-  ehensive  in 
its  range.  We  have  here — 1.  An  important  truth  implied  ;  2.  A 
cheering  assurance  given  ;  3.  A  striking  reason  adduced.  III. 
More  secure  as  regards  its  stability. 

D'lrinc  fi)rgirrnci^x.^A\\  God's  acquittances  ai'e  general  :  not 
as  men's,  only  from  the  beginning  of  the  world  to  tli;it  day  that 
the  acquittance  is  made,  but  fi-om  the  beginning  of  the  world  to 
the  end  of  it.  His  pardon,  where  it  is  once  given,  can  never  be 
revoked,  or  cancelled  again.  He  forg-iveth  not  as  man  doth,  but 
when  He  forgiveth  our  sins,  He  forgetteth  them  also.  'Whom 
God  hath  once  pardoned.  He  never  so  forsaketh  that  they  shall 
quite  lose  His  favour  again.  This  pardon  sets  ns  in  as  good 
state  before  God,  as  if  we  had  never  sinned.  "  Thou  art  all  fair, 
my  love  ;  there  is  no  spot  in  thee.""" 

35—37.  (3."))  divideth,  or  .stirreth  up.  comp  ch.  xxxiii.  20  ; 
Ps.  Ixxxix.  3(),  37.  (30)  those  ordinances,  such  as  of  the 
sun.  moon,  sea,  etc.  God's  purpose  concerning  His  people  ia  as 
unchangeable  as  the  laws  of  nature  are.  (37)  lieaveu  .  . 
measured,  ch.  xxxiii.  22. 

The  Clinrrh'.f  .'<eciir<tji  (rr.  3.5 — 37). — Let  us  contemplate — T. 
The  promises  here  made  to  God's  Church  and  people.  Certainly 
they  refer — 1.  To  God's  ancient  peopl(>,  the  Jews  :  2.  To  the  Chris- 
tian Church.  II.  The  use  which  is  to  be  made  of  them  by  indi- 
vidual believers.  "We  should  be  careful — -1.  As  to  the  persons  to 
whom  they  belong  ;  2.  As  to  the  extent  lo  which  they  are  to  be 
apjdied  ;  3.  As  to  the  use  that  is  to  be  made  of  them  when  they 
ai-e  60  applied.     Lay  down  the  following  rules: — (1)  Seek  tO 


Cap.  xxxii.  1—13.] 


JEREMIAH. 


121 


gain  Christ  Himself  as  your  portion  :  (2)  Embi-ace  His  promises   »  C.  Simeon, M. A. 
with  humility  ;  (3)  Improve  them  with  all  care." 


38 — 40.  C3S)  tower  .  .  corner,  the  ancient  limits  of  the 
city."  (3'.))  Gareb,  the  future  Calvary.'  "  The  locality  outside 
the  city,  where  lepers  were  removed  to."  Goatla,  a  toilsome 
ascent,  towards  the  S.W.  (40)  valley,  etc.,  ch.  vii.  32.  Tophet ; 
S.  of  the  city,  horse  gate,  Ne.  iii.  28.  not  be  plucked  up, 
the  rebuilt  citj'  shall  be  established  for  long'  generations. 

Vaviahle  friiUfulnt'ss. — For  so  have  I  known  a  luxuriant  vine 
swell  into  irregular  twigs  and  bold  excrescences,  and  spend  itself 
in  leaves  and  little  rings,  and  afford  but  trifling  clusters  to  the 
vine-press,  and  a  faint  return  to  his  heart  which  longed  to  be 
refreshed  with  a  full  vintage  :  but  when  the  lord  of  the  vine  had 
caused  the  dressers  to  cut  the  wilder  plant,  and  made  it  bleed,  it 
grew  temperate  in  its  vain  expense  of  useless  leaves,  and  knotted 
into  fair  and  juicy  bunches,  and  made  accounts  of  that  loss  of 
blood  by  the  return  of  fruit.  So  is  an  afflicted  province  cured  of 
its  surfeits,  and  punished  for  its  sins,  and  bleeds  for  its  long  riot, 
and  is  left  ungoverned  for  its  disobedience,  and  chastised  for  its 
wantonness  :  and  when  the  sword  hath  let  forth  the  corrupted 
blood,  and  the  fire  hath  purged  the  rest,  then  it  enters  into  the 
double  joys  of  restitution,  and  gives  God  thanks  for  His  rod,  and 
confe  ses  the  mercies  of  the  Lord  in  making  the  smoke  to  be 
changed  into  fire,  and  the  cloud  into  a  perfume,  the  sword  into  a 
etaff,  and  His  anger  into  mercy." 


n  Ne.  iii.  1  ;  Zee 
xiv.  lu  ;  2  KJ. 
xiv.  13. 

b  Lightfoct. 

"  AcciiPtom  your 
children     to     a 
strict     attentioa 
to  truth,  even  in 
the  most  minute 
i  particulars.    If  a 
i  thing    happened 
j  at   one    window, 
and   they,  when 
relating    it,    say 
tliat  it  happened 
]  at     another,     do 
]  not    let  it  pass, 
but         instantly 
check  them ;  you 
do     not      know 
where   deviation 
from  truth    will 
end." — br.  John- 
son. 

c  I.  Taylor. 


CHAPTER  THE  THIRTY-SECOND. 

1 — 5.  (1)  tenth  year,  the  siege  of  Jerus.  began  in  Zedek.'s 
ninth  year."  It  was  temporarily  raised  upon  the  approach  of  an 
army  fr.  Egypt.*  (2)  in  the  court,  etr.,  Jer.  had  been  arrested 
on  attempting  to  leave  Jerusalem.  At  fii'st  he  was  only  in 
custody,  afterwards  he  was  put  into  a  dungeon.  (3j  shut  him 
Tip,  put  him  in  confinement,  fearing  the  mischievous  influence 
of  his  prophecies  upon  the  people.  (4)  not  escape,  ch.  xxxiv. 
2,  3.  (5)  visit  him,  an  expression  that  may  either  mean  for 
restoration,  or  for  punishment." 

Zr(Teltinli\s  cnpfiriti/,  blind nf.i.'i.  and  death. — Some  superficial  or 
inattentive  readers  of  the  Bible  have  supposed  this  prophecy, 
which  declares  that  Zedekiah  should  behold  the  king  of  Babylon, 
to  be  contradictory  to  Ezek.  xii.  13,  where  it  is  said,  he  should  be 
brought  to  Babylon,  but  should  not  see  it ;  and,  indeed,  Josephus 
tells  us  that  the  .seeming  inconsistency  of  the  two  prophecies 
determined  Zedekiah  to  believe  neither  of  them.  Both  of  them, 
however,  were  literally  fulfilled.  Zedekiah  was  taken  in  the 
plains  of  Jericho,  and  sent  to  the  king  of  Babj'lon  at  Riblah 
(2  Kings  XXV.  .5,  G),  where  he  then  resided,  whom  he  saw  and 
spoke  to.  and  who  caused  his  eyes  to  be  put  out.  He  was  then 
sent  to  Babylon,  which  he  could  not  see,  and  was  there  imprisoned 
and  died."^ 

6 — 12.  CO,  7)  Hanameel,  Jeremiah's  first  cousin,  field  in  a  Tliis  field  was 
Anathoth,"  a  sacerdotal  city,  so  having  1.000  cubits  of  suburban  |  »*  t'>°  ''cession 
fields  outside  the  walls  attached  to  it.  right  of  redemption,  of 'J'lte  chaldKafl 
Le.  sxv.  24,  25";  Ru.  iv.  3— G.     (8)  right  of  inheritance,  I  army. 


a  Je.  xxxix.  Ij 

2  Ei.  XXV.  1. 

b  Je.  xxxvii.  6. 

"  The  siege  lasted 
from  the  tenth 
month  of  the 
ninth  year  of 
Zedekiah's  reiga 
to  the  fourth 
month  of  the 
eleventh  year." 
— Lowlh. 

c  "  Zedekiah's 
was  a  harder  fate 
than  the  words 
suggest  ;  Je. 
xxxix.  6,  7,  Hi.. 
W'—Spk.  Com. 

d  Carpentey. 


122 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  xxxil.  13-20. 


h  "\\nien  Ilaiini- 
b.al  laid  siftre  to 
Hoiiip,  tho  sito  oil 
whicli  he  pitclieil 
his  camp  was  put 
Tip  to  auction, 
anil  fouml  a  pur- 
chaser in  the 
besieged  city."— 
liu-y. 

e  "  Two  ileods 
were  drawn  up 
in  a  contract  of 
sale.  The  one, 
the  original  copy, 
■witnessed  and 
sealed  with  the 
public  seal  ;  the 
other  not  .so,  but 
open,  and  there- 
fore less  authori- 
tative, being  but 
a  copy.  The 
sealed  copy  was 
to  be  opened 
after  the  seventy 
years'  captivity." 
• — Fausstt. 

d  Je.  xxxvi.  4. 

vv.  6—8.  S.  C. 
Wilk^,  i.  339. 

A  real  Christian 
must  learn  to  die 
to  all  his  rigli- 
teousness,  as  well 
as  to  his  um-igh- 
teousness. 

e  SarmC'T. 


a  "  Special  care 
was  taken  that 
the  deed  should 
sustain  no  injury 
from  the  lengtli 
of  time  tliat 
would  elapse  be- 
fore the  Jews 
could  recover 
their  possessions 
in  Palestine." — 
Henderson. 

The  kingdom  of 
Christ  on  eartli 
may  bo  compared 
to  a  nursery  gar- 
flen ;  where  you 
•will  always  find 
far  more  .^ajilings 
than  growu-up 
^I'ees. 


t  Earmer. 


since  ITananieel  had  no  children,  then  I  knew,  v.r.thc  coming 
of  Ilanamccl  coniiimed  the  directions  I  had  received.  ('J) 
weighed,  money  docs  not  seem  to  have  been  coined*  seven- 
teen shekels,  or  about  40  shillings.  (10)  subscribed.,  etc., 
did  all  that  was  necessary  properly  to  secure  the  transfer  of  the 
property.  (11)  evidence,' the  actual  deed,  and  the  testimony 
of  the  witnesses.     (12)  Barueh,  Jeremiah's  agent.'' 

Evidence  (if  piircha.te. — The  double  evidences  of  Jeremiah's 
purchase,  which  are  mentioned  here,  seems  a  strange  manage- 
ment in  their  civil  concerns  :  yet  something  of  the  like  kind 
obtains  still  among  them.  Both  the  writings  were  in  the  hands 
of  Jeremiah,  and  at  his  disposal,  verse  14  ;  for  what  purpose  then 
were  duplicates  made  .'  To  tho.se  that  are  unacquainted  with  the 
Eastern  usages,  it  must  appear  a  question  of  some  difficulty. 
"  The  open  or  unsealed  Avriting,"  says  an  eminent  commentator, 
"  was  cither  a  copy  of  the  sealed  deed,  or  else  a  certificate  of  the 
witnesses  in  Avhose  presence  the  deed  of  purchase  was  signed 
and  sealed." — (Lowth.)  But  it  still  recurs,  of  what  use  was  a 
copy  that  was  to  be  buried  in  the  same  earthen  vessel,  and  run 
exactly  the  same  risks  wath  the  original .'  If  by  a  certificate  is 
meant  a  deed  of  the  witnesses,  by  which  they  attested  the  con- 
tract of  Jeremiah  and  Hanameel,  and  the  orig'inal  deed  of  piirchase 
had  no  witnesses  at  all,  then  it  is  natural  to  ask,  why  were  they 
made  separate  writings?  and  much  more,  why  was  one  sealed, 
and  not  the  other  .-'  Sir  J.  Chardin's  account  of  modern  manage- 
ments, which  he  thinks  illustrates  this  ancient  story,  is,  "  that 
after  a  contract  is  made,  it  is  kept  by  the  party  himself,  not  the 
notary  ;  and  they  cause  a  cojDy  to  be  made,  signed  hj  the  notaiy 
alone,  which  is  shown  upon  proper  occasions,  and  never  exhibit 
the  other."  According  to  this  account,  the  two  books  were  the 
same,  the  one  sealed  up  with  solemnity,  and  not  to  be  used  on 
common  occasions  ;  that  which  was  open,  the  same  writing,  to 
be  perused  at  jileasure,  and  made  use  of  upon  all  occasions.  The 
sealed  one  answered  to  a  record  with  us  ;  the  other  a  writing  for 
common  us?.' 

13—15.  (13)  charged  Baruch,  gave  him  the  following 
instructions.  (14)  earthen  vessel,  to  protect  them.  This 
would  be  hidden  in  the  ground  in  some  secure  place,  to  be  found 
when  the  laud  was  again  inhabited."  (15)  again,  i.e.  subsequent 
to  the  captivity. 

Preserving  documents. — Whatever  materials  the  ancient  Jews 
wrote  upon,  they  were  liable  to  be  easily  destroyed  by  the  damp- 
ness when  hidden  in  the  earth.  It  was  therefore  thought  requi- 
site to  enclose  them  in  something  that  might  keep  them  from 
the  damp,  lest  thej''  ehoiild  decay  and  be  rendered  useless.  In 
those  days  of  roughness,  when  war  knew  not  the  softenings  of 
later  times,  men  were  wont  to  bury  in  the  earth  every  part  of 
their  laroperty  that  could  be  concealed  after  that  manner,  not 
only  silver  and  gold,  but  wheat,  barley,  oil,  and  honey  ;  vestments 
and  writings  too.  For  that  I  ajiprehend  was  the  occasion  of 
Jeremiah's  ordering  that  the  writings  he  delivered  to  Baruch, 
mentioned  in  his  thirty-second  chapter,  should  be  put  into  and 
earthen  vessel.* 

16 — 20.  (IG)  prayed,  prob.  to  relieve  his  own  anxiety,  and 
to  unburden  hia  own  learti.     (17;  too  hard,  marg,  "hid  from 


Cap.  xxxii.  21—25.] 


JEREMIAE. 


123 


Thee;"  or  "too  -wonderful  for  Thee."  (IS)  shewest,  etc., 
Ex.  xx.  ,5,  6,  xxxiv.  7  ;  Is.  Ixv.  6.  bosom,  the  fold,  or  pocket  of 
Eastern  garments  is  so  called.  (19)  eyes  .  .  men,  Job  xxxiv. 
21  :  Pr.  V.  21.  (20)  even  nnto  this  day,  i.e.  memorable  even 
until  now." 

(jiuV.'S  omnuciencc — The  Inqi/l.^ifum,  or  the  record  on  high. — 
"  "Within  those  blood-stained  walls,  for  whose  atrocious  cruelties 
Rome  has  a  heavj'  account  to  render,  a  prisoner  is  under  exami- 
nation. He  has  been  assured  that  nothing-  he  reveals  shall  be 
recorded  or  used  against  him.  "\Miile  making-  frank  and  in- 
genuous confession,  he  suddenly  stops.  He  is  dumb — a  mute. 
They  ply  him  -with  questions,  flatter  him,  threaten  him  ;  but  he 
answers  not  a  word.  Danger  makes  the  senses  quick.  His  ear 
has  caught  a  sound  :  he  listens,  and  that  sound  ties  his  tongue. 
An  arras  hangs  be.side  him,  and  behind  it  he  hears  a  pen  running 
along  the  jiages.  The  truth  flashes  on  him.  Behi-nd  that  screen 
there  sits  a  scribe,  committing  to  the  fatal  page  every  -word  he 
says,  and  he  shall  meet  it  all  again  on  the  day  of  trial.  Ah  1 
how  solemn  to  think  that  there  is  such  a  pen  going  in  heaven, 
and  entering  on  the  books  of  judgment  whatever  we  say  and 
-wish,  all  we  think  and  do.  Would  to  God  we  heard  it — heard  it 
everywhere — always  heard  it !     What  a  check  it  might  prove  1 "  *> 

21—25.  (21)  has  hrouglit,  etc.,  De.  xxvi.  8.  terror,  Ex.  xv- 
14.  (22)  flo-\ving ..  honey,  Ex.  iii.  8.  (23)  possessed  it, 
settled  down  in  it.  (24)  mounts,  siege-works,  raised  for  the 
battering-rams."  (2.'>)  buy  thee  the  field,  purchase  of  pro- 
perty when  the  State  was  just  upon  its  ruin  seemed  very  un- 
reasonable. 
*    The  men  of  old. — 

I  know  not  that  the  men  of  old 

Were  better  than  men  now, 
Of  heart  more  kind,  of  hand  more  bold, 

Of  more  ingenuous  brow  : 
I  heed  not  those  %\ho  i^ine  for  force 

A  ghost  of  time  to  raise. 
As  if  they  thus  could  check  the  course 
Of  these  appointed  days. 

Still  is  it  true  and  over  true. 

That  I  delight  to  close 
This  book  of  life  self- wise  and  new, 

And  let  my  thoughts  repose 
On  all  that  humble  hajipiness 

The  world  has  since  foregone — 
The  daylight  of  contentedncss 

That  on  those  faces  shone  I 

With  rights,  though  not  too  closely  scann'd, 

Enjoyd  as  far  as  known — 
With  will,  by  no  reverse  unmann'd — 

With  pulse  of  even  tone — 
They  from  to-day  and  from  to-night 

Expected  nothing  more, 
Than  yesterday  and  yesternight 

Had  profferd  them  before. 


a  Call-in. 

V.     18.      Dr.    J. 

Tvnilinson,  S5. 

V.  19.    J.  Saurin, 

i.  151. 

b  Dr.  Guthrie. 

"  Tlie  trial  of 
faith  is  by  find- 
ing what  we  will 
do  for  God.  To 
trust  II  im  when 
we  have  secur- 
ities in  our  own 
iron  cliestiseasy, 
and  not  thank- 
wortliy.  But  to 
depend  nn  Him 
for  what  wo  can- 
not see,  as  it  is 
more  liard  for 
man  to  do,  so  it 
is  more  accept- 
able to  God  wlicn 
done,  for  in  that 
act  we  make  con- 
fession of  His 
Aeity. "-•Fi'lthanu 

a  "  Mounds  of 
earth,  raised  as 
breastworks  by 
the  besieging 
army,  behind 
wliich  tlicy  em- 
ployed tlieir  en- 
gines, and  wliicU 
tliey  gradvially 
pushed  forward 
tothe  walls  of  the 
city." — Fausset. 

"  Let  us  learn,  as 
Luther  did,  wlio, 
looking  out  of  his 
window  one  sum- 
mer evening, 
saw,  on  a  tree  at 
hand,  a  little  bird 
making  his  brief 
and  easj'  disposi- 
tionsfor  a  night's 
rest.  '  Look,'  said 
he,  '  liow  that 
little  fellow- 
preaches  faith  to 
us  all.  He  takes 
hold  of  hi^  twig, 
tuclvs  liis  head 
under  liis  wing, 
and  goes  to 
sleep,  leaving 
God  to  think  for 
h  i  m.'  "  —  J'.  B. 
I'oicer. 

"  The  Tihone  is 
foraied  of  two 
rivers,  running 
side  by  si<le  in 
one  channel,  the 
one  pure  as  the 
blue   sky    above 


124 


JEREiflAn. 


[Cap.  xxxil.  26—35. 


It,  tlie  othor 
tiiTbid  and  dis- 
co 1  o  u  r  e  il ;  but 
they  do  not  com- 
bine ;  so  trutli 
and  erroi',  or 
good  and  evil, 
may  live  side  by 
side  in  tliis 
world,  the  one 
as  beautiful  as 
God,  tlie  otlier 
as  uply  as  hell  ; 
but  tbey  do  not, 
they  cannot 
commingle." — 
Dr.  Cumming. 

"  As  the  sun 
shining  upon  a 
man's  face  dis- 
covers all  the 
■wens,  warts,  and 
blotches  that 
may  be  upon  it, 
BO  the  light  of 
truth,  shining 
into  the  sinner's 
heart,  reveals  to 
him  all  tlie  evil 
desires.t  hough  ts, 
feelings,  and 
everything  else, 
which  may  lie 
concealed  there- 
in."— Jv/in  Bale. 

If  you  be  poor  in 
this  world  you 
should  be  rich  in 
faith ;  and  if  you 
be  rich  in  this 
world,  be  poor  in 
spirit. 

5  Ld.  Ilouqhton. 

a  Je.  ii.  7,  2.5, 
vii.  23,  £8,  xxii. 
21. 


If  there  is  no  con- 
formity between 
Christ  and  the 
Christian  here, 
there  can  be  none 
hereafter. 


b  Dr.  J.  Parker. 


"  The  goodness  of 
a  Christian  lies  in 
his  holiness,  as 
the  goodness  of 
the  air  lies  in  the 
clearness  of  it, 
and  the  worth  of 
gold  in  its  pure- 
liess."~2'.  Walion. 


To  them  was  life  a  simple  art 

Of  duties  to  be  done — 
A  pamc  ■tt'liere  each  man  took  his  part, 

A  race  ■udiere  all  must  r.-n  ; 
A  battle  whose  great  scheme  and  scope 

They  little  cared  to  know, 
Content,  as  men  at  arms,  to  cope 

Each  with  his  fronting  foe. 

Man  now  his  virtue's  diadem 

Puts  on,  and  proudly  wears — 
Great  thought,  great  feelings,  came  to  them, 

Life  instincts  unawares  : 
Blending  their  souls'  sublimest  needs 

With  tasks  of  every  day, 
They  went  about  their  gravest  deeds, 
'  As  noble  boys  at  play. 


A  man's  b"st  things  are  nearest  him, 

Lie  close  about  his  feet ; 
It  is  the  distant  and  the  dim 

That  we  are  sick  to  greet : 
For  flowers  that  grow  our  hands  beneath 

We  struggle  and  aspire — 
Our  hearts  must  die,  excejit  they  breathe 

The  air  of  fresh  desire. 

But,  brothers,  who  up  reason's  hill 

Advance  with  hopeful  cheer — 
O  1  loiter  not.  those  heights  are  chill, 

As  chill  as  they  are  clear  ; 
And  still  restrain  yoitr  haughty  gaze, 

The  loftier  that  ye  go. 
Remembering  distance  leaves  a  haze 

On  all  that  lies  below.* 

26—30.  (2r,,  27)  God  .  .  flesh,  Xu.  svi.  22.  Difficulties  are 
never  hindrances  to  God.  (28)  I  will  give,  or  I  am  giving. 
That  is  ]My  settled  purpose.  (2i))  roofs,  cfc.  ch.  xix.  i:5.  (30) 
only  done,  so  abundant  were  their  idolatries  and  rebellions  that 
nothing  else  could  be  seen  in  the  review  of  their  history.  yo'Utll, 
or  origin  as  a  nation." 

(Totra  rcrrlafion  of  Uimnclf  (v.  27). — This  is  God's  revelation  of 
Himself,  not  the  fancy  of  the  sijeculator,  dream  of  poet,  etc. 
I.  Here  is  a  direct  assertion  of  personality,  not  the  voice  of 
creation  but  of  the  Creator.  II.  Here  is  a  direct  assertion  of 
dominion,  not  a  Lord,  but  the  Lord.* 

31 — 35.  (.'^1)  remove  .  .  face,  withdraw  My  protection  from 
it.  (.'52)  evil,  especially  in  the  encouragement  of  idolatry,  and 
its  attendant  immoralities.  (S3)  back,  Heb.  ncch :  ch.  ii.  27. 
(31)  set .  .  house,  ch.  vii.  30,  31.  (3.))  cause,  etc.,  ch.  vii.  31, 
xix.  ty. 

Iiliilnfry. — How  senseless  it  is  I  We  should  think  that  artist 
beside  himself  who  would  undertake  to  draw  a  likeness  of  some- 
thing which  he  had  never  seen,  nor  ever  could  see,— to  paint  a 
portrait  of  the  air,  the  wind,  or  the  fragrance  of  flowers.    And 


Cap.  xxxii.  36—44.] 


JEREMIAn. 


125 


'•  God  is  a  Spirit."     What  know  we  of  Him  ?    To  whom  shall  we 
liken  Him  ? " 

36—38.  (30)  now  therefore,  resuming-  the  ar§-ument  from 
V.  27.  (37)  gather  theni,«and  so  the  seeming'  destruction  shall 
only  issue  in  a  great  restoration,  when,  throug-h  their  afflictions, 
they  are  cured  of  their  idolatry.     (38)  my  people,  ch.  xxiv.  7. 

'J  he  fuinrc  conversion  of  thr  Jens  {ve.  37 — 40). — 1.  What 
blessings  God  has  in  store  for  His  chosen  people.  1.  A  restora- 
tion to  their  own  land  ;  2.  A  renewed  acknowledgment  of  theii' 
relation  to  Him  :  3.  A  spirit  of  piety  poured  out  upon  them.  II. 
What  security  they  have  for  the  enjoyment  of  them.  1.  The 
veracity  of  God  ;  2.  The  j^ower  of  God.  Apply  : — (1)  WTiat  we, 
if  we  are  God's  peo^jle,  may  expect  for  ourselves  ;  (2)  What 
encouragement  w^e  have  to  labour  for  our  Jewish  brethren.* 

39—41.  (39)  one  heart,"  Eze.  xi.  19.  Prob.  referring  to 
the  reunion  of  Israel  and  Judah.  (40)  everlasting  covenant, 
ch.  xxxi.  81,  33.*  (41)  assuredly,  i.e.  in  truth,  or  stability. 
Indicating  God's  fixed  jiurpose. 

Bible  religion  (v.  40). — I.  As  having  its  seat  in  the  heart.  1. 
Not  merely  in  the  intellect ;  2.  Not  merely  in  the  sentiments  : 
3.  Not  merely  in  occasional  service.  II.  As  imparted  by  God. 
1.  Not  miraculously,  not  irrespective  of  man's  activities  ;  2.  By 
the  ministry  of  His  servants.  III.  As  a  safeguai-d  against 
apostasy."^ 

I/elif/ion  and  reason. — When  pure  religion  and  pure  reason  are 
compared — when  in  their  entireness  they  are  contemplated  in 
connection,  it  will  be  found  that  religion  is  much  larger  than 
reason  ;  that  they  may  be  compared  to  two  circular  planes,  the 
one  of  immensely  vaster  circumference  than  the  other :  that 
consequently,  many  parts  of  religion  are  beyond  reason — deeper 
than  reason — loftier  than  reason  :  that  there  is  a  border  round 
the  edge  of  religion,  which  reason  does  not  touch  ;  that  when 
the  former  surpasses  the  latter  there  is  no  ojjposition,  but  that 
where  they  come  within  a  common  measurement,  there  they 
agree — there  they  correspond — there  they  fit  and  cohere  together 
as  exactly  as  two  planes  with  polished  siu-faces.  "V\'ithin  a  certain 
degree,  the  correspondence  of  reason  and  religion  may  be  demon- 
strated, the  perfect  reasonableness  of  Christianity  may  be  shown. 
From  principle  to  principle,  duty  to  duty,  institute  to  institute, 
"we  may  go  on  making  our  appeal  to  the  unsophisticated  under- 
standing, in  the  Aijostle's  words.  "  I  speak  as  unto  wise  men. 
judge  ye  what  I  say."  And  if  what  we  can  understand  should 
be  reasonable,  we  may  conclude  that  the  rest  is  reasonable.  "  If," 
as  Boyle  says.  ''  God  vouchsafes  to  discover  to  us,  in  respect  of 
His  nature  and  attributes,  what  we  cannot  know  without  His 
information  :  and  since  we  know  that  whatever  He  says  mu  t  be 
true,  we  have  more  reason  to  believe  wh;it  He  says  of  Himself 
and  Divine  things,  than  what  we  should  be  able  to  guess  at 
about  them  by  the  analogy  of  things  of  an  infinitely  distant 
nature.'"'' 

42—44.  (42)  like  as,  in  similar  faithfulness  to  3Iy  word. 
(43)  fields  .  .  land,  indicating  the  reseitlement  of  the  country, 
and  orderly  government."     (44)  subscribe  evidence,  r.  10. 

^'/l)■iefl/  in  reliijion.'i  ehnracter. — AVe  ought,  if  rightly  minded. 
to  rejoice  in  the  exuberance  and  variety  of  the  spiritual  g-ifts  I  baudry  siiali  re- 


a  Homilist. 


a  Je.  xxxi.  8,  9, 

18—20,  33. 

Trutli  win  be 
uppermost  one 
time  or  other, 
like  cork,  tliouph 
kci)t  down  in  the 
water. 

6  C.  Simeon,  M.A, 


a  "In  ch.  iii.  13, 
the  ni  a  n  i  f  o  1  li 
paths  of  sins  are 
described  as  the 
s  c  a  1 1  e  ring  of 
men's  ways,  but 
under  the  new 
covenant  tliey 
will  with  one 
consent  v.alk  in 
the  one  narrow 
path  of  right 
d  oin  g."  — Spk. 
Com. 

b  Ps.  Isxxix.  34, 
35  :  Is.  \v.  3 ;  He. 
viii.  lu. 

"  Called  an  '  ever- 
lasting  cove- 
nant.' not  only 
bee.  God  will  be 
for  ever  fuHhful 
to  it,  but  bee.  the 
consequences  of 
it  will  be  ever- 
lasting." —  Milt. 
Henri/. 

c  Dr.  Tliomas. 

V.  40.  R.  Warn- 
ford,  i.  91  ;  Dr. 
II.  Draper,  iL 
364. 

V.  41.  Dr.  liees, 
iv.  485. 

d  Dr.  Stougliton, 


a  "  Trade  shall 
revive,  for  they 
shall  have  money 
enough  to  buy 
land  with.    Hus- 


12C 


JEREMIAH. 


rOap.  XX3J11. 1—8, 


Vive,  for  those 
tliat  have  moiu'v 
shall  covet  to  lay 
it  out  u))oii 
Ian  (Is."  —  Mat. 
Iliniij. 

"  It  is  hard  to 
personate  and 
act  a  part  long; 
for,  where  truth 
is  not  at  the  bot- 
tom, nature  will 
always  be  en- 
deavouring to 
Jetiiru,  and  will 
peep  out  and 
betray  herself 
one  time  or 
other."  —  Tillol- 
ton. 

b  Dr.  Goulbum. 


a  "  This  invita- 
tion betokens 
God's  favour  and 
loving-kind  uess  ; 
that  He  is  ready 
to  comply  with 
the  first  intima- 
tions of  His 
servants'  de- 
sires."— Loiol/t. 
V.  3.  F.  Clvse,  ii. 
135. 

b  G.  Brooks. 
a  "  In  ancient 
siegres,  as  the 
works  of  the 
enemy  approach- 
ed the  walls,  it 
was  usual  to 
build  inner  foi'ti- 
fications,  and  for 
this  purpose 
houses  were 
pulled  down, 
both  to  give  the 
vacant  space  ne- 
cessary, and  to 
supply  mate- 
rials."— Spk.  Com. 

b  Mai  locks  in  2 
Chr.  xxxiv.  6 ; 
axes  in  Eze.  x.xvi. 


e  Henderson. 

d  Je.  x.xiv.  6, 
xxxi.  4,  28,  xlii. 
10. 

e  Eze.  xxxvi.  2.5  ; 
Zee.  xiii.  1 ;  Ho. 
L\.  13, 14. 

V.  6.  A.  lioberls. 
li.  81. 

f  C.Simeon,  M.A. 


possessed  by  Christians,  just  as  we  delight  in  the  rich  variety  of 
nature,  or  in  that  of  tlie  ^\ord  of  God.  There  are  many  lines  of 
thought  in  religion,  many  forms  which  practical  and  personal 
piety  take.s,  although,  of  course,  they  are  all  animated  by  tha 
same  essential  principles.  St.  John  and  St.  Paul  were  both 
equally  devoted  to  the  cause  and  person  of  our  Lord,  yet  no  two 
men  ever  existed  who  manifested  tliis  devotion  in  shapes  more 
different.  15oth  these  members  held  of  the  Head  by  a  living 
union,  but  they  discharged  for  the  Head  functions  altogether 
different.  Let  us  not  conceive  of  all  genuine  religion  as  moving 
in  one  groove  of  feeling  and  practice,  and  refuse  to  acknowledge 
any  man  as  a  Christian,  because  he  does  not  run  upon  our  par- 
ticular groove.  There  are  several  points  of  view  from  which 
Christianity  may  be  surveyed  ;  and  although  it  be  one  and  the 
same  object,  from  whatever  point  we  look,  j-et  eyes  placed  on 
different  levels  will  see  it  grouped  in  different  perspectives.'' 


CHAPTER  THE  THIRTY-THIRD. 

1 — 3.  (1)  second,  time,  after  the  message  about  the  field, 
shut  up,  ch.  xxxii.  2.  3.  (2)  maker,  Lsa.  xxxvii.  2G.  (3) 
mighty  things,  or  things  hidden,  or  shut  up — in  the  mys- 
terious counsels  of  God."     Poss.  alluding  to  the  times  of  Messiah. 

Prayer  (r.  3). — 1.  The  invitation  to  prayer.  1.  "Whose  is  it? 
2.  To  whom  is  the  invitation  addressed  1  3.  What  is  the  tenor 
of  the  invitation  ?  II.  The  promise.  1.  It  is  general ;  2.  It  is 
special.  Apply: — (1)  Reprove  the  prayerless ;  (2)  Encourage 
the  praj'erf uL* 

4—8.  (4)  thrown  .  .  mounts,  pulled  do^^Tl  to  make  inner 
fortifications."  by  the  sword,  or  axes,*  used  for  breaking  down 
the  houses.  Or  the  ''  sword "'  may  be  here  put  for  the  soldiers 
who  use  the  sword.'  (5)  they  come,  a  poetical  figure.  These 
ramparts  and  inner  defences  are  said  to  advance  to  fight  the 
Chalda3ans.  fi.ll,  etc.,  this  would  be  the  actual  result  of  the  pro- 
longed resistance,  and  in  this  form  the  Divine  judgment  would 
be  manifested.  ((!)  health,  etc.,  first  the  cure  of  its  moral  evils, 
then  gracious  outward  restoration.  The  word  rendered  cure,  lit. 
means,  "  the  long  linen  bandage  employed  in  dressing  wounds." 
(7)  build  them,  or  establish  them.''  (8)  cleanse,  or  pro- 
nounce clean." 

Conrer.Hiun  of  flir  Jrirx  a  mnffrr  of  imjJorfance  to  God  and 
man  (rr.  fi — 9). — Consider — I.  The  event  predicted.  In  the  pas- 
sage before  us  God  promises  to  them — 1.  A  discovery  of  His  will ; 
2.  A  manifestation  of  His  favour  ;  3.  A  communication  of  His 
grace.  II.  I'he  vast  importance  of  it.  Mark— 1.  The  interest 
which  God  Himself  has  in  it ;  2.  The  interest  of  the  whole  world 
involved  in  it.  Improvement  : — (1)  Consider  what  blessings  you 
yourselves  enjoy  ;  (2)  What  reason  you  have  to  seek  the  welfare 
of  your  Jewish  brethren.-' 

'J'/ie  ./e/r-f. — It  is  not  usual  to  acknowledge  much  literary 
obligation  to  the  people  of  Israel ;  yet  under  the  liberal  tolera- 
tion and  patronage  of  the  Moorish  dynasties  of  Bagdad  and  Spain 
they  attained  to  considerable  eminence.  Two  of  the  earliest 
writers  of  travels  were  .Tews.  Closes  Petachia  travelled  about 
the  year  11S7  through  Poland  to  Tartary,  and  thence  through 


Cap.  xxxiii.  9—11.] 


JERE^VUn. 


127 


various  Asiatic  countries  to  Jerusalem  :  and  about  the  same 
period  appeared  the  -work  ascribed  to  Benjamin  Ben  lona,  com- 
monly called  Benjamin  of  Tudela.  who  is  represented  to  have 
been  a  native  of  Navarre,  and  a  student  of  Cordova.  "  Zai/s  noii 
ultima  sdhhaiayioruni.''  His  journeys  are  stated  to  have  extended 
by  the  way  of  Constantinople,  through  Antioch.  to  Jerusalem  ; 
thence  to  Tadmor,  and  the  banks  of  the  Euphrates  and  Tigris. 
Bagdad  was  then  under  the  government  of  the  Abassides,  to 
whose  toleration  of  the  Jews  our  traveller  bears  ample  testimony'. 
His  course  then  lay  through  Persia,  and  he  returned  by  the 
Indian  Ocean  and  the  Bed  Sea  to  Egypt  and  Sicily,  s 

9 — 11.  ('.0  it  shall  be,  i.e.  the  restored  Jewish  nation,  a 
praise,"  Is.  Lxii.  7.  fear  and  tremble,  vvdth  awe  at  the  signs 
of  the  power  and  faithfulness  of  Israels  God.*  (10)  sliall  be 
desolate,  better,  '-is  desolate.''"  The  Prophet  seems  to  see  the 
land  as  the  people  thought  of  it  during  the  time  of  the  captivity 
— uniiihabited  and  silent.  (11)  voice,  etc.,  ch.  vii.  34.  xvi.  9. 
praise,  etc.,  comp.  Ezr.  iii.  11.     cause  to  return,  or  reverse.** 

Moilern  Jerusalem. — At  the  season  of  Easter,  when  the  thoughts 
of  half  the  world  turn,  or  ought  to  turn,  to  the  hills  of  Jerusalem, 
it  is  curious  to  be  receiving  the  annual  ofhcial  report  of  our 
consul  upon  the  Holy  City !  Foolscap  paragraphs  about  the 
vicinity  of  Calvary  and  the  Via  Dolorosa  !  A  blue-book  from 
Bethany  and  the  Mount  of  Olives  1  The  Foreign  Office  of  "  the 
Britons,"  who  were  only  just  known  to  exist  when  the  first  Good 
Friday  and  the  first  Easter  Sunday  dawned — the  Foreign  Office 
of  that  barbaric  race  now  "  having  the  honour  "  to  acknowledge 
particulars  as  to  the  quantity  of  Manchester  cottons  and  Stafford- 
shire pots  and  pans-  which  have  lately  entered  '■  thy  gates,  O 
Jerusalem  I  "  Says  the  Consul,  eighteen  thousand  pounds'  worth 
of  calicoes  and  shirtings  have  been  imported  into  "  Zion,"  and 
six  thousand  pounds'  worth  of  hardware.  Moreover,  although 
the  attempt  to  supply  the  city  with  water  from  the  pools  of 
Solomoil  has  failed,  and  the  American  colony  is  no  success,  they 
are  still  doing  great  things  in  a  small  way — making  a  carriage- 
able path  down  to  Jaffa,  and  clearing  the  road  to  Jericho  of  the 
thieves  who  linger  there,  as  they  do  on  most  other  roads,  long 
after  the  Samaritan  has  disappeared.  The  sleepy,  dim,  half-alive 
official  report  is  a  perfectly  fair  incture  of  the  sleepy,  dim,  half- 
alive  capital  which  is  so  ancient  and  was  so  holy.  There  she 
stands  now,  the  •'  city  of  God,"  a  drab  and  whitewashed  mass  of 
mean  houses,  straggling  over  her  ragged  enceinte,  inside  the 
girdle  of  her  useless  walls.  Those  walls,  and  a  few  commanding 
objects,  like  the  domes  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre,  and  of  the  harem, 
make  her  retain  a  certain  vestige  of  her  greatness  :  but  with 
the  far  vision  of  the  heart  must  that  eye  see,  to  which  Jerusalem 
can  now  appear  anything  but  an  ugly,  hot,  mean,  stagnant 
town.  From  one  point,  perhaps,  the  bend  of  the  path  to  Bethany, 
some  queenly  state  lingers  about  the  place  which  Titus  found 
almost  too  beautiful  to  ruin,  and  over  which,  at  that  very  spot, 
the  eyes  that  wept  for  Lazarus  shed  Divine  tears.  There  the 
great  masonry  of  Solomon  makes  a  foreground,  and  the  blue  and 
green  cirque  of  the  Great  Mosque  promises  the  traveller  what 
he  will  not  realise.  But,  from  any  other  point — and,  more  than 
all,  upon  entering  the  streets — this  centre  of  the  thought  of 
Cly:istondom  is  as  unlike  the  metropolis  of  religion  and  of  civi- 


It  is  the  high  pri- 
vili.ge  of  a  true 
believer  to  sea 
nothing  between 
God  and  his  Koul 
i  bu t  tlie  Lord 
i  Jesus  Christ. 

g  Percy  Anee. 


a  "  That  is,  the 
subject  of  men's 
praise  and  admi- 
ration, the  glory 
of  which  re- 
dounds to  Grod, 
who  is  her  pro- 
tector."—iouf  A. 

6  Comp.  Vs. 
cxxxi.x.    14 ;    l3. 


c  Je.  .\xxii.  43. 

(f  "  To  '  rever;e 
the  captivity ' 
does  not  here 
mean  to  restore 
the  captives  from 
their  exile,  bufc 
to  restore  the 
country  fi-om  the 
circumstances  of 
desolation  to  wh. 
it  had  been  re- 
duced, although 
this  naturally 
presupposed  the 
restoration  of  it;* 
in  habitants." — 
Henderson, 

"When,   on   one 
occaifion,  a  crowd 
of  crusaders  ap- 
!  preached  the 
j  Holy    City,   and 
]  caught   tl;e  first 
I  fight  of  its  spires 
!  through  the  blue 
[  luminous  tre- 
I  mors  of  the  dis- 
1  tance,  some  knelt 
in   silent   praise, 
I  some   kissed  the 
I  ear th,      some 
I  prayed,      and 
I  laughed,     and 
I  wept     in      wild 
I  emotion;    and 
'  knight       and 
palmer,  old  man 
and   little   child, 
joined     to    raise 
the   cry,    '  Jeru- 
salem,    Jerusa- 
lem 1 '  "-<StoH/flrA 


128 


JERFMIMI. 


[Cap.  xxxiii.  12-18. 


•«  The  Christian 
must  lie  like  the 
sun  ;  bnt  he  must 
not  he  like  He/e- 
Idah'ssun,  which 
•went  backwarils; 
nor  like  Joshuas 
sun,  wliioh  stodil 
Btill ;  but  he  must 
be  like  David's 
sun,  which  re- 
joices as  a  ffiant 
to  run  his  race." 
—Bishop  Hall. 

"Christianity 

hasKivpii  to  truth 
a  (lifjiiity  iiule- 
penclent  of  time 
and  numbers.  It 
has  required  tliat 
truth  shoulil  be 
believed  and  res- 
pected for  itself." 
—  Vinet. 

t  Daily  Telegraph. 


«Is.  Lrv.  10;  Je. 
L19. 

h  " '  Every  shep- 
herd tells  his 
tale,'  i.e.  '  counts 
the  number  of 
his  sheep.'  "  — 
Millo/i's  L'Al- 
leyt-o. 

"  Shepherds  in 
Bendiun;  forth 
and  b  r  i  n  g  i  n  {? 
b.ack  their  sheep 
to  the  fold,  count 
them  by  striking 
each  as  it  jiasses 
with  a  rod." — 
Fnii.inet. 

c  "  '  I  will  make 
to  rise,'  God's 
promise  havinf? 
fora  tiiue.seemeil 
to  lie  dead  and 
abor  ti  ve."  — 
Calvin. 

vv.  14-2G.  Dr. 
/i.  Gordon,  iv. 
180. 

d  Paxlon. 

a  "The  name  is 
here    given    to 


ligation  as  a  Bedouin  camp,  or  the  7ilace  that  most  reserables  it 
in  situation — the  Constantina  of  Alg-eria.  Filth,  poverty,  dust, 
heat,  disease,  and  fleas  are  ihe  penuine  native  commodities  of 
modern  Jeru^^alem.  The  chief  feature  of  the  yellow,  punburnt 
suburb  outside  the  Damascus  ofate  prepares  the  pilfrnm  well  for 
the  interior.  Ris'ht  and  left  he  observes  vast  numbers  of  tomb- 
stones, cut  or  iiainted  with  Hebrew  letter.s — a  j2;reat  camp  of  the 
dead  ! — a  "  multitude  which  no  man  can  number  '• — husUiug  and 
elbowing  one  another  all  down  the  Valley  of  Jehoshaphat  round 
to  Siloam,  up  the  slope  of  Olivet,  and  on  both  sides  of  waterless 
Kedron,  for  room  to  lie  under  the  walls  of  Salem.  There  are 
the  g-raves  of  Jews  wlio  have  come  from  all  jiarts  of  the  earth  to 
die  in  the  holy  air,  and  to  be  ready  for  the  judgment-day  at 
Tophet,  without  the  pain  of  having-  to  find  their  way  underneath 
the  ground  to  the  spot  where  they  think  all  flesh  will  be  sum- 
moned to  the  "  dread  assize."  Fitly  does  the  pilgrim  pass  through 
this  suburb  of  the  dead  into  the  dead  city,  "  mooning  in '"  on  his 
weary  mule  or  camel,  along  ■with  a  few  IVIanchester  calicoes  and 
Staffordshire  pots,  perchance,  or,  it  may  be,  with  a  wrinkled 
olive-seller  or  two,  bearing  friiitas  wrinkled  from  the  old  gnarled 
trees  in  Gethsemane.  What  he  will  see  after  he  passes  the  knot 
of  lepers,  winking  and  blinking  with  rotting  visages  in  the 
sun,  are  tumble-down  hovels,  grimy,  dark  lanes,  squalid  bazaars, 
frowsy,  dejected  Fellaheen,  slinking  Arabs,  sleepy  Turks,  miserable 
Israelites,  rascally-looking  Christians  ;  no  life,  no  joy,  no  stir,  no 
colour  in  the  ••  y)lace  of  David  ;"  only  the  state  of  things  which 
this  report  depicts,  when  not  a  shirt  apiece  is  bought  in  the  year, 
and  the  main  road  from  the  Jaffa  gate  to  the  sea  remains,  and  is 
likely  to  remain,  a  break-neck  mule-path.'    • 

12 — 14.  (12)  habitation  .  .  down,"  the  free  occupation  of 
the  land  by  shepherds  is  an  effective  indication  of  its  peaceful 
and  secure  condition.  (i;{)  telleth,  i.e.  counteth.''  (14)  good 
thing,  or  good  word  :  ch.  xxix.  1(>,  xxiii.  5,  C.« 

Numhering  the  floclts. — It  was  the  custom  of  more  accurate  or 
severe  masters  to  number  their  flocks  in  the  morning  Avhen  they 
went  out  to  pasture,  and  again  in  the  evening  when  they  returned 
to  the  fold.  But  the  most  indulgent  masters  seem  to  have  always 
numbered  their  flocks  in  the  evening  ;  a  fact  clearly  attested  by 
Virgil  iu  the  close  of  his  sixth  Eclogue  : 

"  Cogere  donee  oves  stabulis  numcmmque  referre 
Jussit,  et  invito  processit  vesper  Olympo." 

"  Till  vesper  warned  the  shepherds  to  pen  their  sheep  in  tlie  folds 
and  recount  their  number ;  and  advanced  on  the  -sky.  full  loth  to 
lose  the  song."  Agreeably  to  this  custom,  the  Prophet  Jeremiah 
is  directed  by  the  Spirit  of  God  to  in-omise,  "  The  flocks  shall  pa.ss 
again  under  the  hands  of  him  that  tc^Ueth  theni,  saith  the  Loi-d." 
The  reference  of  these  words  to  the  rod  of  the  shejiherd  number- 
ing his  flock,  when  they  return  from  the  pasture,  apiiears  from 
the  verse  immediately  preceding  :  '•  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  Ilo.sts, 
Again  in  this  place,  which  is  de.'^olate.  without  man  and  \\'iihout 
beast,  and  iu  all  the  cities  thereof,  shall  be  an  habitation  of 
shepherds,  causing  their  flocks  to  lie  down."'' 

15—18.  (!.")  branch,  ch.  xxiii.  5.  (ic.)  oiTr  righteousness, 
Hcb.  Jchoiah-tmikcnu.'    (17;  never  want  a  man,  JItb.  '•  there 


Cap.  xxxiii.  19—22,] 


JE  RE  ill  An. 


129 


'   The  perpetuity  of  the  kinj^'doin,  I  Jerus.,  i.e.  to  tlie 
only  reuiised   .spiritually    iu    the    .'".'l',"';!:''-: .''"••  ^M« 
the 


shall  not  be  cut  off  from  David 

and   the    Levitical    order,    are    only  realised   tjjiritually 
Messiah.*      (18)  Levites,    these   stand  here   to   represent 
restoration  of  the  religious  and  ceremonial  sj'stem. 

IliU  and  his  (janlcner. — -The  Eev.  llowlaud  Hill  had  great 
reason  to  rejoice  iu  the  consistent  lives  and  zealous  devotion  to 
God  of  many  of  his  people  at  Wotton.  There  was  amongst  them 
a  person  of  the  name  of  Rugg-,  of  a  piety  so  deep,  and  of  a  life 
BO  useful  and  unblemished,  that  even  his  enemies  admired  and 
were  awed  by  his  character.  Mr.  Hill's  gardener  at  Wotton,  who 
had  always  passed  for  an  honest,  quiet  sort  of  man,  was  at  length 
discovered  to  have  been  the  perpetrator  of  several  burglaries  and 
other  daring  robberies  in  the  neighbourhood,  though  he  had.  till 
caught  in  the  fact,  never  been  even  suspected.  He  was  tried  at 
Gloucester,  condemned,  and  executed.  It  need  scarcely  be  said 
that  his  master  visited  him  in  jail.  Dui'ing  his  interview  with 
him  there,  he  confessed  the  many  crimes  of  which  he  had  been 


her  business 
ui  e  d  i  a  t  e  1  y  to 
work  on  earth 
thut  righteuus- 
iiesswLicliClirist 
works  fib.solute- 
\y:'—Siik.  Com. 
h  2  Sa.  vii.  16; 
Ps.  Ix.xxix.  29. 
The  brightest 
Christian,  in  his 
graces  is  not 
unlike  the  sea, 
wliich  never  con- 
tinues long  at 
high  water  mark. 
"In  tlie  cliannel 
through  u'liicU  a 
running  stream 
is  directed  upon 


guilty.     '■  How  was  it,  William,"  he  inquired,  "  that  you  never   '^  ™''^  wheel,  the 

robbed  me,  when  you  had  such  abundant  opportunity.'"'     "Sir." 

replied  he,  "do  you  recollect  the  juniper  bush  on  the  border 

against  the  dining-room .'     I  have  many  times  hid  under  it  at 

night,  intending,  which  I  could  easily  have  done,  to  get  into  the 

house  and  plunder  it  ;  but.  sir.  I  was  afraid  :  something  said  to 

me,  He  is  a  man  of  God  :  it  is  a  house  of  prayer  ;  if  I  break  in  I 

Bhall  surely  be  found  out  :  so  I  never  could  pluck  up  courage  to 

attempt  it."     In  another  conversation  he  told  him,  "Sir,  I  well 

knew  that  old  Mr.  Rugg  was  iu  the  habit  of  carrying-  a  deal  of 

money  in  his  pocket :  times  and  times  have  I  hid  behind  the 

hedge  of  the  lane  leading  to  his  house — he  has  passed  within  a 

yard  of  me,  vs'hen  going  home  from  the  prayer-meeting,  again 

and  again  ;  I  could  not  stir  ;  I  durst  not  touch  so  holy  a  man.     I 

■was  afraid.     I  always  began  to  tremble  as  soon  as  he  came  near 

me.  and  gave  up  the  thought  altogether,  for  I  knew  he  was  a 

holy  man."<^ 

day,  conceive  of  the  Divine  ordi- 
'  ch.  xxxi.  35,  30.    (21)  covenant 
(22)  host,  etc..  ch.  xxxi.  37.     Ful- 
filled spiritually  in  Christian  believers  ;   the  true  Israelites,  the 
spiritual  seed  of  Abraham. 

Jeviisdlnn  discoceric.i. — Outside  Jerusalem  how  much  remains 


19—22.  (19.  20)  break  . 
nances  in  nature  as  failing 
.  .  David,  2  Sa.  vii.  12—10. 


a  "  The  perpe- 
tual succession 
of  day  and  night, 
in  virtue  of  the 
Divine  ordinance 
to  that  eflect,  ig 
appealed  to  as  a 
pledge     of      the 

for  US  to  learn  1  The  field  has  been  scarcely  furrowed  by  the  j  the'prondse^ade 
merest  surface  plough  :  and  whole  districts,  with  many  a  nioun-  j  by  God  both  to 
tain  nook,  are  virgin  soil  to  the  Western  explorer.  AVe  have  in  i  I'avid  and  the 
the  Book  of  Joshua  the  Domesdav  Book  of  the  land  of  Israel. 


same  turning  of 
a  valve  that 
shuts  the  water 
out  of  one  course 
throws  it  into 
another.  Thus 
the  Jews,  by  re- 
jecting the  coun- 
sel of  God,  shut 
themselves  out, 
and  at  ilie  same 
moment  opened 
a  way  whereby 
mercy  m  i  g  li  t 
flow  to  us  who 
were  afar  oiT." — ■ 
Rev.  William  Ar- 
not. 
c  C'heever. 


Levites."'  —  IJeii- 

Who  yet  has  taken  that  olden  roll  in  hand,  and  verified  by  it  the  i  Comp.  Nu.  x.xt. 
Bites  and  caves,  the  living  villages  and  the  ruinous  heaps  which  !  12,  i3;Ps.  Ixxxix. 
etud  every  corner  of  the  land .'     Let  us  remember  that  what !  ^  '^^•^'^  '•  ^^^^- "• 

A  pious  man  re- 
sendiles  a  well- 
tenipcied  b'ade; 
it  may  be  turue'd 
aside  niomcn- 
tarilv,  but  there 


Let  us 
Rawlinson,  and  Layard,  and  Botta  have  done  for  the  history  of 
the  later  monarchy  in  the  motmds  of  Assyria  and  Chalda>a.  yet 
remains  to  be  done  for  Numbers  and  Joshua,  and  for  the  golden 
period  of  the  Israelitish  monarchy.     It  is  not  for  nothing,  surely, 
that  Providence  has  left  it  within  our  grasp,  in  a  sceptical  age — 
in  an  age  devoted,  bej'ond  all  others,  to  phvsical  research  and  |  '^    t'^^*  .  >"     i' 
physical  evidences— to  elucidate  the  details  of  the  Word  written,  |  cause'itTuret'ura 
by  the  numberless  illustrations  wliich  every  diligent  exploration  i  to    its    former 
of  the  land,  which  is,  as  it  were,  the  framework,  the  setting,  of  |  straightneaa. 
VOL.  IX.     O.T,  I 


130 


JEREMIAB. 


[Cap.  xxxiil.  23—23. 


>  The  Cliri.1t  ill  II 
Adcvcale  and  Uc- 
view. 


a  "  Christ  Is  tlmt 
eeeil  of  David 
that  is  to  be 
pen'etual  dictii- 
tor  to  the  sceil 
of  Ab  ,  Is  ,  and 
Jacob ;  and  as 
this  people  shnll 
ne'.-cr  want  snch 
a  Kin.sr.  so  thii 
King  shall  never 
want  sueh  a 
■peo|ile.  Christi- 
anity shall  con- 
tinue in  the 
dominion  of 
Clirist,  and  the 
subjection  of 
Christians  to 
Him,  till  day  and 
night  come  to  an 
end."  —  Matthew 
JInni. 

1)1'.  2t— 26.  W. 
Ji.  Freemantle, 
Jihoms.  Lee.  v. 
78.    ^ 

"  At  one  time, 
■when  a  pious 
minister  of  the 
Go-;pel  was  pass- 
ing over  a  hill,  a 
lark,  pursued  by 
a  hawk,  took  re- 
fuge in  lii->  bo- 
som; he  kindly 
lolged  tlie  little 
refugee,  till, hav- 
ing reached  a 
considerable  dis- 
tance from  its 
p?rsecu!or.  he 
gave  it  liberty 
to  snar  and  sing 
in  si'.fety.  The 
cir  cum  stance 
suggested  to  his 
mind  a  train  of 
happy  till  ughts. 
vh.  he  bi-duyht 
forward  in  a 
discourse  from 
Ps,alm  xxxiv.  22, 
'  The  Lord  r  •- 
deemeth  the  soul 
of  His  servants  : 
andn^neof  tin  m 
tliattruitinlliiM 
shall  be  <leso- 
late.'  '  —  Whi.e- 
truss. 
%  U.  W.  Beechcr. 


tlie  Divine  history,  at  ouce  affords.  It  mattei's  nothing  to  thej 
truth  of  God's  Word  whore  stood  the  temple  of  Solomon,  where 
are  buried  the  ruins  of  C'ai)eruaum,  where  Israel  pitehcd  their 
teuts  in  the  wilderness,  where  John  preached  the  bai:)tism  of 
repentance  ;  but  it  does  matter  something  to  our  understanding 
of  that  Word,  that  we  should  be  able  to  show  its  minute  and 
exact  accordance  with  the  existing  facts  of  local  toi>ugraphy.* 

23—26.  (li3,  24)  two  families,  i.e.  the  two  kingdoms  of 
Israel  and  Judah.  before  them,  or  in  their  judgment.  Those 
who  think  thus  of  Israel  and  Judah  are  the  Chalda3ans  :  or,  more 
generally,  those  who  thought  the  Jews  would  never  be  restored 
to  their  former  condition.  (2.">)  covenant,  r.  20.  (20)  then, 
but  not  till  then."     will  cause,  etc.,  ch.  xxxii.  44. 

JV'-rr.t.sUy  of  cin-rrrt  hrllrf. — Go  into  New  York,  and  in  the  Sixth 
Ward  you  shall  find  two  representative  men.  One  says,  "  I  voted 
for  the  judge,  and  helped  to  put  him  where  he  is,  and  he  will 
wink  at  my  crimes.  I  can  drink  as  much  as  I  please,  on  Sundays 
and  on  week-days,  and  he  will  not  disturb  me.  He  is  easy  and 
good-natured,  and  he  is  not  going  to  be  hard  with  me  if  I  do 
break  the  laws  a  little."  And  the  man,  bccau.se  he  believes  that 
the  judge  does  not  care  for  his  wickedness,  and  will  not  punish 
him,  grows  bold  and  corrupt  in  transgression.  But  at  length  he 
is  brought  before  the  court,  and  he  iinds  there,  instead  of  his 
bribed  judge,  a  white-faced  man — not  red-faced  ;  one  of  those 
mt  n  with  a  long  head  upward — not  backward  and  downward  :  a 
man  with  a  full  sense  of  the  value  of  justice  and  truth.  The 
culprit  begins  his  shuffling  excuses.  The  judge  listens  to  none 
of  them  ;  he  reads  the  law,  and  says,  '■  Your  conduct  is  herein 
condemned,"  and  sends  him  away  to  receive  his  just  deserts. 
When  the  man  has  expiated  his  crime,  he  goes  around  in  the 
same  ward,  and  says,  '•  You  must  walk  straight  hereafter.  The 
judge  that  sits  on  the  bench  now  is  not  the»jolly  old  judge  that 
used  to  sit  there.  If  you  go  before  him,  he  will  make  you 
smart."  Docs  it  not  make  a  difference  what  a  man  believes  about 
a  judge?  If  he  believes  that  he  is  a  lenient,  conniving  judge, 
does  it  not  make  him  careless  ?  And  if  he  believes  that  he  is  a 
straightforward  judge,  does  it  not  make  him  afraid  of  trans- 
gression I  Now  lift  up  the  judge's  bench,  and  make  it  the 
judgment-seat ;  and  take  out  the  human  judge,  and  put  God 
Almighty  there.  If  men  believe  Him  to  be  an  all-smiling  God — 
a  God  that  is  all  sunshine,  an  all-sympathising  God — a  God  that 
is  nothing  but  kindness,  and  goodness,  and  gentleness,  they  say 
to  themselves,  "  We  will  do  as  we  have  a  mind  to."  Take  away 
that  miserable  slander  upon  the  revealed  character  of  God,  and 
lift  up  the  august  front  of  Justice,  on  whose  brow  love  proudly 
sits,  and  let  men  see  that  there  is  a  vast  heart  of  love  and  gentle- 
ness indeed,  but  one  that  will  by  no  means  clear  the  guilty,  and 
they  will  take  more  heed  to  their  conduct.  Does  it,  then,  make 
no  difference  what  a  man  believes  about  Gods  nature,  and  His 
manner  of  dealing"  with  men  ?  It  makes  all  the  difference  between 
laxity  and  earnestness,  between  an  endeavour  to  live  truly  and 
no  endeavour  at  all  in  that  dhectiou  ;  between  right  and  wrong 
conduct.* 


Cap.  xxxiv.  1—7.] 


JEREMIAH. 


131 


CHAPTER  THE  THIRTY-FOURTH. 

1—3.  (1)  kingdoms  .  .  dominion,  ILh.  "The  dominion  of 
his  hand.'' "  people,  or  peoples,  races,  tribes,  under  liis  rule.'' 
(2)  burn  it,  a  sign  of  the  exasperated  state  of  Nebuchadnezzar's 
mind.  The  fate  of  the  city  would  be  unusually  hard.  This 
prophecy  of  Jer.'s  specially  threatened  the  king.  (3)  taken, 
ch.  xxxii.  4. 

From  Jerumlem  to  Jericho. — A  journey  into  the  country  of  the 
Bedouin  Arabs  requires  to  be  taken  under  their  guidance  and 
protection.  They  by  such  means  levy  black-mail  on  all  travellers 
who  pass  through  their  country.  It  seems  singular  that  the 
Sultan  does  not  provide  guards  or  make  the  roads  safe.  But  it 
seems  to  be  a^.part  of  the  peculiar  misgovernment  of  the  country 
to  allow  the  Bedouin  tribes  of  each  locality  to  levy  contributions 
on  travellers,  or,  in  other  words,  to  rob  them  of  conduct  money. 
Travellers  have  to  purchase  the  protection  of  the  Bedouins  of  the 
Jordan  against  all  enemies  of  their  own  or  neighbouring  tribes  ; 
and  the  agreement  is  to  the  effect  that  they  shall  be  taken  by 
the  Sheik  Eeschid  and  a  jjroper  guard  to  the  Dead  Sea  and  the 
Jordan,  and  back  in  safety  to  Jerusalem.  Without  such  pro- 
tection the  journey  is  simply  impossible,  and  there  is  an  amusing 
account  of  a  lady  and  gentleman  who  had  attempted  the  trip 
without  the  formality  of  a  Bedouin  guard,  and  who  had  been 
met  and  robbed  of  their  bag'gage,  their  money,  clothes,  and 
valuables,  the  gentleman  having  to  beg  of  the  IJedouin  robbers 
the  Timc.^  newspaper  in  which  to  clothe  himself  and  his  wife. 
The  husband  returned  to  Jerusalem  in  that  valuable  journal,  his 
wife  being  wrapped  up  in  the  supplement.^ 

4 — 7.  (4)  thou  .  .  sword,  this  assurance,  however,  implies 
his  caiitivity.  (5)  burnings,  etc..  receiving  the  honours  of  a 
roj-al  funeral."  ((>,  7)  Lachisll,  2  Ki.  xviii.  K5,  xix.  8.  These 
were  outlj'ing  fortresses  Avhich,  at  the  time  of  the  proj^hecy,  had 
not  fallen  into  Nebuchadnezzar's  hands. 

Ancf/(iri/  of  death.. — Now  I  further  saw,  that  betwixt  them  and 
the  gate  was  a  river  :  but  there  was  no  bridge  to  go  over,  and 
the  river  was  very  deeji.  jVt  the  sight,  therefore,  of  this  river, 
the  pilgrims  were  much  stunned  ;  but  the  men  that  went  with 
them  said,  "You  must  go  through,  or  you  cannot  come  at  the 
gate."  They  then  addressed  themselves  to  the  water  ;  and,  enter- 
ing, Chi'istian  began  to  sink  :  and,  cr3'ing  out  to  his  good  friend 
Hopeful,  he  said.  "  I  sink  in  deeji  waters  :  the  billows  go  over  my 
head  ;  all  his  waves  go  over  me."  Then  said  the  other,  "  Be  of 
good  cheer,  my  brother  :  I  feel  the  bottom,  and  it  is  goo>'l."  Then 
said  Cliristian,  "  Ah  !  my  friend,  the  sorrow  of  death  hath  com- 
passed me  about :  I  shall  not  see  the  land  that  flows  with  milk 
and  honey."'  And  with  that  a  great  darkness  and  horror  fell 
upon  Christian,  so  that  he  could  not  see  before  him.  Hopeful, 
therefore,  here  had  much  ado  to  keep  his  brother's  head  above 
water  ;  yea,  sometimes  he  would  be  quite  gone  down,  and  then 
ere  a  while  would  rise  up  again  half  diiad.  Hopeful  did  also 
endeavour  to  comfort  him,  saying,  "  Brother.  I  see  the  gate,  and 
men  standing  by  to  receive  us  : "  but  Christian  would  answer. 
"  It  is  you  they  wait  for  :  you  have  been  hopeful  ever  since  I 

12 


a  "  This  predic- 
tion belongs  in 
point  of  time  to 
ch.  xx.xii.  1 — 5, 
and  is  merely  an 
aniplificatiou  of 
whut  is  con- 
tained in  those 
XV.  It  was  con- 
sequently deli- 
vered before  Je- 
r  e  m  i  a  h  was 
placed  in  cus- 
tody." —  Hender- 
son. 

b  "The  verbose 
description  well 
suits  the  pomp  of 
an  Oriental 
armj"  ;  and  also 
describes  the 
fact,  tlrat  such  an 
army  consisted 
of  a  loose  aggre- 
gate of  tributary 
and  half  -  con- 
quered nations 
and  tribes,  held 
together  by  the 
personal  iufin- 
euceof  oueman." 
— Spk.  Com. 

c  Jewish  ChrO' 
n icle. 

a  "  It  was  cus- 
tomary among 
tlie  .lews,  at  the 
funeral  of  their 
kingf,  esp.  of 
those  whose  me- 
mory they  ho- 
noured, to  pre- 
pare a  bed  of 
spices  (2  Chr. 
xvi.  14),  which 
they  made  a  per- 
fume of  by  burn- 
ing tliem,  and 
therein  to  depo- 
sit tlie  body  of 
the  deceased 
prince." —  Lowth. 

"  I  wish  a  char- 
acter as  decisive 
as  that  of  a  lion 
or  a  tiger,  and  an 
imijetus  towards 
t  !i  e  important 
objects  of  my 
choice  as  forcible 
as  theirs  towards 
prey  and  hostil- 
ity; wish  to  have 
an  extensive  at- 
mosphere of  con- 
sciousness; a  soul 


132 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  xxxlv.  8—16. 


wliich  can  min- 
gle with  every 
element  in  every 
form,  wliicli,  like 
an  iEolian  liarp, 
arrests  even  the 
ViiKrant  winds, 
and  makes  them 
music."  -•  J. 
Foster. 

h  liunyan. 


a  De.  XV.  12. 
6  Je.  x.xxvii.    7, 
also    xx.\iT.     21, 
22. 

"  Jesus  Christ 
not  only  calleil 
Lazarus  into  life, 
but  He  com- 
manded tlie 
grave-clothes  to 
be  taken  off  liiin, 
that  he  might 
have  libprly  in 
life.  Life,  with- 
out liberty  from 
the  grave- 
olotlies,  would 
Bcarcely  have 
been  a  blessing. 
So  Jesus  Christ 
not  only  gives 
life  to  the  soul 
which  believes  in 
Him  ;  lie  also 
ctimniands  the 
Spirit  to  descend 
upon  liim.  to  set 
him  free  from  all 
enslaving  habits. 
'  If  the  Sou  make 
yon  free,  ye  shall 
be  free  indeed.'  " 
— frihn  /iile. 
e  W.  Umilh. 
"  Wlien  I  see  the 
spirit  of  liberty 
in  action,  I  see  a 
strong  principle 
at  work  ;and  tliis 
for  a  while  is  all 
I  can  possibly 
know  of  it.  The 
wild  gas,  the  fi.'ced 
air,  is  plainly 
broke  loose  ;  bnt 
we  ought  to  sus- 
pend our  judg- 
ment, until  the 
first  e  fV  e  r  V  e  s- 
oence  is  a  little 
BUhsided,  till  the 
licnior  is  cleared, 
and  until  we  see 
something  deeper 
than  tlie  agita- 
tion of  a  troubled 
imd  frothy  sub- 


knew  you."  "  And  bo  have  you,"  said  he  to  Christian.  '•  Ah, 
brother  ! "  said  he,  '•  surely,  if  I  •was  right.  He  would  now  rise  to 
help  me  ;  but  for  my  sins  lie  hath  brought  me  into  the  snare, 
and  hath  left  me."  Then  I  saw  in  my  dream  that  Christian  was 
in  a  muse  a  while.  To  whom.  also.  Hopeful  added  these  words, 
"  Be  of  good  cheer  ;  Jesus  Christ  maketli  thee  whole."  And  with 
that  Christian  brake  out  with  a  loud  voice,  '•  Oh !  I  see  Him 
again,  and  lie  tells  me,  '  When  thou  passest  through  the  waters,  I 
will  be  with  thee  ;  and  through  the  rivers,  they  shall  not  over- 
flow thee.' "  Then  they  both  took  courage,  and  the  enemy  was 
after  that  as  still  as  a  stone  until  they  were  gone  over.* 

8—11.  (8)  proclaim  liberty,  Ex.  xxi.  2.  "By  the  law  a 
Hebrew,  after  having  been  a  bond-servant  for  six  years,  on  the 
seventh  was  to  be  let  go  free.""  (D)  serve  him.self  of,  i.r. 
make  the  Hebrew  serve  him.  (10)  obeyed,  carried  out  the 
wishes  of  tlie  king,  who  prob.  adopted  tliis  policy  to  secure  fresh 
drafts  of  soldiers.  The  Prophet  sees  in  it  a  hopeful  return  to  the 
obedience  of  the  Mosaic  law.  (11)  turned,  e/c.  this  was  during 
the  time  that  the  Chaldasans  raised  the  siege,  prob.  in  order  to 
meet  an  Egyptian  army.* 

Love  of  I'lbcrty. — John  Milton,  the  chief  of  poets,  held  the  post 
of  Latin  Secretary  under  Cromwell.  At  the  restoration  he  was 
of  course  dismissed  from  his  office.  He  was  now  poor  and  blind, 
and  to  these  afflictions  Charles  II.  added  political  persecutions  ; 
he  fined  him,  and  doomed  his  writings  on  liberty  to  be  publicly 
burned.  Nothing  daitnted  by  these  fierce  and  muUiplicd  trials, 
the  great  poet  retired  into  private  life,  evoked  his  mighty  genius, 
and  produced  Pavadine  Lost.  But  after  he  had  endured  the  ill3 
of  poverty  several  years,  Charles,  feeling  the  need  of  his  match- 
less talents,  invited  hiin  to  resume  his  former  post,  with  all  its 
honours,  emoluments,  and  court  favours.  But  Milton  knew  that 
the  price  of  this  honour  must  be  silence  on  the  great  question  of 
human  liberty.  Therefore  he  did  not  hesitate  a  moment.  It 
was  a  strong  temi^tation — the  bribe  was  splendid.  By  merely 
keeping  silence,  he  could  have  honour,  abundance,  and  high 
position,  in  exchange  for  poverty,  persecution,  and  neglect !  But 
this  could  not  be.  The  poet  loved  truth  too  well.  His  soul  was 
too  noble,  too  sincere,  too  firm  in  its  allegiance  to  God  and  liberty, 
to  barter  away  its  right  to  condemn  tyranny  for  jdace  or  gold. 
Hence  he  spurned  the  royal  offer,  and  clung  to  his  princijiles  and 
his  poverty,  until  death  called  his  free  soul  to  enter  its  congenial 
heaven.  And  so  gentle  was  the  summons,  so  sweetly  calm  was 
his  unruffled  spirit  to  the  hour  of  dissolution,  that  his  friends 
knew  not  the  precise  moment  of  his  death.'' 

12 — 16.  (12)  therefore,  on  account  of  this  insulting  act  of 
disobedience.  (13.  U)  covenant,  etc.,  Ex.  xxi.  2  :  De.  xv.  12. 
It  seems  that  the  last  year  of  Zedekiah  was  the  Sabbatical  year. 
It  seems  that  the  Sabbatical  years  had  beea  altogether  neglected 
for  a  long  time  previous  to  the  captivity,  (l.'i)  done  right, 
they  had  seemed  to  be  correcting  their  fault,  in  the  house, 
or  T(>mple.  This  indicates  that  the  matter  had  been  i)ublic  and 
solemn,  being  transacted  in  the  Temple.  The  insult  of  the  dis- 
obedience was  therefore  the  more  marked.  (1(J)  turned,  again 
to  the  old  wilful  ways. 


Cap,  xxxiv.  17-  22.] 


JEREMIAB. 


133 


Christian  liberti/. — 

Grace  makes  the  slave  a  freeman.     'Tis  a  change 

That  turns  to  ridicule  the  turgid  speecli 

And  stately  tone  of  moralists,  who  boast 

As  if,  like  him  of  fabulous  renown, 

They  had  indeed  ability  to  smooth 

The  shag  of  savage  nature,  rind  were  each 

An  Orpheus,  and  omnipotent  in  song  : 
*       But  transformation  of  apostate  man 

From  fool  to  wise,  from  earthly  to  divine, 

Is  woi'k  for  Him  that  made  him.     He  alone. 

And  He  by  means,  in  philosophic  eyes 

Trivial  and  worthy  of  disdain,  achieves 

The  wonder  ;  humanising  what  is  brute 

In  the  lost  kind,  extracting  from  the  lips 

Of  asps  their  venom,  overpowering  strength 

By  weakness,  and  hostility  by  love.  .  .  . 

He  is  the  freeman  whom  the  truth  makes  free, 

And  all  are  slaves  besides." 
17 — 22.  (17)  liberty  to  you,  freedom  fr.  the  Divine  protec- 
tion, which  will  leave  you  a  hopeless  prey  to  your  enemies.  (18) 
cut  the  calf,  referring  to  the  significant  rite  by  which  the 
covenant  was  sealed."  Ge.  xv.  10.  (19)  princes  of  Judah, 
"territorial  magnates."  (20)  dead,  etc..  ch.  vii.  33,  xvi.  4.  (21) 
gone  up  from  you,  or  have  temporarily  raised  the  siege.  (22j 
return,  and  complete  their  work. 

Difidi/if/  ricliin.i  fov  saenfice. — It  was  a  customary  thing  to 
cut  the  victim  (which  was  to  be  offered  as  a  sacrifice  uijon  the 
occasion)  into  two  jiarts,  and  so  placing  each  half  upon  a  different 
altar,  to  cause  those  who  contracted  the  covenant  to  pass  between 
them  (Gen.  sv.  9,  10,  17).  This  rite  was  practised  both  by 
believers  and  heathens  at  their  solemn  leagues— at  first  doubtless 
■with  a  view  to  the  great  Sacrifice,  who  v.'as  to  purge  our  sins  in 
His  own  blood  ;  and  the  offering  of  these  sacrifices,  and  passing 
between  the  parts  of  the  divided  victim,  was  symbolically  staking 
their  hojies  of  purification  and  salvation  on  their  performance  of 
the  conditions  on  which  it  was  offered.  This  remarkable  prac- 
tice may  be  clearly  traced  in  the  Greek  and  Latin  writers. 
Homer  has  the  following  expression,  "  Having  cut  faithful 
oaths."  Eustathius  explains  the  passage  by  saying  they  were 
oaths  relating  to  important  matters,  and  were  made  by  the  divi- 
sion of  the  victim.  The  editor  of  the  Fragments  Si(j}j)hnicntar>j 
to  Calmct  is  of  opinion  that  what  is  yet  practised  of  this  cere- 
mony may  elucidate  that  passage  in  Isa.  xxviii.  1.5,  "We  have 
made  a  covenant  with  death,  and  with  hell  are  we  at  agreement ; 
when  the  overflowing  scourge  shall  pass  through,  it  shall  not 
come  unto  us,  for  we  have  made  lies  our  refuge,  and  under  false- 
hoods have  we  hid  ourselves  ;"  i.e.  we  have  cut  off  a  covenant 
sacrifice,  a  purification  offering  with  death,  and  with  the  grave 
we  have  settled,  so  that  the  scourge  shall  not  injure  us.  Tiie 
following  superstition  is  related  by  Pitts:  "If  the  Algerine 
corsairs,  at  any  time,  happen  to  be  in  a  very  great  strait  or  dis- 
tress, as  being  chased,  or  in  a  storm,  they  will  gather  money, 
light  up  candles  in  remembrance  of  some  dead  marrabot  (saint) 
or  other,  calling  upon  him  with  heavy  sighs  and  groans.  If  they 
find  no  succour  from  their  before-mentioned  rites  and  eupcrsti- 


stance.  I  must 
be  loletably  sure, 
before  1  congra- 
tulate men  upon 
a  llessing,  tliat 
they  liave  really 
received  one. 
Flattery  corrupts 
bot'i  the  receiver 
and  giver,  and 
adulation  is  not 
of  more  service 
to  the  people 
than  to  kings."-— 
Burke. 

Nothing  more 
iinbecomes  a 
heavenly  hope 
than  an  earthly 
heart. 

a  Cowper. 

a  An  ancient 
writer  relates 
that  Agamem- 
non, the  Itailer  of 
the  Greeks,  at 
the  siege  of  Troy, 
"  to  confirm  his 
faith  sworn  to 
Achilles,  ordered 
victims  to  be 
brought.  He 
took  one,  and 
with  his  sword 
dicided  it  in  the 
midsl,  placed  the 
pieces  opposite  to 
each  other,  and 
holding  his 
sword,  reeking 
with  the  b'ood, 
passed  between 
the  separated 
pieces." 

"Passing  be- 
tween the  divi- 
ded pieces  im- 
l>lied  the  willing- 
ness of  the 
parties  to  be  so 
treated,  if  they 
failed  in  adlier- 
ing  to  the  stijni- 
lations."  —  JJtn- 
derson. 

V.  18.  J.  C.  Die- 
leric,  Ant.  633. 
"0  Liberty, 
parent  of  happi- 
ness,  celestial- 
born  !  When  t.  e 
first  man  bec.une 
a  living  soul,  his 
sacred  genius 
tliou.  Be  Bri- 
tain's care;  with 
her  secure,  pro- 
long thy  loved 
retreat  ;  thcno* 
bless     mankind; 


134 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  XXXV.  1—6. 


■wliile  yet  among 
bor  sons,  ev' II  yet 
tliere  are,  to 
Pliii'lii  thine  equal 
1  a  w  s,  \v  li  o  s  e 
bosoms  kintUc  at 
tlie  s;icre'l  names 
of  (Veil.  Ualei^'h, 
WuNiiigham.aiiil 
Drake."— />yer. 

The  spiritually- 
miiidecl  Chris- 
tian, when  the 
sun  of  riglitcous- 
upss  shines  upon 
liis  path,  looks 
xipou  all  his  sins 
as  upon  his 
shadow,  viz.,  as 
"  cast  behind  bis 
IWik." 


a  Ex.  Tviii.  9  ; 
Kn.  X.  29,  32; 
Ju.  i.  16  ;  1  Chr. 
ii.  55. 

"This  tribe  came 
into  Palestine 
with  the  Israel- 
ites, but,  in  order 
to  maintain  their 
j  n  depen  d<'nce, 
they  led  a  noma- 
dic life,  without 
fi.vcd  settle- 
ments,  and  so 
were  able  with- 
out difficulty  to 
remove  on  an.f 
attempt  being 
made  to  subdue 
them." — Il^tider- 
snn. 

"Therearemany 
traces  of  the 
K  e  c  h  a  b  i  tes  at 
present.  Tliey 
livH  entirely  iso- 
lated, will  not  be 
recognised,  and 
shun,  or,  rather, 
bate,  all  inter- 
course and  every 
connection  with 
the  otiier  Jews. 
They  only  so- 
journ in  Arabia. 
and  for  the  m-sc 
part  on  the 
western  sh.ores  of 
the  Red  Sea.  ami 
are  engaged 
solely  in  the 
raising  of  cattle. 
They  are  called 
Arab     Hcbl),      or 


tions,  but  that  the  danger  rather  increases,  then  they  go  to 
sacrificing  a  sheep  (or  two  or  three  upon  occasion,  as  they  think 
needful ).  which  is  done  after  this  manner:  having  cut  off  the 
head  with  a  iinife.  they  immediately  take  out  the  entrails,  and 
throw  them  and  the  head  overheard,  and  then,  with  all  speed 
they  can  (without  sliiuuiug),  tney  cut  the  body  into  two  ])arts 
by  the  middle,  and  throw  one  part  over  the  right  side  of  the  ship, 
and  the  other  over  the  left,  into  the  sea,  as  a  kind  of  propitiation. 
Thus  those  blind  intidels  apply  themselves  to  imaginary  inter- 
cessors instead  of  the  living  and  true  God."  In  the  case  here 
referred  to  the  ship  passes  between  the  parts  thus  thrown  on 
each  side  of  it.  This  behaviour  of  the  Algeriues  may  be  taken 
as  a  pretty  accurate  couuterpart  to  that  of  making  a  covenant 
with  death,  and  with  imminent  danger  of  destruction,  by  ap- 
peasing the  angry  gods.  Festivities  always  accompanied  the 
ceremonies  attending  oaths.  Isaac  and  Abimclcch  feasted  at 
making  their  covenant.  Gen.  xxvi.  30  :  ''  And  he  made  them  a 
feast,  and  they  did  eat  and  drink."  Gen.  xxxi.  54:  '"Jacob 
offered  sacrifice  upon  the  Blount,  and  called  his  brethren  to  eat 
bread."    This  practice  was  also  usual  among  the  heathen  aatiouB. 


CHAPTER  THE  THIRTY-FIFTH. 

1—5.  (1)  Jelaoiakim,  the  predecessor  of  Zedekiah.  This 
prophecy  is  seventeen  years  earlier  than  the  manumission  of  the 
slaves,  narrated  in  the  prev.  ch.  (2)  Rechabites,  a  tribe  of 
Arabs,  of  the  family  of  Jethro."  wine  to  drink,  by  this  their 
firm  allegiance  to  principle  was  to  be  tested.  One  of  their  chief 
rules  was  not  to  drink  wine.  (3)  Jaazaniall,  etc.,  chief  men 
of  the  tribe  :  some  who  had  found  shelter  for  a  time  in  Jerusalem. 
(4)  chamber  .  .  princes,  these  chambers  were  round  the 
temple-courts.  This  one  may  have  been  a  kind  of  council- 
chamber,  door,  or  threshold.  (5)  drink,  observe  that  Jer. 
does  not  call  upon  them  to  drink  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  tl^en 
they  would  have  been  bound  to  obey  him. 

The  llechnhitcs. — "  On  my  arrival  at  Mesopotamia,  some  Jews 
that  I  saw  there  pointed  out  to  me  one  of  the  ancient  Rechabites. 
He  stood  before  me,  wild,  like  an  Arab,  holding  the  liridle  of  his 
horse  in  his  hand.  I  showed  him  the  Bible  in  Hebrew  and 
Arabic,  which  he  was  much  rejoiced  to  see,  as  he  could  read  both 
languages,  but  had  no  knowledge  of  the  New  Testament.  After 
having  proclaimed  to  him  the  tidings  of  salvation,  and  made 
him  a  present  of  the  Hebrew  and  Arabic  Bibles  and  Testaments, 
I  asked  him,  '  AVhose  descendant  are  you  .' '  '  Mousa.'  said  he, 
boisterously,  '  is  my  name,  and  I  \vill  show  you  who  were  my 
ancestors ; '  on  which  he  immediately  began  to  read  from  the 
nth  to  the  11th  vv.  of  Jer.  xxxv.  '  AVhere  do  you  reside  ? '  said  I. 
Turning  to  Gen.  x.  27,  he  replied:  'At  Hadoram,  now  called 
Simar  by  the  Arabs  ;  at  Uzal,  now  called  Sanau  by  the  Arabs  ;' 
and  again  referring  to  the  same  chapter,  verse  oOth.  he  continued  : 
'  At  Mesha.  now  called  IMecca,  in  the  deserts  around  those  jjlaces. 
We  drink  no  wine,  and  plant  no  vineyard,  and  sow  no  seed  :  and 
I  live  in  tents,  as  Jouadab  our  father  commanded  us  :  Hobab  was 
our  fatlier  too.    Come  to  us,  and  you  will  find  us  sixty  thousand 


Cap.  XXXV.  6—15.] 


JEREillATT. 


135 


in  number  :  and  you  see  thus  the  prophecy  has  been  fulfilled, — ■ 
Therefore,  thus  saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  the  God  of  Israel  ;  Jona- 
dab,  the  son  of  Rechab,  shall  not  want  a  man  to  stand  before  Me 
for  ever  ; '  and  saying  this,  Mousa,  the  Rechabite,  mounted  his 
horse,  and  tied  away,  and  left  behind  a  host  of  evidence  in  favour 
of  sacred  writ."* 

6—11.  (<!)  Jonadab,  2  Ki.  x.  15.  (7)  btiild  house,  etc.,^ 
all  these  thiugs  are  the  signs  of  a  settled  Iife.<»  (8)  obeyed,  etc., 
■whether  their  father's  injunction  was,  in  itself,  good  and  wise, 
or  not,  they  had  at  least  kept  it  faithfully.  ('J,  10)  tents,  which 
can  readily  be  removed  from  jjlace  to  place.  (11)  go  to  Jeru- 
salem, for  the  security  of  its  walls  and  defences.  Syrians,  or 
marauding  bauds  of  Aramisans,  wlio  took  advantage  of  the  in- 
security of  the  country  occasioned  by  the  Chaldajan  invasion. 

Praise  of  wuw. — A  good  sherris-sack  hath  a  twofold  operation 
in  it.  It  ascends  me  into  the  brain,  dries  me  there  all  the  foolish, 
dull,  and  crudy  vapours  v/hiuh  environ  it  ;  makes  it  apprehensive, 
quick,  forgetive,  full  of  nimble,  fiery,  and  delectable  shapes  ; 
which,  delivered  o'er  to  the  voice,  the  tongue,  which  is  the  birth, 
becomes  excellent  wit.  The  second  proiierty  of  your  excellent 
sherris  is,  the  warming  of  the  blood,  which,  before  cold  and 
settled,  left  the  liver  white  and  pale,  which  is  the  badge  of 
pusillanimity  and  cowardice  ;  but  the  sherris  warms  it,  and 
makes  it  course  from  the  inwards  to  the  parts  extreme.  It 
illumineth  the  face,  which,  as  a  beacon,  gives  warning  to  all  the 
rest  of  this  little  kingdom,  man,  to  arm  ;  and  then  the  vital 
commoners,  and  inland  jjetty  spirits,  muster  me  all  to  their 
captain,  the  heart ;  who,  great  and  puffed  up  with  this  retinue, 
doth  any  deed  of  courage  ;  and  this  valour  comes  of  sherris.  So 
that  skill  in  the  weapon  is  nothing  without  sack,  for  that  sets  it 
awork  :  and  learning,  a  mere  hoard  of  gold  kept  by  a  devil,  till 
sack  commences  it.  and  sets  it  in  act  and  use.  Hereof  conies  it 
that  Prince  Harry  is  valiant ;  for  the  cold  blood  he  did  naturally 
inherit  of  his  father,  he  hath,  like  lean,  sterile,  and  bare  land, 
manured,  husbanded,  and  tilled,  with  excellent  endeavour  of 
drinking  good,  and  good  store  of  fertile  sherris,  that  he  has 
become  very  hot  and  valiant.  If  I  had  a  thousand  sons,  the  first 
human  principle  I  would  teach  them  should  be,  to  forswear  thin 
potations,  and  addict  themselves  to  sack.'' 

12 — 15.  (12.  13)  my  words,  contrasted  here  with  those  of 
Jonathan.  (14)  rising  early,  the  usual  fig.  for  "earnestly." 
(1."))  all  my  servants,  contrasting  God's  many  messengers 
with  this  one  lawgiver  to  the  Eechabite.  return  ye,  etc.,  ch. 
xviii.  1 1 ,  XXV.  .5." 

D'isohcdicnce  to  Gnd  condemned  (rv.  13,  14). — Let  us  consider 
this  conijilaint — I.  Simply.  There  is  at  this  day — 1.  The  same 
re,£,"ard  for  the  commands  of  men  ;  2.  The  same  disregard  for  the 
cor.imands  of  God.  But  let  us  consider  the  complaint  more 
minutely— II.  With  its  attendant  aggravations.  1.  The  authority 
from  which  the  different  commands  proceeded  ;  2.  The  commands 
themselves  :  3.  The  manner  in  which  they  were  enforced.  Ad- 
dress— (1)  Those  who  regard  man.  and  not  God  ;  (2)  Those  who 
regard  God,  and  not  man  ;  (3)  Those  who  feel  a  united  regard 
ior  both.* 

The  sinqik'st  learner  a  true  scholar, — The  uncombed,  ragged 


Arabs  who  keep 
the      seventh 
day."  —liabbi  J. 
.'ichirartz. 
b  Wolff. 

a  Difldonis  tells 
us  tliat  tlie  Na- 
batlieans,  for  the 
preservation  of 
tlieir  wandering 
habits,  and  tliere- 
by  of  tlieir  liber- 
ty, forbade  any 
one  "  either  to 
sow  corn,  or  plant 
fruit  trees,  or 
drink  wine,  or 
build  a  house." 
"  I'here,  uiy  lad," 
said  an  Atheniaa 
once  to  a  little 
Hebrew  boy,  by 
way  of  joke, 
"  here  is  a  pruta 
(a  small  coin,  of 
less  value  than  a 
farthing),  bring 
me  something 
for  it,  of  wliich 
I  may  eat 
enough,  leave 
some  for  my 
host,  and  caiTy 
some  home  to  my 
family."  The 
witty  boy  went 
and  brought 
him  salt.  "  Salt," 
e.xclaimed  the 
Atlieniau  ; "  I  did 
not  tell  thee  to 
bring  salt  1  " 
"  Nay,"  replied 
the  boy.  archly, 
"didst  thou  not 
say,  '  Eribg  me 
of  what  I  may 
eat,  leave,  and 
take  some  home?' 
Verily  of  this 
thou  mayest  eat, 
leave  some  be- 
hind, and  still 
have  plenty  to 
carry  home."—? 
ili'drash  Evh. 
b  Sliakespeare. 

a  "I  enjoined 
nothing  unrea- 
sonable, but  sim- 
ply to  sei've  Jle, 
and  I  attached 
to  tlie  command 
a  gracious  pro- 
mise, but  in  vain. 
If  Jonadab's 
commands,  wdi. 
were  arbitrary, 
and  not  moral 
obligations  ia 
themselves,  weia 


136 


jEREitrsn. 


[Cap.  xxxvi.  1—4. 


obeyed,  much 
more  ought 
Mine,  which  are 
in  themselves 
right."  — Fausset. 

II'.  13,  \\.  A. 
Roberts,  vi.  i58. 

b  C.  Simeon,  M.A. 

e  II.  jr.  Beccher 


a  Vt.  !.  24;    Is. 

l.\v.  12. 

6  "  Dr.  Wolff  and 
Siy.  J'icrolli  bear 
■witness  to  the 
eNistence  of  a 
large  tribe  wlio 
represent  them- 
selves as  the 
descendants  of 
the  Keehabites." 
—Bib.  Bid., Smith. 


vv.  18,  19.  Dr.  M. 
Franl;  ii.  413 ; 
W.  licailinq,  ii. 
481 :  //.  Tou-n.um. 
ii.-.'l");  J.ll.l'olt, 
ii.  316  ;  np.  Ilebcr. 
27.5  ;  ir.  //.  Mill, 
238 ;  J.  W.  Warier, 
ii.  533. 

e  II.  C.  Cherry, 
M.A. 

Many  of  the 
exiicriences  of 
chil  Ihood  are 
forgotten  in  after 
life,  yet  they  all 
have  bad  their 
influence  ;  and 
this  influence 
still  e.xists,  se- 
cretly control- 
ling our  lives. 


a  Is.  viii.  1 ;  Eze. 
11.  9  ;  Zee.  v.  1. 

J  We  may  assume 
that  many  of 
these  jirophecies 
had  been  pre- 
viously written. 

e  "In  such  places 
God  is  intro- 
duced, as  speak- 
ing after  the 
manner  of  men, 
and  using  sueh 
methods  as  in 
human  probabi- 
lity may  be  most 
likely  to  prevail." 


little  wretch  that  has  hardly  got  off  from  the  briny  sea — having 
come  I'rom  the  Emeralu  Isle — and  that  jjoes  into  the  mistress's 
school  and  begins  to  iunible  the  book,  though  he  never  saw  the 
inside  of  a  book  before,  and  begins  to  learn,  is  a  scholar  just  as 
much  as  the  boy  that  is  reaching  out  his  hand  to  take  his 
diploma  and  go  to  the  next  higher  school.  He  is  a  scholar, 
though  he  has  the  bulk  of  his  learning  yet  to  acquire.  And  so 
it  is  with  following  Christ.  Whoever  will  go  to  the  Word  of 
God,  where  four  pictures  open — Matthew,  Mark,  Luke,  and  John, 
whoever  will  read  the  life  of  Christ  just  as  you  would  road  the 
life  of  any  other  person,  and  follow  that,  ho  is  a  Christian.'^ 

16—19.  (IG,  17)  I  will  bring,  nothing  shall  remove  the 
threatened  penalty."  (18)  house,  or  representatives  of  the 
family  of.  (lU)  want  a  man,  i.e.  the  race  should  not  be  per- 
mitted to  die  out.' 

Uhcdiciue  io parents  (rr.  18,  19). — I.  Endeavour  to  impress  on 
the  attention  of  the  young  the  necessity  for  a  strict  obedience  to 
the  commands  of  their  i)arents.  II.  As  also  fcr  a  general  obe- 
dience, under  the  limitation  of  altered  circumstances  and  times, 
to  the  institutions  and  customs  of  our  forefathers.  III.  Show 
that  it  is  much  more  our  duty  implicitly  to  resjject  and  obey 
eveiy  command  of  God." 

Clai^p  of  h'lx  mothers  hand. — A  Christian  mother  died  with  the 
hand  of  her  little  son  clasped  in  her  own.  Years  passed  and  the 
boy  grew  to  manhood,  reckless  and  abandoned  in  chai'acter.  The 
memory  of  his  mother's  prayers,  and  of  the  lessons  he  had 
learned  at  her  side,  seemed  to  have  faded  away.  From  one 
excess  of  wickedness  into  another  he  plunged,  until  his  cup  of 
iniquity  seemed  full.  Then,  by  the  abounding  mercy  of  God.  he 
was  snatched  as  a  brand  from  the  burning,  and  became  a  new 
creature  in  Christ.  Speaking  of  his  life  of  sin,  he  said  that, 
hardened  as  he  seemed,  and  indifferent  to  all  things  sacred,  there 
never  was  a  time  when,  tempted  to  sin,  that  he  did  not  feel  the 
clasp  of  his  dying  mother's  hand,  drawing  him  from  the  paths  of 
sin  to  the  ways  of  lioliness,  with  a  force  which  he  found  it  hard 
to  resist.    That  mother,  though  dead,  yet  spoke. 

CHAPTER  THE  THIRTY-SIXTH. 

1—4.  (1)  fourth  year,  ch.  xxv.  1.  C2)  roll,  pieces  of  parch- 
ment  sewn  together  so  as  to  make  a  roll,  having  a  piece  of  wood 
at  each  end."  write,  etc.,  i.e.  he  was  to  collect  his  prophecies, 
and  make  a  permanent  record  of  them.*  days  of  Josiah,  ch. 
xxv.  3.  (3)  may  be,  ete.,  ch.  xxvi.  3.  hear,  so  as  to  act  in  a 
way  to  delay,  if  not  remove,  the  judgment.'  (4)  Baruch,  ch. 
xxxii.  12.  13,  Ifi. 

Tlie  names  of  Ti'rilin/i  viafcrials  and  fhe'ir  nrif/ins. — Amongst 
I  the  materials  upon  which  the  ancient  Scrijitures  were  written. 
!  were  skins,  tanned,  or  dyed  I'ed  or  yellovr.  These  were  not  bound 
j  by  the  edge,  but  so  fastened  together  as  to  form  one  continuous 
I  roll  ;  hence  the  word  volume,  from  Lat.  roli/men,  a  roll.  Some 
I  were  written  on  prepared  skins  called  parchments,  so  called  from 
I  Pergamos.  the  place  where  parchment  was  first  made.  '•  Some- 
times tables  of  wood  or  stone,  called  caudices,  or  codices,  were 
I  employed,  hence  the  term  codes  (Lat.  tablet)  came  to  bs  applied 


Cap.  xxxvi.  5—15.] 


JEREMIAH. 


1»7 


to  a  manuscript  on  any  material  ; "  and  hence  also  a  system  of 
laws  was  called  a  code,  because  the  use  of  such  tables  was  once 
frequent  for  legal  purposes,  where  durability  was  important. 
*'  These  tables  were  written  on  in  their  natural  state  (or,  when 
used  for  temporary  x)urpo-es,  covered  with  wax)  with  a,n  iron 
needle  (Job  xis.  24)  called  a  sti/ltis  ;  hence  we  have  the  teim 
style  now  applied  to  the  style  of  the  com^oosifcion. 

5 — 10.  (.5)  shut  up,  prob.  in  confinement  or  prison,  though 
we  have  no  record  of  Jer.  being  imprisoned  in  the  days  of 
Jehoiakim.  It  is  possible  that  he  was  "  shut  up  "  by  illness.  (G) 
fasting  clay,"  when  the  multitudes  would  be  assembled  in  the 
temple-courts.  (7)  supplication,  for  pardon  and  mercy,  accom- 
panying this  with  the  signs  of  true  repentance.  Heb.  '•  suppli- 
cation shall  fall."  as  petitioners  fall  at  the  feet  of  a  king  in  the 
E.  (8.  '.))  proclaimed  a  fast,  i.e.  a  special  one,  perhaps  on 
account  of  the  national  calamities.'^  (10)  higher  court,  the 
large  court,  where  the  general  assembly  of  the  people  was  held. 

'fhotKjliiful  hooks — '/heir  vahic. — For  my  own  part,  I  have  ever 
gained  the  most  profit,  and  the  most  pleasure  also,  from  the 
books  which  have  made  me  think  the  most ;  and  when  the  diffi- 
culties have  once  been  overcome,  these  are  the  books  which  have 
struck  the  deepest  root,  not  only  in  my  memory  and  understand- 
ing, but  likewise  in  my  affections.  For  this  point,  too.  should 
be  taken  into  account.  AVe  are  wont  to  think  slightly  of  that 
which  it  costs  us  a  slight  effort  to  win.  When  a  maiden  is  too 
forward,  her  admirer  deems  it  time  to  draw  back.  Whereas  what- 
ever has  associated  itself  with  the  arousal  and  activity  of  our 
better  nature,  with  the  important  and  memorable  epochs  in  our 
lives,  whether  moral  or  intellectual,  is — to  cull  a  sprig  from  the 
beautifid  jiassage  in  which  Woi'ds worth  describes  the  growth  of 
Michael  s  love  for  his  native  hills — 

"  Our  living  being,  even  more 
Than  our  own  blood,  and — could  it  less  / — retains 
Strong  hold  on  our  affections,  is  to  us 
A  pleasurable  feeling  of  blind  love. 
The  pleasure  which  there  is  in  life  itself." 

If  you  would  fertilise  the  mind,  the  plough  must  be  driven  over 
and  through  it.  The  gliding  of  wheels  is  easier  and  rapider,  but 
only  makes  it  harder  and  more  barren.  Above  all,  in  the  present 
age  of  light  reading,  that  is,  of  reading  hastily,  thoughtlessly, 
indiscriminately,  un fruitfully,  when  most  books  are  forgotten  as 
soon  as  they  are  finished,  and  very  many  sooner,  it  is  well  if 
something  heavier  is  cast  now  and  then  into  the  midst  of  the 
literary  iiublic.  This  may  scare  and  repel  the  weak  ;  it  M'ill 
rouse  and  attract  the  stronger,  and  increase  their  strength  by 
making  them  exert  it.  In  the  sweat  of  the  brow  is  the  mind  as 
well  as  the  body  to  eat  its  bread.' 


11—15.  (11)  son  of  Gemariah,  this  Gemariah  was  the 
iblic  scribe,  or  the  socretaiy  of  state,  but  he  had  not  been  present 
ftt  Earuch's  rending.  His  son  had  no  bad  purpose  in  cai-rying 
the  report  to  him.  (12)  scribe's  chamber,  or  office  of  the 
secretary  of  state,  prob.  in  the  forecourt  of  the  king's  palace, 
princes  sat  there,  holding  a  council  of  state,  f  13)  declared, 
etc.,  i.e.  recited  the  chief  points.     (14)   Jehudi,   his  pedigree 


Exod.  xxxii.  15; 
Deut.  vi.  0 ;  Isa. 
.xx\-.  8;  Pab.  it 
2  ;  Luke  i.  G3  ; 
2  Cor.  iii.  3. 


a  The  pre.at  day 
of  expiation,  wh. 
was  kept  upon 
the  tenth  day  of 
the  seventh 
montli.  Le.  .x.xiii. 
27,  29. 

h  Keil  supposes 
this  fast  to  have 
been  held  in 
com  memoration 
of  the  capture  of 
Jerusalem  by  tlie 
Chalilccans  in  the 
previous  year. 

V.  6.  F.  Fowle, 
i.  1. 

V.  8.    Dr.  R.  Sur- 

r  aires,  199. 

"  Books  are  faith- 
ful repositories, 
which  may  be 
awhile  neglected 
or  forgotten,  tut 
when  they  are 
opened  again, 
will  again  iiupiirt 
their  instruction. 
Memory  once  in- 
terrupted is  not 
to  be  recalled ; 
written  learning 
is  a  fixed  lumi- 
nary ,wliich,  after 
the  cloud  that 
had  hidden  it  has 
passed  away,  is 
again  bright  in 
its  proper  sta- 
tion. Tradition 
is  but  a  meteor, 
which,  if  it  once 
faiis.  cannot  be 
rekindled."  — 
JoIdisoii. 

c  Hare. 


a  "  The  honour- 
able treatment 
which  13■^ruch 
meets  witlisliows 
that  tlie  princes 
were  favourably 
inclincil  towards 
him  and  Jere- 
miah. "-tV/ii  Com. 
"  As  good  almost 


138 


JEREMIt  a. 


[Cap.  xxxvi.  16—19, 


Jrill  a  man  as  kill 
agood  book ;  wlio 
kills  a  iiinu  kills 
a  reasonable  i.re:i- 
ture— Uoils    im- 
age; but  he  who 
destroys  a   gnoil 
book  kills  reason 
itself -kills     the 
image  of  (lod,  as 
it   were,   in    the 
eye.  ilany  a  man 
lives    a     bnrilcn 
to     the     earth  ; 
but  a  good  book 
is    the    precious 
Ufe-blooil    of     a 
master    spirit, 
enibalniftd      and 
treasured  up  on 
purpose  to  a  life 
beyond  life,    "i'is 
true  no  age  can 
restore     a      life 
whereof,  perhaps, 
there  is  no  great 
loss;    the  revolu-  j 
tions  of  as;es  do  \ 
not  often  I'ecover  | 
the  loss  of  a  re- 
jected truth,  for  | 
the  want  of  \vh.  j 
whole       nations  1 
fare  the  worse. 
— Milton. 
h  Lord  Dudley. 


a  "Jeremiah  be- 
ing prob.  only 
u  n  d  e  r  houso- 
arrest,  would  find 
no  diPriculty  in 
availing  himself 
of  the  advice 
given  by  the 
princes."  — IJen- 
dersnn. 

9.^S.  Ink.— The 
Oriental  ink  is 
thicker  than 
ours,  and  cai\- 
eists  of  lamp- 
black or  charcoal 
mixed  with  gum 
and  water.  It  is 
sold  dry,  in 
grains. 

"Charles  Lamh, 
tired  of  londiiig 
his  books,  threat 
ened  to  chain 
Wordsworth's 
poems  to  his 
Bhclves,  adding, 
Torof  those  who 
borrow,  some 
read  slow  ;  some 
lUbaa.  to   tcod, 


indicates  that  he  was  of  good  family,  but  he  was  prob.  a  juuior 
member  of  the  council.  (15)  read  .  .  ears,  much  of  the  sub- 
stance of  it  was  jiolitical,  so  of  the  utmost  interest  to  them.<» 

Una  of  hooh.t. — Books  are  loved  by  some  merely  as  elegant  com- 
binations of  thought :  by  others  as  a  means  of  exercising  the 
intellect.  By  some  they  are  considered  as  the  engines  by  which 
to  propagate  opinions,  and  by  others  they  are  only  deemed  worthy 
of  serious  regard  when  they  constitute  repositories  of  matters  of 
fact.  But  perhaps  the  most  important  use  of  literature  has  been 
jDointcd  out  by  those  who  consider  it  as  a  record  of  the  respective 
modes  of  moral  and  intellectual  existence  that  have  prevailed  in 
successive  ages,  and  who  value  literajy  perfonnunces  in  propor- 
tion as  they  preserve  a  memorial  of  the  spirit  •.vhich  was  at  work 
in  real  life  during  the  times  when  the^^  M-ere  wntien.  Considered 
in  this  point  of  view,  books  can  no  longer  be  slighted  as  fanciful 
tissues  of  thought,  proceeding  from  the  solitary  brains  of  insulated 
poets  or  metaphysicians.  They  are  the  shadows  of  what  has 
formerly  occupied  the  minds  of  mankind,  and  of  what  once 
determined  the  tenor  of  existence.  The  narrator  who  details 
political  events  does  no  more  than  indicate  a  few  of  the  external 
effects,  or  casual  concomitants,  of  what  was  stirring  during  the 
times  of  which  he  professes  to  be  the  historian.  As  the  genera- 
tions change  on  the  face  of  the  globe,  different  energies  are 
evolved  with  new  strength,  or  sink  into  torpor  ;  faculties  are 
brightened  into  i^erfection,  or  lose  themselves  in  gradual  blind- 
ness and  oblivion.  No  age  concentrates  within  itself  all  advan- 
tages. The  knowledge  of  what  has  been  is  necessary,  in  addition 
to  the  knowledge  of  the  present,  to  enable  us  to  conceive  the  full 
extent  of  human  powers  and  caiiacities  ;  or,  to  speak  more  cor- 
rectly, this  knowledge  is  necessary  to  enable  lis  to  become 
acquainted  with  the  varieties  of  talent  and  energy  with  which 
beings  of  the  same  general  nature  with  ourselves  have,  in  past 
times,  been  endowed.* 

IG— 19.  (IG)  afraid,  of  the  mischief  they  thought  it  would 
do  to  the  people,  disheartening  them,  tell  the  king,  bee.  of 
the  political  importance  of  these  writings.  (17,  IS)  tell  US,  etc., 
before  speaking  to  the  king  the  princes  were  anxious  to  be 
assured  that  they  were  the  very  words  of  the  recogni.sed  Proi)het, 
Jeremiah,  with,  ink,  to  intimate  how  entirely  Baruch  had  been 
a  mere  agent.  (19)  hide  thee,"  bee.  the  princes  too  truly 
guessed  the  effect  of  such  denunciations  on  so  jealous  a  tyrant 
as  Jehoiakim. 

Influence  of  hoohs. — Benjamin  Franklin  tells  us.  in  one  of  his 
letters,  that,  when  he  was  a  boy,  a  little  book  fell  into  his 
hands,  entitled  Llwai/s  to  do  Good,  by  Cotton  JIather.  It 
was  tattered  and  torn,  and  several  leaves  were  missing.  '•  But 
the  remainder,"  he  says,  "  gave  me  such  a  turn  of  thinking,  as ■" 
to  have  an  inlluence  on  my  conduct  through  life!  for  I  have 
always  set  a  greater  value  on  the  ct.aracter  of  a  doer  of  good 
than  any  other  kind  of  reputation  :  and,  if  I  have  been  a  use- 
ful citizen,  the  public  owes  all  the  advantages  of  it  to  the  little 
book."  Jeremy  Benthani  mentions,  that  the  current  of  his 
thoughts  and  .studies  was  directed  for  life  by  a  single  phrase 
that  caught  his  eye  at  the  end  of  a  pamphlet :  •'  The  greatest 
good  of  the  greatest  number."  There  are  single  sentences  in 
the  JSfew  Testament  that  have  awakened  to  spiritual  life  hundreds 


Cap.  xxxvi.  20  -  23.] 


JEREMIAH. 


13d 


of  millions  of  dormant  souls.  In  i.hing-s  of  less  moment,  reading 
has  a  wondrous  power.  George  Law,  a  boy  on  his  father's  farm, 
met  an  old,  unknown  book,  which  told  the  story  of  a  farmer's 
son,  who  went  away  to  seek  his  fortune,  and  came  home,  after 
many  years'  absence,  a  rich  man.  From  that  moment,  George 
became  uneasy,  left  home,  lived  over  again  the  life  he  had  read 
of,  returned  a  milliounaire,  and  paid  all  his  father's  debts. 
Robinson  Crusoe  has  sent  to  sea  more  sailors  than  the  press- 
g'ang.  The  story  about  little  George  Washington  telling  the  truth 
about  the  hatchet  and  the  plum  tree,  has  made  many  a  truth- 
teller.  AVe  owe  all  the  "Waverley  novels  to  Scott's  early  reading 
of  the  old  traditions  and  legends  :  and  the  whole  hodj  of  pastoral 
fiction  came  from  Addison's  sketches  of  Sir  Roger  De  Coverley 
in  The  iSjJccfafoi:  But  illustrations  are  numberless.  Tremble, 
ye  who  write,  and  ye  who  publish  writing.  A  pamphlet  has 
precipitated  a  revolution.  A  paragraph  quenches  or  kindles  the 
celestial  spark  in  a  human  soul,  in  myriails  of  souls.'' 

20 — 23.  (2U)  laid.  .  .  roll,  not  venturing  at  first  to  show  it 
to  the  king.  (21)  fetch  the  roll,  being  detemnined  to  see  it 
for  himself,  stood,  it  seems  that  the  king  sat  and  the  courtiers 
stood.  (22)  "winterhouse,  this  is  noticed  to  explain  the  pre- 
sence of  the  fire."  ninth  month,  or  December.  on  the 
hearth,  or  brazier.*  (2.'{j  leaves,  or  columns,  penknife,  lit. 
"  the  secretary's  knife,"  used  for  trimming  the  reed-pen. 
Jehoiakim  acted  in  extreme  temper."^ 

Jcholalii Ill's  'penUnife  (r.  23). — I.  The  use  of  the  historical 
portions  of  Scripture  is,  that  they  represent  to  us  embodied  truth, 
and  weave  doctrine  into  the  details  of  ordinary  life.  II. 
Christian  parents  should  not  let  this  and  other  instances  of 
persons  who  have  had  godly  parents  dishearten  them  in  their 
endeavour  to  train  their  children  aright.  III.  AVithout  literallj^ 
mutilating  the  Word  of  God  men  may  be  practically  guilty  of  the 
same  act."* 

T/w  hearili. — The  "hearth"  here  mentioned  was  in  all  pro- 
bability the  faiiihiiir  of  the  East,  of  which  so  full  an  account 
is  given  in  Smith  and  D  wight's  Travels  in  Armenia.  "  "What 
rttracted  our  attention  most  this  stormy  day,  was  the  apparatus 
for  warming  us.  It  was  the  species  of  oven  called  tannoor, 
common  throughout  Armenia,  and  also  in  Sjaia,  but  converted 
here  for  purposes  of  warmth  into  what  is  called  a  tandoor.  A 
cylindrical  hole  is  sunk  about  three  feet  in  the  ground  in  some 
part  of  the  room,  with  a  flue  entering  it  at  the  bottom  to  convey 
a  current  of  air  to  the  fire  which  heats  it.  For  the  emission  of 
smoke  no  other  provision  is  made  than  the  open  sky-light  in  the 
terrace.  "When  used  for  baking  bread,  the  dough,  being  flat- 
tened to  the  thickness  of  common  pasteboard,  perhaps  a  foot 
and  a  half  long  by  a  foot  broad,  is  stuck  to  its  smooth  sides 
by  means  of  a  cushion  upon  which  it  is  first  spread.  It  indicates, 
by  cleaving  off.  when  it  is  done  ;  and  being  then  pa-i^ked  down 
in  the  family  chest,  it  lasts  at  least  a  month  in  the  winter  and 
ten  days  in  the  summer.  Such  is  the  only  bread  known  in  the 
villages  of  Armenia  :  and  even  the  cities  of  Erivan  and  Tebriz 
ofl\a'  no  other  variety  than  a  species  perhaps  only  twice  as  thick, 
and  so  long  that  it  might  almost  be  sold  by  the  yaixl.  To  bake 
it.  the  bottom  of  a  large  oven  is  covered  with  pebbles  (except  one 
corner  where  a  fire  is  kept  constantly  burning),  and  upon  them, 


but  don't  read  ; 
and  some  neither 
read  nor  mean  to 
read,  but  borrow, 
to  leave  you  an 
opinion  of  their 
sagacity.  I  must 
do  my  moncy- 
borrowing 
frieud.s  the  jus- 
tice to  say,  that 
there  is  nothing 
of  tliis  caprice  or 
wantonness  of 
alienation  in 
t  li  e  DJ.  W  h  e  n 
they  borrow  my 
m  o  n  e  y,  they 
never  fail  to 
make  use  of  it.' " 
— Talfourd. 
b  H.  bouiersley. 

a    "  The     great 

men  had  distinct 
houses  or  apart- 
ments, titted  for 
the  several  sea- 
sons of  the  year. 
Am.  iii.  1.^."— 
Lowlh. 

b  "  In  the  East 
neither  chimneys 
nor  oveus  are 
used,  but,  when 
the  weather  is 
cold,  a  pitcher  of 
brass  or  iron, 
containing  Imrn- 
iiig  wood  or  char- 
coal, is  used  for 
tlie  purpose  of 
war  111  i  n  g  the 
chambers,  and. 
when  the  wood 
has  burned  to 
embers,  a  cover 
is  placed  over  the 
pot  to  make  it 
retain  the  heat." 
— Jlciiderson, 

c  "As  often  as 
Jehudi  read  three 
or  four  columns, 
the  king  cut  the 
piece  he  had  read 
off,  and  threw  it 
into  the  fire,  un- 
til the  entire  roll 
was  burnt."  — 
Faussel. 

vv.  21—24.  Up. 
Midltij,  345. 

r.  23.  T.  Arnold, 
iii.  317. 

I'.  24.  Or.  E. 
Piivsnn,  ii  444 ; 
//.  Goodwin,  i. 
222. 

I.  22.     Nintb 


uo 


JETiEMIAR. 


[Cap.  xxxvi.  24—29. 


month.      Kislcu  | 
or     Chisleu,   kii-  i 
Bweriiifl    to    our  | 
Uocem'opr.       t^i'e  i 
Bible  Monlh.1,  pi',  i 
132  —  13G.      'J  he  I 
fire  (in  the  hearth  \ 
was  1)  r  (1  b  a  b  1  y 
cliiircoal  brouslifc 
in  ill  a  brazier  of 
mecaL 

d  H.  C.  Milchen- 
son,  JJ.A. 

e  Bush. 

Trees  of  right- 
eousness, the 
more  they  are 
shaken  by  the 
winil,  the  more 
they  are  rooteil 
nn;l  i?rouuded  in 
Christ. 


a  2  Ki.  xxii.  11. 

"  The  desirable 
treasure  of  wis- 
dom and  know- 
ledge, which  all 
men  covet  from 
the  impulse  of 
nature,  infinitely 
surpasses  all  the 
riches  of  the 
world  ;  In  com- 
parison with  wh., 
precious  stones 
arj  vile,  silver  is 
clay,  and  purified 
gold  grains  of 
sand  ;  in  tlie 
splendour  of  wh. 
the  sun  and 
moon  grow  dim 
to  the  sight ;  in 
the  ailmirable 
sweetness  of  wh. 
honey  and  niau- 
na  are  bitter  to 
the  taste.  Tlie 
value  of  wisdom 
decrease!  h  not 
with  time  ;  it 
hath  an  ever- 
flourishing  vir- 
tue tliafc  cleans- 
eth  its  possession 
from  every  ve- 
nom." —  Ricliard 
de  liurij. 

I  C.Clayton,  M.  A. 

"  Books  may  be 
helps  to  learning 
and  kiiowle<lgc, 
and  make  it  more 
common  and  dif- 
fused ;  but  I 
doubt  whether 
they  are   ueoes- 


■\vlacn  heated,  the  sheets  of  doug-h  are  spread.  The  convenience 
of  such  thiu  bread,  where  knives  and  forks  are  not  u.sed.  and 
spoons  are  rare,  is  that  a  piece  of  it  doubled  enables  you  to  take 
hold  of  a  mouthful  of  meat  more  delicately  than  with  your  bare 
fingers  ;  or,  when  properly  folded,  helps  you  to  convey  a  sjjoonful 
safely  to  your  mouth  to  be  eaten  with  the  spoon  it,-;elf.  AVhc-n 
needed  for  purposes  of  warmth,  the  tauuoor  is  easily  transformed 
into  a  tandoor.  A  round  stone  is  laid  upon  the  mouth  of  the 
oven,  when  well  heated,  to  stop  the  draught  ;  a  square  frame 
about  a  foot  in  height  is  then  placed  above^  it  ;  and  a  thick 
coverlet,  spread  over  the  whole,  lies  upon  the  ground  around  it, 
to  confine  the  warmth.  The  family  squat  upon  the  floor,  and 
warm  themselves  by  extending  their  legs  and  hands  into  the 
heated  air  beneath  it,  while  the  frame  holds,  as  occasion  requires, 
their  lamp  or  their  food.  Its  economy  is  evidently  great.  So  full 
of  crevices  are  the  houses,  that  an  open  fireplace  must  consume 
a  great  quantity  of  fuel,  and  then  almost  fail  of  warming  even 
the  air  in  its  immediate  vicinity.  The  tandoor  heated  once,  or 
at  the  most  twice,  in  twenty- four  hours  by  a  .small  quantity  of 
fuel,  keeps  one  spot  continually  warm  for  the  relief  of  all  numb 
fingers  and  frozen  toes.''' 

24 — 26.  (24)  not  afraid,"  this  refers  to  the  king  and  hia 
attendants,  not  especially  to  the  princes  who  had  brought  the 
roll.  (25)  made  intercession,  or  entreaty.  (2(j)  take,  i.e. 
arrest  and  put  in  prison.     This  the  i^rinces  had  expected,  r.  Id. 

Jeremiah's  roll  burnt  (r.  21). — We  learn  hence — I.  The 
importance  of  the  written  Word.  II.  The  value  of  Divine  or- 
dinances. III.  The  Lord's  object  in  the  Scriptures.  IV.  The 
rebellion  of  the  carnal  mind.  Y.  The  folly  of  destroying  God's 
Word.  Apply  : — 1.  jMake  known  this  Word  to  others  ;  2.  Study 
it  for  our  own  comfort.' 

lidoh.'i  and  rcadinrj. — Of  all  the  amusements  which  can  possibly 
be  imagined  for  a  hard-woi-king  man.  after  his  daily  toil,  or  in 
its  intervals,  there  is  nothing  like  reading  an  entertaining  book, 
supposing  him  to  have  a  taste  for  it,  and  supposing  him  to  have 
the  book  to  read.  It  calls  for  no  bodily  exertion,  of  which  he 
has  had  enough  or  too  much.  It  relieves  his  home  of  its  dulnesa 
and  sameiiess.  which  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  is  what  drives  him 
out  to  the  alehouse,  to  his  own  ruin  and  his  family's.  It  trans- 
ports him  into  a  livelier,  and  gayer,  and  more  dever.sified  and 
interesting  scene  ;  and  while  he  enjoys  himself  there,  he  may 
forget  the  evils  of  the  present  moment,  fully  as  much  as  if  he 
were  ever  so  drunk,  with  the  great  advantafre  of  finding  himself 
the  next  day  with  his  money  in  his  pocket,  or  at  least  laid  out  in 
real  necessaries  and  comforts  for  himself  and  his  family. — and 
without  a  headache.  Tsay.  it  accompanies  him  to  his  next  day's 
work,  and  if  the  book  he  has  been  reading  be  anything  above 
the  idlest  and  lightest,  gives  him  something  to  think  of  besides 
the  mere  mechanical  drudgery  of  his  every -day  occupation. — 
something  he  can  enjoy  while  absent,  and  look  forward  with 
pleasure  to  return  to.  But  suiiposmg  him  to  have  been  fortunate 
in  the  choice  of  his  book,  and  to  have  alighted  ui'on  one  really 
good  and  of  a  good  class.  What  a  source  of  dcmostic  enjoyment 
is  laid  open  !  What  a  bond  of  family  union  !  He  may  reati  it 
aloud,  or  make  his  wife  read  it,  or  his  eldest  boy  or  girl,  or  jiass 
it  round  from  hand  to  hand.    All  have  the  benefit  of  it— all 


Cap.  xxxvl.  27-32.] 


JEREMIAE. 


141 


contribute  to  the  gratification  of  the  rest,  and  a  feeling  of 
common  interest  and  pleasure  is  excited.  Nothing-  unites  people 
like  companionship  in  intellectual  enjoyment.  It  does  more,  it 
gives  them  mutual  respect,  and  to  each  among-  them  self-re.spect 
— that  coi'ner-stone  of  all  virtue.  It  furnishes  to  each  the 
master-key  by  -which  he  may  avail  himself  of  his  privilege  as  an 
intellectual  being-  to 

Enter  the  sacred  temple  of  his  breast, 
And  gaze  and  -R'ander  there  a  ravished  guest, 
Wander  through  all  tlie  glories  of  his  mind, 
Gaze  upon  all  the  treasui-es  he  shall  find. 
And  -while  thus  leading  him  to  look  -within  his  o\\ti  bosom  for 
the  ultimate  sources  of  his  happiness,  warns  him  at  the  same 
time  to  be  cautious  how  he  defiles  and  desecrates  that  in-ward 
and  most  glorious  of  temples." 

27—32.  (27)  after  that,  and  in  response  to  this  act  of 
public  insult  to  God  through  His  Prophet.  (28)  another  roll, 
for  man's  wilfulness  cannot  be  permitted  to  destroy  God's  Word." 
(21')  why,  etc.,  here  is  given  the  point  which  so  greatly  offended 
Jehoiakim.  (30)  dead  .  .  heat,  ch.  xxii.  lu.  (31)  punish, 
or  visit  his  iniquity  upon  him.  (32)  like  -words,  other  ]iro- 
phecies  of  the  same  kind.*  Jehoiakim's  act  "  only  made 
matters  -worse,  for  it  tended  to  enlarge  the  bulk  of  the  volume, 
and  to  aggravate  its  tidings  of  disaster." 

Jchoinkun.  lurtu^  the  sacred  roll  {vv.  27,  2S). — The  folly  of 
this  act  -w-as  great  as  the  impiety,  and  take  occasion  to  notice — 
I.  The  enmity  of  man's  heart  against  the  Word  of  God.  The 
same  disposition  may  be  shown  in  a  variety  of  -«^ays.  1.  By 
denying  the  Divine  authority  of  Scripture  ;  2.  By  explaining 
away  all  its  fundamental  ti'uths  :  3.  By  entertaining  doubts  of 
its  utility  to  the  poor  :  4.  By  setting  its  precepts  at  defiance  ; 
5.  By  reviling  and  persecuting  those  who  embrace  it.  II.  The 
folly  of  indulging  it.  1.  We  cannot  change  one  declaration  in 
all  the  Scriptures  ;  2.  We  cannot  prevent  the  execution  of  one 
threatening  ;  3.  We  accumulate  on  our  own  heads  the  judgments 
■we  despise.  Learn — (1)  To  tremble  at  the  AVord  our.selves  ;  (2) 
To  use  all  diligence  to  make  it  known  to  others  ;  (3)  To  faith- 
fully deal  with  those  who  pour  contem.pt  upon  it."^ 

Eastern  climate.—  It  may  not  be  improper  here  to  remark  upon 
the  -wisdom  and  goodness  of  God  displayed  in  the  temperature  of 
an  Oriental  sky.  The  excessive  heats  of  the  day,  which  are 
sometimes  incommodious,  even  in  the  depth  of  winter,  are  com- 
jicnsated  and  rendei-ed  consistent  with  animal  and  vegetable 
life,  by  a  corresponding  degree  of  coolness  in  the  night.  The 
patriarch  Jacob  takes  notice  of  this  fact,  in  his  expostulation 
-with  Laban :  "  By  day  the  heat  consumed  me,  and  the  frost  by 
night."  Mr.  Bruce,  in  like  manner,  frequently  remarks  in  his 
journey  through  the  deserts  of  Senaar,  where  the  heat  of  the 
day  was  almost  insupportable,  that  the  coldness  of  the  night  -n'as 
vei-y  great.  When  llauwolf  travelled  on  the  Euphrates,  he  -n-as 
Avont  to  wrap  himself  up  in  a  frieze  coat  in  the  night-time,  to 
defend  himself  from  the  frost  and  dew,  -which,  he  observes,  are 
very  frequent  and  violent  there.  Thevenot  traversed  the  verj' 
fields  where  Jacob  tended  the  flocks  of  Laban  ;  and  he  found  the 
heats  of  the  day  so  intense,  that  althougli  he  -wore  upon  his  head 
d  lai"ge  black  handkerchief  after  the  manner  of  the  Orientals 


sary  ones  or  no, 
or  much  advance 
any  other  science 
beyond  tlie)nirti- 
cular  records  of 
actions  or  regis- 
ters of  time  ;  and 
these,  perhajis, 
might  be  as  long 
preserved  with- 
out them,  by  the 
care  and  exact- 
ness of  tradition 
in  the  long  suc- 
cession of  certain 
races  of  men  with 
wliom  tliey  were 
e  n  trusted." — 
Tt  mple. 
c  <bi/'  ■/.  Ilerscliel. 

a  "  Here  is  a 
sublime  speci- 
men of  the 
triumph  of  God'3 
Word,  when  re- 
pressed by  the 
power,  and  burnt 
by  the  rage  of 
tlus  world,  wlie- 
ther  it  be  iu  the 
suppression  of 
the  fc'criptures, 
or  in  preventing 
their  circulation, 
or  in  casting 
copies  of  them 
into  the  fire,  or 
in  the  imprison- 
ment and  mar- 
tyrdom of  God's 
preachers.  That 
Word  rises  more 
gloriously  out  of 
all  its  persecu- 
tions." —  Words- 
icorth. 

b  "  To  consume 
the  material  vo- 
lume was  not  to 
defeat  the  de- 
sign of  Him 
who  had  in- 
spired it.  For  at 
once  the  Divine 
decree  was  issued 
f  r  another  roll 
to  be  vmtten, 
not  only  omit- 
ting none  of  the 
heavy  penalties 
of  the  consumed 
copy,  but  con- 
taining aggra- 
vated penalties, 
and  making  the 
assurances  of  im- 
pending judg- 
jiient  doubly 
sure." — F.  Jacox, 

\c  C.  Simeon,  M. A, 


142 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  xxxvii.  1—5. 


».  32.  Wlimdinn, 
iv.  115;  \y.  Jay, 
vii.  Co. 

"  The  iinjiression 
we  feel  from  the 
s c  e  n  I'  r y  of 
autumn  is  accom- 
panied with 
much  exercise  of 
thought ;  the 
leaves  then  betriu 
to  fade  from  tlie 
trees;  thetlowors 
and  shrubs,  with 
wliich  the  fields 
were  adorned  in 
the  summer 
months,  decay ; 
the  woods  and 
groves  are  silent; 
the  sun  himself 
seems  gradually 
to  withdraw  his 
light,  or  to  be- 
come enfeebled 
in  his  power. 
Who  is  there 
who,  at  this  sea- 
son, does  not  feel 
his  mind  im- 
pressed with  a 
sentiment  of 
melancholy ;  or 
who  is  able  to  re- 
sist that  current 
of  thought 
which,  from  such 
aitpearances  o  f 
decay,  so  natu- 
rally leads  him  to 
the  solemn  ima- 
gination of  tliat 
inevitable  fate 
which  is  to  bring 
on  alike  the  decay 
of  life,  of  empire, 
and  of  nature  it- 
self ?  " — Alison. 

d  Paxton. 


a  Pharaoh  TTo- 
plira,  tlic  Apries 
of  Horodotus,was 
an  ally  of  Zede- 
kiah,  but  his  in- 
tervention  a- 
vailed  nolliing. 
"Whether,  how- 
ever, he  with- 
drew without 
giving  Nebuc. 
battle,  or  whe- 
ther he  was  de- 
feated, we  do  not 
,ltnow."-<S;/U-.Cum. 


when  they  travel,  yet  his  forehead  was  frequently  so  scorched,  aa 
to  swell  exceedingly,  and  actually  to  sutfer  excoriation  :  hia 
hands  being  more  expo.^ed  to  the  burning  sun,  were  continually 
parched  ;  and  he  learned  from  experience  to  sympathise  with  the 
toil-worn  shc))hcrd  of  the  East.  In  Europe,  the  days  and  nights 
resemble  each  other,  with  respect  to  Ihe  qualities  of  heat  and 
cold  :  but  if  credit  be  due  to  the  representations  of  Chardin, 
it  is  quite  otherwise  in  Oriental  climates.  In  Lower  Asia,  par- 
ticularly, the  day  is  always  hot ;  and  as  soon  as  the  sun  is  fifteen 
degrees  above  the  horizon,  no  cold  is  felt  in  the  depth  of  winter 
itself  ;  on  the  contrary,  the  nights  are  as  cold  as  at  Paris  in  the 
month  of  March.  It  is  for  this  reason,  that  in  Turkey  and 
Persia  they  always  used  furred  habits  in  the  country,  such  only 
being  sufficient  to  resist  the  cold  of  the  night.  Chardin  travelled 
in  Arabia  and  Mesoj)otamia,  the  scene  of  Jacob's  adventures, 
both  in  winter  and  in  summer,  and  attested  on  his  return  the 
truth  of  what  the  patriarch  asserted,  that  he  was  scorched  with 
heat  iu  the  day,  and  stiffened  with  cold  in  the  night.  This 
difference  in  the  state  of  the  air  in  twenty-four  hours,  is  in  some 
places  extremely  great,  and  according  to  that  respectable  traveller, 
not  conceivable  by  those  who  have  not  seen  it ;  one  would 
imagine  they  had  passed  in  a  moment  from  the  violent  heats  of 
summer  to  the  depth  of  winter.  Thus  it  has  pleased  a  beneficent 
Deity  to  temper  the  heat  of  the  day  by  the  coolness  of  the  night, 
without  which,  the  greatest  part  of  the  East  would  be  a  parched 
and  sterile  desert,  equally  destitute  of  vegetable  and  animal  life. 
This  account  is  confirmed  by  a  modern  traveller.  When  Camp- 
bell was  passing  throug-h  Mesopotamia,  he  sometimes  lay  at 
night  out  in  the  open  air.  rather  than  enter  a  town,  on  which 
occasion  he  says,  "  I  found  the  weather  as  piercing  cold,  as  it 
was  distressfully  hot  in  the  daytime."  The  same  difference  between 
the  days  and  nights  has  been  observed  on  the  Syrian  bank  of  the 
Euphrates  ;  the  mornings  are  cold,  and  the  days  intensely  hot. 
This  difference  is  distinctly  marked  in  these  words  of  the 
Prophet :  '•  Therefore,  thus  saith  the  Lord  of  Jehoiakim.  king  of 
Judah  :  he  shall  have  none  to  sit  upon  the  throne  of  David  ;  and 
his  dead  body  shall  be  cast  out  in  the  day  to  the  heat,  and  in  the 
night  to  the  frcst."  So  ]ust  and  accurate  are  the  numerous 
allusions  of  Scripture  to  the  natural  state  of  the  Oriental  regions  ; 
and  so  necessary  it  is  to  study  with  care  the  natural  history  of 
those  celebrated  and  interesting  countries  to  enable  us  to 
ascertain  with  clearness  and  precision  the  meaning,  or  to  discern 
the  beauty  and  force,  of  numerous  passages  of  the  sacred  volume.** 


CHAPTER  TEE  THIRTY-SEVENTH. 

1—5.  (1)  Zedekiah,  2  Ki.  x.xiv.  17.  C2)  did  hearken, 
more  esp.  to  the  advice  to  yield  fully  to  the  Chalda'aus.  (:!) 
sent,  etc.,  during  the  interval  of  hope  excited  by  news  of  the 
approach  of  the  Egyptian  army.  (4)  not  .  .  prison,  i.e.  not 
yet.  nee  r.  IB.     (B)  departed,  for  a  time  raising  the  siege." 

Prayhirj  .wJiIir):';. — If  there  be  any  persons  so  thoughtless  or 
foolish  as  to  call  this  order  "  unmilitary,"  it  will  not  be  the 
Hindoos.  The  religion  of  the  British  soldier  is  a  standing 
astonishment  to  hia  Sepoy  comrade,  who  styles  it  the  "  once-a* 


Cap.  xxxvii.  6—10.] 


JEREMIAH. 


143 


week  dcfii.''  In  front  of  his  hut  he  himself  has  always  the  little 
'•  toolsee  plant,"  which  rejiresents  the  wife  of  Shiva,  and  which 
he  sednlou.^ly  waters  morning-  and  evening.  That  Hindoo  soldier 
must  be  a  "  budmash  "  indeed  who  does  not  say  prayers  before 
and  after  bathing-  at  daybreak.  Perhaps  his  solicitations  at  the 
altar  of  Shiva  or  Parvati  are  only  for  carnal  things.  Perhaps  he 
prays  only  that  he  may  be  relieved  from  punishment  drill,  that 
he  may  gain  a  good-conduct  stripe,  that  he  may  receive  some 
more  annas  of  pay.  or  that  his  wife  may  bear  a  boy  who  may 
come  to  be  a  havildar  or  even  a  jemadar.  But  the  Hindoo, 
whatever  his  gods  are  like,  believes  in  prayer ;  and  the  Moham- 
medan soldier  also,  when  anything  goes  wrong,  vows  a  bran-new 
green  cloth  to  the  shrine  of  the  nearest  saint,  and  spreads  his 
praying  carpet  at  the  Azan — if  there  be  no  parade.  The  natives 
see  with  wonder  the  " gorn  lognc''' — the  strong  "  white  people  " 
— take  their  religion  like  their  washing,  home  once  every  seven 
days — and  that,  too,  in  military  manner,  like  a  regimental  drill. 
One  of  their  MoUahs,  they  tell  you,  was  asked  at  what  hour  of 
the  twenty-four  -'the  faithful"  need  rot  trouble  their  heads 
about  praj'cr  to  Allah,  and  his  answer  was  "  in  the  hour — which 
never  comes — between  the  night  and  the  day."  Yet  we  call  these 
people  "  heathens  : "  and  doubtless  the  mumbled  "  Fathah." 
from  the  Koran,  or  the  "  Mantras  '  which  a  Eajpoot  or  Brahmin 
linesman  mutters  as  he  gets  liis  tooth-stick  and  lota  ready,  are 
not  very  lofty  specimens  of  the  "  voice  of  the  heart."  Still  they 
are  what  they  are,  and  the  ear  of  Heaven  is  open,  by  whatever 
name  its  mercy  and  hope  are  invoked.  Nor  are  those  the  worst 
soldiers  who  are  often  upon  their  knees.  Hume  tells  us  that  on 
the  eve  of  the  battle  of  Hastings  the  Saxons  spent  the  night  in 
drinking  mead  and  metheglin  ;  but  that  the  Koraians  passed 
it  in  silence  and  religious  devotions,  and  went  into  battle 
singing  the  h}Tnu  of  Boland.  The  psalm-singers  had  the  best 
of  it  in  the  bloody  struggles  around  the  standard  ;  and  the 
Cavaliers,  in  .spite  of  their  chivalry,  went  down  before  those 
terrible  fellows  who  marked  the  "  fighting  verses "  in  their 
Bibles  with  the  blades  of  their  swords.  "  Show  me  the  men 
that  pray,"  Gustavi's  Adolphirs  used  to  observe,  '-and  I  will 
show  you  those  that  you  can't  beat ; ''  and  we  will  be  bound  that 
the  stout  Highlander  wh>  grounded  his  arms  at  the  door  of 
Dum-Dum  Church  sooner  than  take  part  in  a  service  which  was 
against  the  grain  of  his  conscience,  never  showed  his  back  to  an 
enemy,  and  never  will.* 

6—10.  (0,  7)  Pharaoh's  .  .  land,  i.e.  their  help  will  be  of 
no  practical  value  to  you.  (8)  come  again,  comp.  ch.  xxi.  4 — 7." 
(1*.  10)  "wounded,  etc..  a  strong  fig.  to  express  the  utter  hopeless- 
ness of  the  conflict.  Even  the  disabled  men  of  Kebuc.'s  army 
would  suffice  to  take  the  citj'.  and  burn  it  to  the  ground. 

The  (jrent  adnniffifje nf  ohcying  God. — Connect  with  past  history 
of  Isra-l.  and  the  day's  lesson.  I.  Had  the  nation  been  obedient, 
instead  of  invasion  and  oppi-ession.  they  had  had  increasing 
peace  :  instead  of  sin  and  idolatry,  their  moral  and  religioiis 
excellence  had  abounded.  II.  But  it  applies  to  us  also.  1.  We 
have  a  picture  of  what  our  peace  may  be  if  we  serve  the  Lord. 
I'icture  a  river  :  at  first  narrow,  gets  broader  :  at  first  shallow, 
gets  deeper  ;  at  first  a  babbling  brook,  full  of  little  eddies,  turns, 
tftc,  by-and-by  a  majestic  river.  Uowing  on  without  a  sound  or  a 


lI'iMt 


-3.      S. 

,  49. 


"As  that  storm 
roars  the  loudest 
which  lias  been 
the  longest  ga- 
tliering.  so  God's 
reckoning  day 
with  sinners,  by 
being  long  com- 
ing, will  be  tlie 
more  terrible 
wlien  it  comes." 
—  (julhrie. 

"Luther loved  to 
fight  on  the  deck 
of  the  Church's 
fcliip  out  on  the 
high  seas,  against 
tiie  fleet  that 
caniesailingfrom 
the  ports  of  the 
eneniy.  Leighton 
preferred  tlie 
jjeaccful  toils  of 
the  tisherman.  to 
m  end  the 
Church's  nets 
inidersomesliady 
rock,  and  to  cast 
them  out  into 
the  still  waters 
for  a  draught  of 
fishes.  Luther's 
fuith  was  more 
of  the  soldier's 
s  w  o  r  d,  a  n  d 
Leiglitcn's  njore 
of  the  pilgrim's 
staff.  The  one 
was  eager,  like 
Peter ;  the  other 
retiring,  like 
John.  But  both 
were  faithful 
servants,  loved 
their  Lord,  and 
hare  long  since 
embraced  in  hea- 
ven."—/. Stouyh- 
ton. 

b  Daily  Paper, 

a  "  G  od  has  the 
sovereign  com- 
mand of  all  the 
hosts  of  men, 
even  of  those 
that  know  Him 
not,  that  own 
Jlim  not,  and 
they  are  all  made 
to  sei-ve  His  jnir- 
poses.  He  di- 
rects  theif 
inarches,  their 
counter  -  march- 
es, their  retreats, 
their  returns,  as 
it  pleai-es  Him; 
and     furio'dl 


lU 


JEJiEMIAH. 


(Cap.  xxxvii.  11—15. 


armies,  like 
stormy  wiiiils,  in 
fill  their  mot  ions 
are  fullilling  His 
Word."  —  Mai. 

llf.nnj. 

6  nice. 

"  On  piety  hu- 
manity is  built ; 
and  on  linmaiiity 
much  happiness  ; 
ami  yetrstill  more 
on  piety  itself. 
A  soul  in  com- 
merce witli  her 
Gol  is  heaven  ; 
feels  not  the 
tumults  anil  the 
shocks  of  life ; 
the  whirls  of  pas- 
Bioiis,  an;l  th:> 
strokes  of  heart." 
—  I'ouny. 

C  H.  W.  Deecher, 


a  Allusion,  Iiow- 
cver,  m.iy  be  to 
Jer.'s  going,  as 
others  did,  to 
fetuli  a  store  of 
proi'isions  from 
the  iiaiji'ibour- 
ing  country. 

"  When  tlie  siefje 
was    tenipor.irily  I 
raised,   the    first 
object     with 
everybo'ly  would 
be  to  obtain  sup- 
plies of  food,  anil  i 
accordingly     Jo-  j 
reiniali     in 
midit       of 
ppo/ilf,     i.e. 
companied 
othei-s.  who,  like 
liinnelf,     had     a 
right  to  a  share 
in     the    priests' 
produce  at  Ana- 
thoih,       started 
thither      to    .see  ] 
whether     any  I 
stores     still     re-  i 
mained       which 
might    be  avail- 
able    for     tlieir 
commnn   use." — 
Sj^k.  Com. 


tlie 
the 


by 


&  "Often  in  the 
E.  part  of  the 
private  house  of 
a  public  otTioer 
serves  as  a 
prison." -/'«««£<. 


ripple.  2.  Our  right consnoss  is  also  illustrated  by  waves  of  sea  ; 
Ocean  an  imago  of  infinitude  :  waves  wash  round  all  coasts  ; 
how  much  they  cover,  how  much  they  bear  up.  Learn  :— ( 1)  All 
this  depends  upon  obedience  and  trust :  then  peace  with  God, 
conscience,  etc.  ;  (2)  Some  hearken  to  the  advice  of  others  rather 
than  commands  of  God  :  and  what  the  result.''' 

Paternal  rrlation.i  of  God. — We  think  it  would  be  wrong-  to 
attribute  to  God  such  tender  compassion  as  mothers  feel ;  we 
shrink  from  transferring  to  God  the  interior  and  most  exquisite 
passages  of  the  history  of  the  household,  because  it  seems  to  ua 
that  there  must  be  incompatibility  between  personal  administra- 
tion in  the  family  and  civil  administration  in  a  State  government. 
Bub  this  is  wrong  ;  for  we  are  to  gain  our  conceptions  of  God 
Himself  from  the  noblest  faculties  of  man.  We  are  to  take  the 
b^st  thoughts  and  the  best  feelings  of  human  beings,  and  from 
these  we  are  to  derive  our  highest  views  of  God  :  and  in  doing 
this,  every  thought,  every  figure  which  we  aj^ply  to  Him,  inclines 
us  to  take  the  family  and  its  experiences  as  the  source  of  infor- 
mation respacting  Him.  Those  things  that  are  furthest  from 
animal  life,  and  those  things  that  indicate  the  most  exquisite 
experiences  of  affection  in  the  mother  and  in  the  father,  are  the 
very  ones  which  we  should  transfer  to  God,  and  should  believe 
that  He  possesses."^ 

11 — 15.  (11)  broken  up,  marrf.  "made  to  ascend  :"'  gone  up; 
the  fig.  intimates  that  they  removed  their  siege-engines,  and,  aa 
we  say,  raised  the  siege.  (12)  tlisn,  taking  advantage  of  the 
opanness  of  the  country,  separate  liimseli,  Dtanj.  '"slip  away 
from  ;""  or  better.  •'  to  receive  a  sliaro  thence."  (13)  captain, 
I'tc-.,  or  captain  of  the  watch,  took  Jer.,  i.e.  arrested  him. 
fallest  away,  or  as  a  spy  you  intend  to  give  information  to  the 
ChaldiBans.  (11)  false,  still  the  character  of  his  predictions 
had  api^eared  to  favour  the  Chalda3an  cause,  and  we  can  hamly 
wonder  that  he  was  suspected.  (1.5)  prison  .  .  llOU.33,  the  place 
reserved  for  political  offenders.* 

Treatment  of  primner^. — The  treatment  of  those  that  are  shut 
up  in  the  Eastern  prisons  differs  from  our  usages,  but  serves  to 
illustrate  several  passages  of  Scripture.  Chardin  isolates  several 
circumstances  concerning  their  prisons,  which  are  curious,  and 
should  not  be  omitted.  In  the  first  place,  he  tells  us  that  the 
Eastern  prisons  are  not  public  building-s  erected  for  that  purpose  ; 
bub  a  part  of  the  house  in  which  their  criminal  judges  dwell.  As 
the  governor  and  provost  of  a  town,  or  the  captain  of  the  watch, 
imprisoned  such  as  are  accused  in  their  own  houses,  they  sit 
ai>art  a  canton  of  it  for  that  purpose,  when  they  are  put  into 
these  offices,  and  choose  for  the  jailer  the  most  proper  per.-^on 
they  can  find  of  their  domestics.  Sir  John  supposes  the  pri.'son  in 
which  Joseph,  together  with  the  chief  butler  and  chief  baker  of 
Pharaoh,  -o'as  put,  was  in  Potiphars  own  house.  But  I  would 
apply  this  account  to  the  illus^tration  of  another  passage  of  Scrip- 
ture :  '■  AVherefore."  it  is  said,  Jer.  xxxvii.  l-"),  "the  princes  were 
wroth  with  Jeremiah,  and  smote  liim.  and  put  him  in  pri.-;on  in 
the  house  of  Jonathan  the  scribe  ;  for  they  had  made  thab  the 
prison."  Here  we  see  a  dwelling-hou-e  was  made  a  prison  :  and 
the  house  of  an  eminent  person,  for  it  was  the  bouse  of  a  scribe, 
which  title  marks  out  a  person  of  quality  :  it  is  certain  it  does  so 
in  some  places  of  Jeremiah,  particularly  ch.  xxxvi   12,  "Then  he 


Cap.  xxxvii.  16-21.] 


JEREMIAH. 


145 


went  down  into  the  king's  house  into  the  scribe's  chamber,  and 
lo,  all  the  princes  sat  there,  even  Elishama  the  scribe,  and 
Dclaiah,"  etc.  The  making  the  house  of  Jonathan  the  prison, 
would  not  now,  in  the  East,  be  doing  him  any  dishonour,  or 
occasion  the  looking  upon  liim  in  a  mean  light :  it  would  rather 
mark  out  the  placing  him  in  an  oihce  of  im]iortance.  It  is  pro- 
bable it  was  so  anciently,  and  that  his  house  became  a  prison, 
when  Jonathan  was  made  the  royal  scribe,  and  became,  like  the 
chamber  of  Elishama,  one  of  the  prisons  of  the  iieople." 

16 — 21.  (16)  dungeon,  or  pit ;  an  underground  cell  :  ch. 
xxxviii.  6."  cabins,  cells,  vaults,  arched  cavities,  many 
days,  prob.  till  the  Chaldfeans  had  returned  again.  (17) 
secretly,  or  privately.  The  return  of  the  Chalda^ans  had 
renewed  the  king's  anxiety,  tlioti  .  .  Babylon,  ch.  xxxii.  .3,  4. 
xxxiv.  2,  3.  (IS)  I  offended,  the  messages  Jer.  had  given  had 
not  been  his  own.  He  had  been  but  God's  agent.  (19)  not 
come,  this  the  false  prophets  had  constantly  said.*  (20)  sup- 
plication, etc.,  for  milder  treatment.  (21)  court,  not  into  the 
cell,  or  dungeon  :  a  freer  kind  of  custody,  bakers'  street,  or 
quarter.  <^ 

Ovens. — In  primitive  times,  an  oven  was  designed  only  to  serve 
a  single  family,  and  to  bake  for  them  no  more  than  the  bread  of 
one  day  :  a  custom  which  still  continues  in  some  places  of  the 
East  :  but  the  increase  of  population  in  the  cities,  higher  degrees 
of  refinement,  or  other  causes  in  the  progress  of  time,  suggested 
the  .  establishment  of  public  bakehouses.  They  seem  to  have 
been  introduc'd  into  Judcea  long  before  the  captivity  ;  for  the 
Prophet  Jeremiah  speaks  of  '■  the  bakers'  street,"  in  the  most 
familiar  manner,  as  a  place  well  known.  This,  however,  might 
be  only  a  temporary  establishment,  to  supply  the  wants  of  the 
soldiers  assembled  from  other  places  to  defend  Jerusalem.  If 
they  received  a  daily  allowance  of  bread,  as  is  the  practice  still  in 
eome  Eastern  countries,  from  the  royal  bakehouses,  the  order  of 
the  king  to  give  the  Prophet  daily  a  piece  of  bread,  out  of  the 
street  where  they  were  erected,  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
defenders  of  the  city,  was  perfectly  natural.  The  custom  alluded 
to  still  maintains  its  ground  at  Algiei-s.  Avhere  the  unmarried 
soldiers  receive  every  day  from  the  public  bakehouses  a  certain 
number  of  loaves.  Pitts  indeed  asserts,  that  the  Algerines  have 
public  bakehouses  for  the  accommodation  of  the  whole  city. 
The  women  prepare  their  dough  at  home,  and  the  bakers  send 
their  boys  about  the  streets,  to  give  notice  of  their  being  ready 
to  receive  and  carry  it  to  the  bakehouses.  They  bake  their  cakes 
everj^  day,  or  every  other  day,  and  give  the  boy  who  brings  the 
bread  home,  a  piece  or  little  cake  for  the  baking,  which  is  sold 
by  the  baker.  Small  as  the  Eastern  loaves  are,  it  appears  from 
this  account,  that  they  give  a  piece  of  one  only  to  the  baker,  as  a 
reward  for  his  trouble.  This  \;W\  perhaps  illustrate  Ezekiel's 
account  of  the  false  prophets  receiving  jiieces  of  bread  by  way  of 
gratuities  :  "  And  will  ye  pollute  me  among  my  people,  for  hand- 
f uls  of  barley,  and  pieces  of  bread.'"  These  are  compensations 
still  used  in  the  East,  but  of  the  meanest  kind,  and  for  Bervices 
of  the  lowest  sort.'' 


Christ  receives 
all  from  God  by 
His  oneness  uitfi 
(.'rod  ;  Vie  receive 
all  from  Christ  by 
our  oneness  with 
Him. 

c  Ilarmer. 


a  "That  selected 
for  Jer.  appears 
to  liave  been  of  a 
squalid  descrip- 
tion, consisting 
of  a  -well,  or  pit, 
with  vaults 
round  the  sides, 
in  which  the  pri- 
souers  were 
lodged."  —  Hen- 
derson. 

b     Je.    xxvi. 
xxix.  1. 


T, 


"  The  event  hath 
now  convinced 
j'ou  how  much 
they  have  de- 
ceived you ;  for 
you  see  the  siege 
renewed,  and  tha 
city  in  imminent 
danger  of  being 
taken." — Lowth. 

c  "  The  streets  in 
E.  cities  are  ge- 
nerally distin- 
gtiished  fr.  each 
other,  not  by  tha 
sejjarate  names 
wliicli  tliey  bear, 
but  by  the  sorb 
of  traffic  or  busi- 
ness carried  on 
in  them.  The 
different  branch- 
es of  trade,  in- 
stead of  being 
intermixed,  as 
with  us,  are 
usually  assigned 
to  a  distinct 
locality." — Mack' 
elt. 

If  you  lay  the 
least  weight  on  a 
rotten  branch  it 
breaks  under  it; 
so  an  unsound 
Christian  cannot 
bear  the  least 
crots  for  Christ. 
U  Paxton. 


VOL.  IX.     O.T, 


K 


146 


JE  RE  if: A  IT. 


[Cap.  xxxviil.  1— 6t 


•  "  .Tor.  -wnnll 
not  have  so  oftt-ii 
repeateil  this 
unwelcome  int^s- 
Sage,  but  that  lie 
couli]  put  tliem 
in  a  certain  way, 
though  not  to 
save  tlie  city,  yet 
to  save  thom- 
selves  ;  so  that 
every  man  mifrhc 
have  his  r)wn  life 
given  him  for  a 
prey  if  he  would 
be  advised."  — 
Jfat.  Hfiiry. 

h  air  E.  Daiy. 


a  "Had  Jcr.  not 
had  a  Divine 
commission  he 
might  justly 
have  been  ac- 
cused of  troa?on ; 
biit,  having  one, 
•which  made  the 
result  of  the 
Biege  certain,  ho 
acted  hum.mely 
as  the  interpreter 
of  God's  will 
under  tlie  theo- 
cracy, in  advis- 
ing surrender."— 
Fausset. 

h  "  Zedekiah  in 
his  pusillanimity 
gives  up  Jere- 
miah to  tlie 
princes,  as  Pilate 
gave  up  Christ  to 
the  chief  priests." 
—  Wordswurlh. 

c  "  Every  house 
In  Jerus.  was 
supplied  with  a 
subterranean  cis- 
tern, so  well  cnn- 
structed  that  we 
never  read  nf  the 
city  suiVcring  iu 
asiege  from  want 
of  water." — ISpk. 
Com, 

"To  see  sad  sights 
moves  more  tlinn 
to  hear  them 
told  ;  for  then  the 
eye  interprets  to 
the  ear  the  heavy 
motion  that  it 
doth     behold; 


CHAPTER  THE  THIRTY-EIGHTn. 

1 — 3.  (1)  Shephatiali,  etc.,  for  some  of  these  names  comp. 
ch.  xxi.  1,  9,  xxxvii.  :5.  (2)  he  that,  etc.,  ch.  xxi.  9.  (4) 
surely,  so  the  defenders  may  cherish  no  hope  of  success." 

JJfc  a  rircr. — Pliny  compares  life  to  a  river.  The  river,  small 
and  clear  iu  its  origin,  guyhes  forth  from  rocks,  falls  into  deep 
glens,  and  wantons  and  meanders  through  a  wild  and  picturesque 
country  ;  nourishing  only  the  uncultivated  tree  or  flower  by  ita 
dew  or  spray.  In  this,  in  its  state  of  infancy  and  youth,  it  may 
be  compared  to  the  human  mind,  in  which  fancy  and  strength 
of  imagination  are  predominant  :  it  is  more  beautiful  than  use- 
ful. When  the  different  rills  or  torrents  join,  and  descend  into 
the  plain,  it  becomes  slow  and  stately  in  its  motions,  and  able  to 
bear  upon  its  bosom  the  stately  barge.  In  this  mature  state,  it  is 
deep,  strong,  and  useful.  As  it  flows  on  towards  the  sea.  it  loses 
its  force  and  its  motion,  and  at  last,  as  it  were,  becomes  lost  and 
mingled  with  the  mighty  abyss  of  waters.* 

4 — 6.  (4)  therefore,  I.e.  bee.  Jer.'s  messages  utterly  dis- 
heartened the  soldiers :  and  he  seemed  to  actually  recommend 
their  de.sertion  to  the  enemy."  welfare, /(Y.  "the  peace."  (5) 
in  your  hand,  Zedekiah  speaks  dcspondingly,  and  as  one  who 
felt  powerless  to  resist  his  chief  ofBcers.*  (6)  dungeon, 
ch.  xxxvii.  10  :  a  pit,  or  cistern,  wh.  had  been  full  of  water." 
"with  cords,  this  gives  indication  of  the  depth  and  unwhole- 
someness.     The  i^rinces  hoped  Jer.  would  die  in  the  pit. 

I'j-ison.i. — There  were  two  prisons  iu  Jerusalem  ;  of  which  one 
was  called  the  king's  prison,  which  had  a  lofty  tower  that  over- 
looked the  royal  palace,  with  a  spacious  court  before  it,  where 
.state  prisoners  were  confined.  The  other  was  designed  to  secure 
debtors  and  other  inferior  offenders  :  and  in  both  these  the 
prisoners  were  supported  by  the  public,  on  bread  and  water. 
Suspected  persons  were  sometimes  confined  under  the  custody  of 
state  officers,  in  their  own  houses  ;  or  rather  a  part  of  the  house 
which  was  occupied  by  the  great  officers  of  state,  was  occasionally 
converted  into  a  prison.  This  seems  to  be  a  natural  conclusion 
from  the  statement  of  the  Projihet  Jeremiah,  iu  which  he  gives 
an  account  of  his  imprisonment :  ''  Wherefore,  the  princes  were 
wroth  with  Jeremiah,  and  smote  him,  and  put  him  in  prison,  in 
the  house  of  Jonathan  the  scribe  ;  for  they  had  made  that  the 
prison."  This  custom,  so  different  from  the  manners  of  our 
country,  has  descended  to  modern  times ;  for  when  C'hardin 
visited  the  East,  their  prisons  were  not  public  buildings  erected 
for  that  purpose,  but,  as  in  the  days  of  the  Prophet,  a  part  of  the 
house  in  which  their  criminal  judges  reside.  "  As  the  governor, 
or  provost  of  a  town,"  sa3^s  our  traveller,  "  or  the  captain  of  the 
watch,  imprison  such  as  are  accused,  in  their  own  houses,  they 
set  apart  a  canton  of  them  for  that  purpose,  when  they  are  iiufc 
into  these  offices,  and  choose  for  the  jailer  the  most  proper 
person  they  can  find  of  their  domestics."  The  royal  prison  in 
Jerusalem,  and  especially  the  dungeon,  into  which  the  prisoner 
was  let  down  naked,  seems  to  have  been  a  most  dreadful  ])lace. 
The  latter  cannot  be  better  described  than  in  the  words  of 
Jeremiah  himself,  who  for  his  faithfulness  to  God  and  his  couatry, 


cap.  xxxviii.  7—13.1 


JEREMLin. 


147 


in  a  most  degenerate  age.  had  to  encounter  all  its  horrors  :  "  Then  ; 
took  they  Jeremiah,  and  cast  him  into  the  dungeon  tliat  was  in 
the  court  of  the  prison  ;  and  they  let  him  down  with  cords  :  and 
in  the  dungeon  there  was  no  water,  but  mire  :  and  his  feet  sunk 
in  the  mire."  A  discretionary  power  was  given  to  the  keeper  to 
treat  his  prisoners  as  he  pleased  ;  all  that  was  expected  of  him 
being  onlj-  to  produce  them  when  required.  If  he  kept  them  in 
safe  custody,  he  might  treat  them  well  or  ill  as  he  chose  :  he 
might  i^ut  them  in  irons  or  not :  shut  them  up  close,  or  indulge 
them  with  greater  liberty  ;  admit  their  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances to  A'isit  them,  or  suffer  no  person  to  see  them.  The  most 
worthless  characters,  the  most  atrocious  criminals,  if  they  can 
bribe  the  jailer  and  his  servants  with  large  fees,  shall  be  lodged 
in  his  own  apartment,  and  have  the  best  accommodation  it  can 
afford  ;  but  if  he  be  the  enemy  of  those  committed  to  his  charge, 
or  have  received  larger  presents  from  their  persecutors,  he  will 
treat  them  in  the  most  barbarous  manner.'' 

7 — 9.  (7)  Ebed-melecll,  prob.  keeper  of  the  royal  harem." 
Ethiopian,  Heb.  Cushitc.  sitting  in  the  gate,  where  causes 
■were  usually  heard.  It  was  the  king's  duty  to  sit  there,  as  a 
magistrate,  for  a  certain  time  every  day.  (8,  9)  like  to  die,* 
likely  to  do ;  w  ill  be  sure  to  die.  no  more  bread,  private  stores 
were  consumed  ;  and  nobody  was  likely  to  think  of  the  poor 
prophet. 

Blach  enuMclis. — The  possession  of  black  eunuchs  is  not  very 
common  in  the  Levant :  they  are  hardly  anywhere  to  be  found, 
except  in  the  palaces  of  the  sovereign,  or  of  the  branches  of  the 
royal  family.  When  the  Baron  De  Tott's  wife  and  mother-in- 
law  were  permitted  to  visit  Asma  Sultana,  daughter  of  the 
Emperor  Achniet,  and  sister  of  the  reigning  prince,  he  tells  us, 
that  '■  at  the  opening  of  the  third  gate  of  her  palace,  several 
black  eunuchs  presented  themselves,  who.  with  each  a  white  staff 
in  his  hand,  preceded  the  visitors,  leading  them  to  a  spacious 
apartment,  called  the  chamber  of  strangers."  He  adds,  that  to 
have  such  attendants  is  a  piece  of  great  state,  as  the  richest 
people  have  not  more  than  one  or  two  of  them.' 

10 — 13.  (10)  thirty  men,  not  so  much  for  defence,  as  the 
indication  that  he  came  by  the  king's  authority.  Had  he  gone 
alone,  the  princes  might  have  thought  he  was  only  doing  his 
own  ^ill.  (11)  cast  clouts,"  rags  of  torn  garments,  rotten 
rags,  pieces  of  Avorn-out  garments.*  (12)  under  armholes, 
to  ease  the  strain  of  lifting  Jer.  up  out  of  the  well.  (13)  in  the 
court,  still  in  custody,  but  not  in  peril  of  his  life. 
Frison  of  the  condemned. — 

Apart  from  hence,  involved  in  deeper  gloom. 
Frowns  in  dark  state,  "  Fate's  dreaded  anteroom  1" 
But  oh  !  what  hand  can  nxise  the  sable  screen 
That  veils  the  horrors  of  the  '•  final  scene  ;" 
To  the  shock'd  sight  the  dismal  cells  expose. 
Where  death-doom'd  felons  wait  life's  awful  close  ! 
Where,  as  the  night-clock  strikes,  the  culprits  hear 
The  tre-'d  of  death,  at  every  stroke  more  near  ; 
And  with  the  daybreak,  startled  fancy  eyes 
Before  their  view  the  fatal  scalfold  rise  ! 
Yet  deem  not  vauily,  in  these  dreary  cells, 


when  every  part 
a  part  of  woe  doth 
biar  ;  'tis  but  a 
part  of  scrrow 
tluit  we  liear. 
Deep  soiincla 
make  lesser  noise 
tlian  shallow 

funis:  and  sorrow 
ebbs,  being 
blown  with  wind 
of  words." — 
Shakespeiu-e. 

d  Paxton, 


ft  "Eunuchs  of 
the  present  day, 
to  whom  the 
charge  of  harems 
is  committed, are 
mostly  from  Nu- 
t'ia  or  Abys- 
sinia. "-J/ic/ine?w. 

6  Lit.  "  he  is 
dead  in  his 
place  ;  "  the  lan- 
guage of  fear  of 
the  worst. 

c  Ilarmer. 


a  A.-S.  chtf.  jy, 
piece  of  cloth, 
etc.,  used  for  a 
patch. 

b  "This thought- 
ful act  of  the 
negro  shows  liis 
ki'iidliness,  the 
dejith  of  the  cis- 
tern, that  force 
would  be  neces- 
sary in  pulling 
out  Jeremiah, 
and  therefore 
that  the  mire 
was  deep,  and 
possibly  that  Je- 
remiah was  en- 
feebleil  by  his 
privations,  and 
required  gentle 
treatment."— 
Sjpt.  Com. 

"  So  we'll  live, 
and    pray,    and 


148 


JEUEMIATI. 


[Cap.xxxviii.  14—23. 


Bins,  and  toll  oM 
talcs,  find  Innjrli 
at  pililcd  biittor- 
flips ;  !inl  lipiir 
j)oi)r  ro>^ues  talk 
of  court  news, 
nncl  we'll  talk 
wltli  them  too; 
who  loses  and 
wlio  wins,  who's 
in,  wlio's  out.  in 
a  wall'd  prison 
packs  and  sets  of 
groat  ones,  that 
ebb  and  flow  by 
tir  ni  0  0  n."  — 
Shakvspea  re. 

c  Ilalloran. 

a  "  The  third 
pas.sa!?e  or  gate 
tvhich  lay  be- 
tween the  kinpr's 
palace,  w  here 
the  prison  was, 
and  tlie  Temple, 
whither  the  kins 
now  retreated  for 
fear  of  the  Chal- 
dEcan  army."- 
Li'jlitfoot. 

b  "  Zed"kiah  is  an 
example  of  that 
moral  cowardice 
which  is  the  bane 
and  destruction 
of  many,  psp.  in 
courts."  -  Wu/ds- 
icorth. 

vv.     14-  20.       J. 
Joirelt,  Led.  154. 
c  BLs/iop  King. 


VK.  19,  20.  J. 
Milnei;  iii.  485. 

"As     flowers 

always  wear  their 
own  colours  and 
give  forth  their 
own  fragrance 
every  day  alike, 
so  sliould  Chris- 
tians maintain 
their  cliaractcr 
at  all  times  and 
under  all  circum- 
stances."— //.  IV. 
Beccher. 

a  Dr.  Jolinsoii. 


With  g-uilt  that  .sorrow  or  contrition  dwell.?  ; 

Or  through  the  conscious  walls,  as  Echo  flies, 

Her  voice  re2)cats  rep?ntant  groans  or  sighs ! 

Oh  no  !  e'en  here  by  terrors  iinsub;lued, 

By  dea!  h  unawed  Vice  pons  her  blackest  brood  : 

Here  the  short  hours,  which  penitence  t^hould  claim, 

Are  blindly  wasteil  in  some  sinful  game. 

Gaming,  of  fraud  and  infamy  the  source, 

By  long  indulgence  gains  resistless  force  ; 

"While  "  sentenced  wretches"  hug  the  insatiate  'vico, 

And  madly  stake  their  souls  upon  the  dice  1 

Here  '  demon  fury"  every  sense  appals. 

And  shakes  with  impotence  of  rage  the  walls. 

To  swell  the  dreadful  scene,  while  all  around 

The  clanking  chains  in  mournful  concert  sound.' 

14 — 16.  (14)  third  entry,  or  innermost  entrance  from  the 
palace  into  the  Temple."  a  tiling,  or  a  word,  a  prophetic  inti- 
mation as  to  the  result  of  the  siege.  (15)  hearken,  so  as  to 
follow  out  the  advice  I  give.  (16)  sware  secretly,  being  too 
weak  to  take  a  decided  and  open  course.'' 
A  jjri.ton. — 

A  prison  is  in  all  things  like  a  grave. 

Where  we  no  better  privileges  have 

Than  dead  men  ;  nor  so  good.     The  soul,  once  fled, 

Lives  freer  now  than  when  she  was  cloister'd 

In  walls  of  flesh  ;  and  though  the  organs  want 

To  act  her  swift  designs,  yet  all  will  grant 

Her  faculties  more  clear,  now  separate, 

Than  if  conjunction,  which  of  late 

Did  marry  her  to  earth,  had  stood  in  force, 

Incapable  of  death  or  of  divorce  : 

But  an  imprison'd  mind,  though  living.  die3,^ 

And  at  one  time  feels  two  captivities  : 

A  narrow  dungeon,  which  her  body  holds. 

But  narrower  body  which  herself  enfolds.* 

17 — 19.  (17)  go  forth,  and  give  thyself  up  as  prisoner, 
soul  live,  or  thy  life  shall  be  spared.  (18)  given  into,  as  a 
conquered  city,  thou  .  .  hand,  ch.  xxxi.K.  .5.  (]!>)  lest  they, 
I.e.  the  Chalda3ans.  mock  me,  for  deserting  at  last,  only  whea 
it  was  too  late  to  save  the  city. 
Life  and  death. — 

Reflect  that  life  and  death,  affecting  sounds 

Are  only  varit^d  modes  of  endless  being  : 

Reflect  that  life,  like  every  other  blessing, 

Derives  its  value  from  its  use  alone  : 

Not  for  itself,  but  for  a  nobler  end 

The  Eternal  gave  it  :  and  that  end  is  virtue. 

"\Mien  inconsistent  with  a  greater  good. 

Reason  commands  to  cast  the  less  away  : 

Thus  life,  with  loss  of  wealth,  is  well  preserved, 

And  virtue  cheaply  saved  with  loss  of  life." 

20—23.  (20)  only  obey,  all  will  then  come  right.  (21) 
uowTnronnsZed  ^^^^^  is  the  word,  viz..  that  both  Zed.  and  the  city  would  be 
thai  UUe  refused   taken.     (22) -women,  of  the  court.     These  -ft'ould  be  taken  M 


Cap.  xxxix.  1—3.] 


JEREMIAH. 


149' 


prey  by  the  Chaldsean  officers,  and  they  would  reprove  Zedekiah 
for  following  l^ad  advice."  tliy  friends,  conip.  Obad.  7.  they  .  . 
back,  I.e.  the  friends  in  whom  Jer.  trusted  would  for.'^ake  him 
in  the  hour  of  need.  (23)  tliotl  shalt  cause,  i.e.  the  harder 
fate  of  the  city  shall  be  the  consequence  of  thine  obstinancy.* 

How  n-e  are  Unhid  tofirthcr. — You  x-emember  the  touching 
story  of  the  daughter  of  Sir  Robert  Peel.  Her  father  gave  her, 
as  a  birthday  present,  a  gorgeous  riding  habit,  and  went  out 
■with  her  on  the  same  day  for  an  airing  in.  the  park,  his  heart 
sweMing  with  parental  pride  as  he  rode  by  her  side.  Shortly 
afterwards,  .she  sickened  and  died  of  typhus  fever  of  the  most 
malignant  type  :  and  when  inquiry  was  made  as  to  how  she 
caught  the  infection,  it  was  discovered  that  the  habit,  bought 
froix  one  of  the  London  West  End  tradesmen,  had  been  made 
in  a  miserable  attic,  where  the  husband  of  the  seamstress  was 
Ij'ing  ill  of  fever,  and  that  it  had  been  used  by  her  to  cover  him 
in  his  shivering  fits.  Thus,  whether  we  will  believe  it  or  not, 
the  safety  of  tlie  highest  is  bound  up  with  the  condition  of  the 
lowest." 

24 — 28.  (24)  no  man  know,  throughout  the  interview 
Zed.  shows  himself  to  be  utterly  weak.  (2."-)  the  princes, 
whom  Zed.  so  greatly  feared,  and  who  would  find  in  this  inter- 
view a  new  occnsion  against  Jei*.  (26)  Jonathan's  house, 
ch.  xxxvii.  1.5.  (27)  the  matter,  i.e.  the  advice  to  desert  to  the 
Chaldajans.  which  Jer.  had  so  earnestly  given  to  the  king.  (28) 
court,  ch.  xxxix.  21. 
Hace  fur  life. — 

For  life — the  victim's  utmost  speed 

Is  mu.stered  in  this  hour  of  need  : 

For  life — for  life — his  giant  might 

He  strains,  and  pours  his  soul  in  flight ; 

And  mad  with  terror,  thirst,  and  pain. 

Spurns  with  wild  hoof  the  thundering  ^lain. 

'Tis  vain  :  the  thirsty  sands  are  drinking 

His  streaming  blood — hi^  strength  is  sinking  : 

The  victor's  fangs  are  in  his  veins — 

His  flanks  are  streaked  with  sanguin'd  strains — 

His  panting  breast  in  foam  and  gore 

Is  bath'd — he  reels  — his  race  is  o'er  ; 

He  falls -and  with  convulsing  throe. 

Resigns  his  throat  to  th'  ravening  foe  1 

And  lo  !  ere  quivering  life  has  fled, 

The  vultures,  wheeling  o'erhead. 

Swoop  down,  to  watch,  in  gaunt  array, 

Till  the  gorged  tyrant  quits  his  j^rey." 


CHAPTER   TEE   THIRTY-NINTH. 

1—3.  (1)  ninth  year,  2  Ki.  xxv.  1,  2  ;  Je.  lii.  4."  (2) 
eleventh  year,  the  siege  lasted  just  one  year  and  six  months, 
"broken  up,  or  such  breaches  were  made  in  the  walls  as  gave 
the  invaders  pos.session  of  the  city.  (15)  middle  gate,  that  wh. 
eeparated  the  city  of  Zion  from  the  lower  town.  Rab-mag, 
prob.  the  official  title  of  the  second  ;S//r//v'-r/-,  meaning,  "  Chief 
of  the  magicians,"  the  sacerdotal  caste  of  Chaldsea.* 


to  submit,  ha 
woulil  become 
tlie  object  of 
more  cutting  de- 
risiou  on  tlie  part 
of  liis  own  mis- 
tresses, who,  iu 
order  the  more  to 
graiify  their  new 
lords,  would  ex. 
idc  over  his  fiillen 
c  o  n  d  it  ion." — 
IJenderson. 

b  "It  shall  be 
thine  own  act,  as 
completely  as  if 
done  with  thine 
own  hand."  — ' 
Spk.  Com. 

c     Rev.     W.    N. 

Taylor. 


"  Few  men  have 
done  more  harm 
than  those  who 
have  been 
thought  to  be 
able  to  do  least ; 
and  there  cannot 
be  a  greater  error 
than  to  believe  a 
man  whom  we 
see  qualified  with 
too  mean  parts 
to  do  good,  to  be, 
therefore,  inca- 
pal.ile  of  doing 
hurt.  There  is  a 
supply  of  malice, 
of  pride,  of  indus- 
try, and  even  of 
fdily.  in  the 
meekest,  when  he 
sets  his  heart 
up(.n  it,  that 
makes  a  strange 
progress  in  wick- 
edness." —  Lord 
Chirendon. 


a  Pringle. 


a  "  After  his  ex- 
pedition to  Jcru- 
salem,  Kebu- 
chadnezzar  him- 
self seems  to 
have  retired  to 
]iil)lali  in  the 
laud  of  Hamath, 
to  the   nor  111  ot 


150 


JEnEillAtt. 


[Cap.  xzzix.  4— 7« 


ralcstine.  on  the 
riglitbiuikof  tlie 
rivt!r  Oroiites, 
!ilu)iU  ;>.■>  miles 
K.E.  of  Biiallioc, 
on  the  frrciit  road 
bi'twecii  I'ales- 
tiiio  and  Baby- 
lonia." —  jy'o/'i/i- 
wor(/i. 

b  "  It  was  cus- 
tomary among 
tlieUlialdiuansto 
give  tlie  names 
of  tlieir  idols,  as 
an  additional 
title,  or  mark  of 
honour,  to  jier- 
6ons  of  distiuc- 
tiou." — Lvivlh. 


a  "  They  took  to 
fliglit  by  the 
double  wall  wh. 
ran  along  the 
Bouth  side  of 
Zion.andruaohed 
the  point  wlienee 
two  roads  struck 
ofT,  the  one  to 
Bethlehem,  and 
the  other  across 
the  south  siile  of 
the  Mount  of 
Olives.  They  ap- 
pear to  have 
taken  the  latter 
route  in  order  to 
reach  the  Jordan, 
liaving  crossed 
wh.  they  might 
liave  escaped 
into  Arabia  JJe- 
serta."— y/f»  Av- 
son. 

b  C  o  tn  p.  Je. 
xxxii.  4  ;  Eze. 
Xii.  14. 

"  Possibly  he  was 
deiirived  of  siglit 
by  having  a  I'ed- 
hot  iron  held 
before  his  eyes." 
— Mic/melis. 

"  The  Assyrian 
sculptures  dc- 
liiot  the  delight 
with  which  the 
kings  struck  out, 
often  with  their 
owu   Lauds,   tlie 


J'nJrxfint'  e.rjil/irnfion.t. — A  large  number  of  valuable  and  im- 
portant identifications  are  newly  advanced  or  supported  in  the 
last  (Jii/ir/rrli/  SfitfcDicnt  of  the  Exploration  Fund.  Among  them 
conies,  first,  and  most  imx)ortant,  the  site  of  Bethabara,  the  place 
where  John  baptised  ;  the  name  is  still  preserve<l  in  one  of  the 
many  previously  unknown  fords  of  the  Jordan  discovered  in  the 
course  of  the  survey.  It  is  illusti'ative  of  the  value  of  the 
new  map  that  it  will  show  no  fewer  than  fifty  of  these  fords, 
against  eight  in  the  best  map  at  present  existing.  The  "  Tower 
of  Ader,"  the  site  of  Jacob  s  camp,  is  proposed  to  be  idcnti^ed 
with  the  "  Shepherd's  Plain,"  near  Bethlehem.  Lieut.  Conder 
proposes  sites  also  for  the  "  Valley  of  Bles.sing  "  and  the  town  of 
Bezeth  ;  he  has  traced  Pilate's  Arpieduct  to  its  conclusion,  and 
furnishes  an  accurate  survey  of  Tell  Jezer,  where  M.  Ganneau 
found  the  now  famous  inscription  marking  the  ancient  Levitical 
boundaries.  The  number  contains,  also,  a  dtawing  of  the  moun- 
tain where  Lieut.  Conder  found  the  '•  Altar  of  Ed  :''  an  accounC 
of  the  recent  excavations  in  Jerusalem  conducted  by  theCxcrmans  ; 
of  the  discoveries  and  excavations  in  connection  with  the  First 
Wall  of  the  city  by  ]\Ir.  Ilenrv  Maudslay  ;  and  important  papers 
by  Major  "Wil.^on  and  Captain  Warren,  the  latter  giving  his 
reconstruction  of  the  Temple  of  Herod.  The  survey  party  are 
now  in  I'hilistia  ;  tlie  total  amount  of  work  done  up  to  the 
present  is  nearly  4,0'JO  square  miles. 

4 — 7.  (4)  fled,  from  the  upper  city.  Even  in  the  hour  of 
extremity  Zed.  would  not  follow  Jer.'s  advice,  and  submit,  fled, 
2  Ki.  xxv.  4:— 12."  plain,  or  wilderness  of  Judaea.  (5)  gave 
judgment,  pronounced  his  sentence.  ((>)  slew,  etc.,  Zed.'s 
2Hinishmeut  was  specially  terrible  bee.  of  the  stubbornness  of  his 
resistance.  (7)  put  out .  .  eyes,  a  cruel  but  not  unusual 
punishment.* 

Putting  ovt  the  eyes. — By  an  inhuman  custom,  which  is  still 
retained  in  the  East,  the  eyes  of  captives  taken  in  war  are  not 
only  put  out  but  sometimes  literally  scooped  or  dug  out  of  theij 
sockets.  This  dreadful  calamity  Samson  had  to  endure,  from 
the  unrelenting  vengeance  of  his  enemies.  In  a  posterior  age, 
Zedekiah.  the  last  king  of  Judah  and  Benjamin,  after  being 
compelled  to  behold  the  violent  death  of  his  sons  and  nobility, 
had  his  eyes  put  out,  and  was  carried  in  chains  to  Babjdou. 
The  barbarous  custom  long  survived  the  decline  and  fall  of  the 
Babylonian  emjire,  for  by  the  testimony  of  Mr.  Maurice,  in  hia 
History  of  Hindostan.  the  captive  princes  of  that  country  were 
often  treated  in  this  manner  by  their  more  fortunate  rivals ;  a 
red-hot  iron  was  passed  over  their  eyes,  which  efi'ectually  de- 
prived them  of  sight,  and  at  the  same  time  of  their  title  and 
ability  to  reign."  Extinction  of  the  sight  was  not  allowed  as  a 
punishment  under  the  iMosaic  law,  but  was  commonly  emploj-ed 
in  the  East  against  such  as  were  in  a  position  to  have  engaged 
in  plots  against  the  existing  government,  Judg.  xvi.  28  :  2  Kings 
xxv.  7  ;  Ezek.  xii.  13.  The  s.ame  punishment  M-as  frequently 
employed  by  the  Normans  in  our  own  land,  and  was  inflicted  by 
William  II.  upon  his  brother  IJobert.  In  the  seventeenth  century, 
a  silver  style,  resembling  those  used  for  painting  the  ej-ebrows, 
was  heated  red-hot,  and  thrust  into  the  eyes  of  one  of  the  Persian 
princes,  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  sight.  The  late  Pasha  of  • 
Acre,  Achmcd,  called  Djezzar,   or  the  Butcher,  subjected  hia 


Cap.  xxxix.  8—18.] 


JEREMIAH. 


151 


attendants  to  the  most  shameful  cruelties  ;  many  of  them  had 
lost  an  eye,  or  ear,  or  an  arm  ;  others  had  their  noses  slit :  nor 
were  any  means  of  redress  o]i?n  to  them.  The  same  wicked 
custom  still  prevails.  Mr.  Roberts,  speaking  of  this  practice, 
Bays.  "  The  eyes  of  many  were  plucked  out  by  hooks  :  others  iiad 
the  sight  destroyed  by  powerful  drugs  ;  and  some  had  their  eye- 
lids sewn  together,  as  is  the  custom  with  hunting  hawks."  "^ 

8 — 10.  (S)  tturned,  even  as  Jer.  had  foretold."  see  also  ch. 
lii.  12.  13.  (9)  captain  .  .  guard,  or  chief  marshal,  remnant, 
those  left  from  the  first  deportation  conducted  by  the  conquering' 
princes.  Prob.  Kebuzaradan  had  been  left  in  charge  of  the 
conquered  city,  fell  to  him,  or  deserted  to  him.  (10)  poor, 
poss.  the  disabled,  who  would  only  encumber  his  joui-ney,  and 
could  do  no  mischief  if  left  behind. 

Piter  the  Great. — The  soldiers  of  Peter  the  Great,  the  Czar  of 
Muscovy,  were  no  sooner  masters  of  the  town  of  Narva,  than  they 
fell  to  plundering  and  committing  the  most  enormous  barbarities. 
The  Czar  ran  from  place  to  place  to  put  a  stop  to  the  disorder 
and  massacre.  He  even  turned  upon  his  own  victorious  but 
uugoveraable  troops,  and  threatened  them  with  instant  death  if 
they  did  not  immediately  desist  from  rapine  and  slaughter,  and 
allow  quarter  to  their  vanquished  foes.  He  actually  killed  with 
Ms  own  hands  several  Muscovites  who  did  not  obey  his  orders.'' 

11 — 14.  (11)  charge,  instructions  how  to  treat  the  Prophet." 
(12)  take  him,  secure  his  personal  safety,  and  pay  him  every 
attention.  (13)  Compare  the  names  with  those  in  v.  3.  (14) 
Gddaliah,  ch.  xxvi.  24.  He  was  the  chief  of  the  deserters  to 
the  Chalda^ans.  home,  piob.  to  Gedaliahs  home,  dwelt  .  . 
people,  as  a  freeman. 

Trials  of  a  jrri.wncr. — A  prisoner  is  an  impatient  patient, 
lingring  under  the  rough  hands  of  a  cruell  phisitian  ;  who 
having  come  to  his  disease,  knowes  his  complainte,  and  hath 
power  to  cure  him,  but  takes  more  pleasure  to  kill  him.  He  is 
like  Tantalus,  who  hath  freedome  running  by  his  doore,  yet 
cannot  enjoy  the  least  benefit  thereof.  His  greatest  griefe  is 
that  his  credit  was  so  good  and  now  no  better.  His  land  is 
drawne  within  the  compasse  of  a  sheepe's  skin,  and  his  owne 
hand  the  fortification  that  barres  him  of  entrance  :  hee  is 
fortunes  tossing-bal,  an  object  that  would  make  mirth  melan- 
choly :  to  his  friends  an  abject,  and  a  subject  of  nine  dayes' 
■wonder  in  euery  barber's  shop,  and  a  mouthful  of  pitty  (that  he 
had  no  better  fortune)  to  midwiues  and  talkatiue  gossips  ;  and 
all  the  content  that  this  transitory  life  can  giue  him  seems  but 
to  flout  him,  in  respect  the  restraint  of  liberty  barres  the  true. 
To  his  familiars  hee  is  like  a  plague,  whom  they  dare  scai'ce 
come  nigh  for  feare  of  infection  ;  he  is  a  monument  ruined  by 
by  those  which  raysed  him  ;  he  spends  the  day  with  a  hei  mihl ! 
fee  mhentm  !  and  the  night  with  a  nullis  est  medicah'dis  herbls.'' 

15—18.  (1.5)  -while  ..  prison,  but  after  Ebed-melech  had 
rescued  him  from  the  pit.  (IG)  before  thee,  the  intimation 
that  Ebed  should  see  the  evil,  and  live  through  it.  (17)  deliver 
thee,  as  a  recognition  of  his  services  to  Gods  Prophet,  afraid, 
Ebed  miglit  well  fear  the  wild  slaughter  and  rioting  that  is 
usual  when  a  city  is  sacked.  (18)  for  a  prey,  or  an  unexpected 
&ud  uiilooked  for  gain.<* 


eyes   of    captive 
priuoes."—  Faa^ 


c  Paxion. 


a  "The  fate  of 
the  city  was 
delayed  for  a 
niuiith,  probably 
until  definite  in- 
structions had 
been  received 
from  Nebuciiad- 
uezzar. 

We  live  amid  sur- 
faces, and  the  art 
of  life  is  to  skata 
well  on  theui. 

6  Percy  Aiiee. 


a  "  Xo  doubt  ha 
had  been  in- 
forniod  that  the 
I'roiiliet  had  ex- 
horted both  king 
and  people  to  sub- 
mit themselves 
to  his  authority." 
— Loiclh. 

"  How  Uke  a 
prison's  to  a 
gravel  when 
dead  we  are  with 
solemn  pomp 
brouglit  thither, 
and  our  heirs, 
masking  their 
joy  in  false  dis- 
sembled tears, 
weep  o'er  the 
hearse :  but  the 
earth  no  sooner 
covers  the  earth 
brouglit  thither, 
but  they  turn 
away  with  in- 
ward smiles,  the 
dead  no  more 
remember'd  :  so 
enter'd  into  a 
jjrison." — Mat' 
.siii'je?: 

b  -SV/'  Tlwnwis 
Overbury. 

a  "  The  '  life ' 
which  he  had 
risked  in  rescu- 
ing the  Propheb 
was  to  be  his 
reward,  being 
spared  beyond 
aU    hope    when  . 


152 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  xl.  1-6. 


the  lives  of  bis 
eiieniii'S  sliould 
be  forfeited."  — 
Fausset. 

J  e .  X  I  i .  9 , 
xxxviii.   2. 

"  For  love  of  all 
tlie  goils,  lot's 
leave  the  lierniit 
pity  with  our 
mother  ;  ami 
when  we  have 
our  armours 
biicklecl  ou,  let 
venom''!  ven- 
geance ride  upon 
our  swords."  — 
Shakespeare. 

*  C.  Edmrds. 


a  "Prob.  all  the 
prisoners  of  note, 
who  might  be 
worth  taking  to 
Babylon,  were 
collected  at  lla- 
mah  indisorinii- 
nately,  and  ex- 
amined there."— 
Upk.  Com. 

6  "  From  tlie 
signs  of  hesita- 
tion which  Jer. 
manifested,  the 
captain  con- 
cluded that  he 
would  rather  re- 
main in  tlie  laud 
than  go  to  Baby- 
ion,  and  not  only 
Bent  him  to  Ge- 
daliah,  but  pro- 
vided him  with 
victuals  for  his 
journey,  and  dis- 
missed him  with 
a  present." — 
UendiTSon. 

"  It  is  no  unusual 
thing  for  men  of 
the  most  aban- 
doned character 
to  be  struck  with 
profound  awe, 
and  restraineil 
fi-om  their  vile 
purposes,  by  the 
presence  of  an 
eminrtitly  pious 
person.  Th;  re  is 
a  iinw(>r  in  real 
godliness  which 
commands  the 
levereuce.  of 


Glorici  of  libevtij. — 

Oh-  Liberty  !  Liberty  !  wlio  would  not  die, 

In  tny  records  to  live  eterually  ? 

Oh  Liberty  !  Liberty  !  thine  is  the  -wreath 

That  flames  o'er  the  scene  of  a  warrior's  death  ; 

Hallows  the  soil  of  the  soldier's  grave, 

And  plays  o'er  the  land  of  the  good  and  the  brave, 

Though  the  mighty  come  forth  in  their  pride, 

And  nations  be  swept  from  the  land, 

For  ever  the  names  of  thy  patriot  band 
In  the  volume  of  fame  shall  abide. 
Like  Sicily's  mountain  whose  fires  never  die, 

Thj^  presence  ou  earth  is  confest  ; 
A  beacon  of  wrath  when  it  flames  on  high, 

And  a  mighty  fear  when  at  rest. 
I  Like  thee  it  wakes  from  its  terrible  sleep, 

And  o'er  the  daik  rock  and  green  valley  sweep,* 


CHAPTER   TEE  FORTIETH. 

\  1—6.  (1)  from  Ramah,  ch.  xxxi.  IS."  He  had  been  carried, 
with  other  prisoners,  to  Ilamah,  a  short  distance  from  Jerusalem, 
chains,  or  manacles.  At  first  Jer.  was  mixed  up  with  the  other 
captives,  who  were  bound  together  with  chains  on  the  handa. 
(2)  Lord,  etc.,  this  sounds  like  a  repetition  of  Jer.'s  words,  which 

[  may  have  been  reported  to  the  captain.  (3)  brorigllt  it,  to 
pass.  (4)  loose  thee,  so  give  thee  thy  personal  liberty.  Icok 
•well,  ch.  xxxix.  12.  (o)  while  .  .  back,  or  while  he  was  hesi- 
tating.* (6)  Gedaliah,  ch.  xxvi.  24,  xxxix.  14.  Mizpah,  in 
Benjamin,  2  hours  N.W.  of  Jerusalem. 

Liithcr. — Disinterestedness  was  a  leading  feature  in  the  char- 
acter of  Luther  ;  superior  to  all  selfish  considerations,  he  left  the 
honours  and  emoluments  of  this  world  to  those  who  delighted  in 
them.  The  following  extract,  from  a  will  he  executed  so'ne 
years  before  his  death,  proves  how  little  he  regarded  that  wealth 
to  attain  which  thousands  sacrifice  every  enjoyment  in  this 
life,  and  every  hope  of  happiness  in  the  next.  The  reformer 
says,  '■  Lord  God  !  I  give  Thee  thanks  that  Thou  hast  ■filled  me 
to  be  poor  upon  earth,  and  a  beggar.  I  have  neither  house,  land, 
money,  nor  possessions  of  any  kind,  which  I  can  leave.  Thou 
hast  given  me  a  wife'  and  children  :  I  commend  them  to  Thee  :• 
nourish  them,  teach  them,  preserve  them,  as  Thou  hast  hitherto 
preserved  me,  0  Father  of  the  fatherless,  Judge  of  the  Avidow  I  " 
The  poverty  of  this  great  man  did  not  arise  from  wanting  the 
means  of  acquiring  riches  ;  for  few  men  have  had  it  in  their 
power  more  easily  to  obtain  them.  The  Elector  of  Saxony 
oft'(>red  him  the  produce  of  a  mine  at  Sneberg  ;  but  he  notoly 
refused  it,  "  lest "  said  he,  "  I  should  tempt  the  devil,  who  is 
lord  of  these  subterraneous  treasures,  to  tempt  me."  The 
enemies  of  Luther  were  no  strangers  to  his  contempt  for  gold. 
When  one  of  the  popes  asked  a  certain  cardinal,  why  they  did 
not  stop  that  man's  mouth  with  silver  and  gold  :  his  eminence 
replied,  "That  German  beast  regards  not  money!"  It  may 
easily  be  supposed,  that  the  liberality  of  such  a  man  would  often 
exceed   his   means,      A  poor  student  once  telling  him  of  his 


Cap.  xl.  7-16.] 


JEREMIAH. 


153 


poverty,  he  desired  his  wife  to  give  him  a  sum  of  money  ;  and 
when  she  informed  him  they  had  none  left,  he  immediately 
seized  a  cup  of  some  value,  which  accidentally  s'ood  within  his 
reach,  and  giving  it  to  the  poor  man,  bade  him  go  and  sell  it,  and 
keep  the  money  to  supply  his  wants.  In  one  of  his  epistles,  Luther 
says,  "  I  have  received  one  hundred  guilders  from  Taubereim  : 
and  Schartts  has  given  me  fifty  :  so  that  I  begin  to  fear  lest 
God  should  reward  me  in  this  life.  But  I  declare  I  will  not 
be  satisfied  with  it.  Wha.t  have  I  to  do  with  so  much  money? 
I  gave  half  of  it  to  P.  Priorus,  and  made  the  man  glad.'* 

7 — 12.  (7)  in  the  fields,  or  scattered  over  the  wilder  parts 
of  the  country."  (8)  came  to,  to  offer  their  allegiance  and  ser- 
vice to  him.  Netophatllite,  fr.  Netophah,  a  town  in  Judah.'' 
Maachatllite,  from  Maachathi.  at  the  foot  of  Mt.  Hermon.' 
(9)  fear  not,  these  officers  would  naturally  fear  that  Gedaliah 
might  deliver  ,.hem  as  captives  to  the  Chalda?ans.  serve  .  . 
Babylon,  comj?.  Jer.'s  advice,  ch.  xxvii.  11,  xxix.  7.  (10)  to 
serve,  lit.  "stand  before."''  come  unto  ns,  i.e.  whose  officers 
will  come  with  the  king's  commands  and  requirements,  gather, 
etc.,  there  would  be  fruit  on  the  trees,  though  no  corn  in  the 
fields.  (11)  in  Moab,  etc.,  i.e.  seeking  shelter  in  neighbouring 
lanus.  (12)  Mizpah,  r.  6.  There  Gedaliah  seems  to  have  had 
his  residence. 

Affficfion  endeam  tJte  prom'ises. — We  never  prize  the  precious 
words  of  promise  till  we  are  placed  in  conditions  in  which  their 
suitability  and  sweetness  are  manifested.  We  all  of  us  value 
those  golden  words,  "  When  thou  walkest  through  the  fire  thou 
shalt  not  be  burned,  neither  shall  the  flame  kindle  upon  thee," 
but  few  if  any  of  us  have  read  them  with  the  delight  of  the 
martyr  Bilney,  to  whom  this  jiassage  was  a  stay,  while  he  was 
in  prison  awaiting  his  execution  at  the  stake.  His  Bible,  still 
preserved  in  the  library  of  Corpus  Christi  College,  Cambridge, 
has  the  passage  marked  with  a  pen  in  the  margin.  Perhaps,  if 
all  were  known,  every  promise  in  the  Bible  has  borne  a  special 
message  to  some  one  saint,  and  so  the  whole  volume  might  be 
scored  in  the  margin  with  mementoes  of  Christian  experience, 
every  one  appropriate  to  the  very  letter." 

13—16.  (13)  Johanan,  r.  8.  (14)  Baalis,  an  ally  of 
Zedekiah's."  slay  thee,  ILh.  "  strike  thee  in  soul,''  i.e.  a 
deadly  stroke.*  (1."))  I  will  slay,  privately  assassinate.  (16) 
falsely,  so  Gedaliah,  in  his  over-trustfulness,  thought. 

Murder. — The  Eev.  Ebenezer  Erskine,  after  travelling  at  one 
time,  toward  the  end  of  the  week,  from  Portmoak  to  the  banks 
of  the  Forth,  on  his  way  to  Edinburgh,  was,  with  several  others, 
prevented  by  a  storm  from  crossing  that  frith.  Thus  obliged  to 
remain  in  Fife  during  the  Sabbath,  he  was  employed  to  preach, 
it  is  believed,  in  Kinghorn.  Conformably  to  his  usual  practice, 
he  prayed  earnestly  in  the  morning  for  the  Divine  countenance 
and  aid  in  the  work  of  the  day ;  but  suddenly  missing  his  note- 
book, he  knew  not  what  to  do.  His  thoughts,  however,  were 
directed  to  the  command,  "  Thou  shalt  not  kill ; "  and  having 
studied  the  subject  with  as  much  care  as  the  time  would  permit, 
he  delivered  a  short  sermon  on  it  in  the  forenoon.  Having 
returned  to  his  lodging,  he  gave  strict  injunctions  to  the  servant 
thaj  110  one  should  be  allowed  to  see  him  during  the  interval  of 


those  who  hate 
it;  and  tliis  tlio 
invmilest  sinners 
iiften  so  iar  feel 
as  to  be  unable  to 
carry  on  their 
violent  opposi- 
ti(  n  against  it, 
while  yet  no 
.-aving  cliancre  i3 
effected  upon 
t\\vm."-Rubinson. 
c  U.  T.  S. 

a  "  The  leaders 
of  the  Jewish 
army  had  beea 
scattered 
tln-onghout  the 
ctamtry  on  the 
c;iptnre  of  Zede- 
kiah, in  order  to 
escape  the  notice 
of  the  Chaldte- 
ans."' — Fuufset, 
b  2  ?a..  xxiii.  28. 
c  De.  iii.  14. 
d  "To  be  their 
representative, 
and  to  do  their 
will,  and  also  to 
mediate  with 
them  ia  your 
br-lialf." —  nUziy. 
"  Fire,  and  ham- 
mer, and  file  are 
necess;iry  to  give 
the  metal  form  ; 
and  it  must  have 
many  a  grind 
and  many  a  rub 
ere  it  will  shine  ; 
so,  in  trial,  char- 
acter is  shaped, 
and  beautified, 
and  brightened." 
—S.  Coin/, 
e  C.  H.  Spurgeon. 

a  Je.  xxviL  3. 

6  This  Ishmael, 
being  of  the  seed 
royal  of  David, 
envied  Gedaliah, 
who  had  the 
presidency  to  wh. 
lie  thought  him- 
self entitled. 
Therefore  he 
leagued  Inmself 
with  the  ancient 
enemy  of  Ju- 
dah. 

••  Foul  deeds  will 
rise,  tliongh  all 
the  earth  o'er- 
whelm  them  to 
men's  eyes  :  for 
murder,  though 
it      have      no 


154 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  xlI.1-7. 


tongue,  will 
speak  with  most 
niiniciiloiis  or- 
grin."  —  tSliakc- 
speare. 

"  Anil  witlierVl 
inurilpr,a1ai-uMi'il 
by  liis  sentinel, 
the  wolf,  whose 
howls  his  watch, 
thus  with  his 
stealthy  pace, 
witli  Tarquin's 
ravis'.iing  strides, 
towards  his  de- 
sign moves  like 
a  g  h  o  s  t."  — 
Sliakespeare. 

"Evil  into  the 
mind  of  god  or 
m;in  may  come 
and  go,  so  unap- 
proved, and  leave 
no  spot  or  lilame 
hehiud."--  Miltuti. 

e  Whilecross 


a  2  Ki.  XXV.  8, 25. 

Probably  the 
happiest  period 
in  life  most  fre- 
quently is  in 
middle  age,  when 
the  eager  ]ias- 
sions  of  yoiith 
are  cooled,  and 
the  infirmities  of 
ago  not  yet  be- 
gun ;  as  we  see 
that  the  shadows, 
which  are  at 
morning  and 
evening  so  large, 
almost  entirely 
disappear  at  mid- 
day."-/'/'. J /vioW. 

a  Jno.  iv.  5. 

6  Pome  think 
should  be  Sahm, 
close  to  Shechem. 

c  "  The  pr-rjons 
here  spoken  of 
belonged  to  tlie 
remainder  of  the 
ten  tribes,  wlio 
liad  retained 
their  veneration 
for  the  God  of 
tlibir£utbers,aud 


worship.  A  stranger,  however,  ■vvho  was  also  one  of  the  persona 
detained  by  the  state  of  the  weather,  expressed  an  earnest  dcsiro 
to  see  the  minister  ;  and  havinjr  with  diiFiculty  obtained  admit- 
tance, appeared  much  agitated,  and  asked  him,  with  great 
eagerness,  whether  he  knew  him,  or  had  ever  seen  or  heard  of 
him.  On  receiving  assurance  that  he  was  totally  iinacquainted 
with  his  face,  character,  and  history,  the  gentleman  proceeded 
to  state  that  his  sermon  on  the  sixth  commandment  had  reached 
his  conscience  :  that  he  was  a  vn/rdrrcr ;  that  being  the  second 
son  of  a  Highland  laird,  he  had  some  time  before,  from  baso  and 
selfish  motives,  cruelly  suffocated  his  elder  brother,  who  slept  in 
the  same  bed  with  him  ;  and  that  now  he  had  no  peace  of  mind, 
and  wished  to  surrender  himself  to  justice,  to  suffer  the  punish- 
ment due  to  his  horrid  and  unnatural  crime.  Mr.  Erskine  asked 
him  if  any  other  person  knew  anything-  of  his  guilt.  His  ansM'er 
was,  that  so  far  as  he  was  aware,  not  a  single  individual  had  the 
least  siispicion  of  it  :  on  which  the  good  man  exhorted  him  to 
h^  deeply  affected  with  a  sense  of  his  atrocioits  sin,  to  make  an 
immediate  application  to  the  blood  of  sprinkling,  and  to  brin^ 
forth  fruits  meet  for  repentance  ;  but  at  the  same  time,  since,  in 
providence,  his  crime  had  hitherto  remained  a  secret,  not  to 
disclose  it,  or  give  himself  up  to  public  justice.  The  unhappy 
gentleman  embraced  this  well-intended  counsel  in  all  its  parts, 
became  truly  pious,  and  maintained  a  friendly  correspondence 
with  Llr.  Erskine  in  future  life.' 


CHAPTER  THE  FORTY-FIRST. 

1—3.  (1)  seventh  montli,  fr.  this  it  appears  that  Gedaliah's 
presidency  lasted  only  two  months."  eat  bread,  wh.  is  the 
Eastern  sign  of  friendship.  (2)  tlien  arose,  i.e.  even  in  the 
very  midst  of  the  banquet.  (.S)  slew,  etc.,  Gedaliah's  death 
being  the  signal  for  a  general  massacre,  but  it  was  confined  prob. 
to  the  men  of  war. 

The  iraniinij. — In  former  days,  when  a  military  company  wa3 
to  be  called  out.  the  notice  delivered  to  each  of  the  members  was 
called  "the  warning.'  An  officer,  who  was  a  Christian,  having 
given  the  warning  to  a  young  man,  Avas  playfully  accosted  by 
another  youug  man,  who  was  not  a  member  of  the  company, 
with  the  question,  "  Have  you  not  a  warning  for  me  too  .' "  The 
officer  replied,  "  Yes,  I  have  a  warniug  for  you  :  I  warn  you  to 
flee  from  the  wrath  to  come."  This  unexpected  reply  proved  an 
arrow  from  the  Lord's  quiver  ;  and  to  ic  the  young  man  ascribes 
his  conversion. 

4—7.  (-1)  no  man  knew,  i.e.  beyond  the  town  of  Mizpah. 
(.'))  Sliecliem,  or  Syehar.  mod.  Xablous.«  Slliloh.  eh.  vii.  12.* 
Samaria,  the  chief  town  of  tlie  ten  tiibes.  beards  sliaven, 
a  sign  of  deep  sorrow,  cut  themselves,  Le.  xix.  27.  28  :  De. 
xiv.  \.'  (G)  weeping,  .went,  in  utter  hypocrisy,  come  to 
Gedaliah,  speaking  as  if  he  were  a  court-officiah  (7)  slew 
tliem,  the  reason  for  this  ti'eacherous  murder  docs  not  appear. 

Jiovln;]  thr  tonrpie. — At  Chinsurah.  in  the  East  Indies,  there  is 
a  famous  place  of  rr.sort  called  Suraishovtollnh.  or  the  residence 
of  the  Bull-god.  This  is  a  square  area,  on  which,  beneath  the 
shade  of  cue  vast  banyan  tree,  several  temi)les  stand,  dedicated 


Cap.  xli.  8-14.] 


JERE.]fIAIT. 


15^ 


to  several  popular  idols,  to  accommodate  all  classes  of  comers. 
Here  many  self-infiicted  or  self-chosen  cruelties  are  i^ractised  by 
those  who  thus  hope  to  merit  a  place  in  the  Hindoo  heaven.  A 
favourite  penance  is  to  have  the  tongue  bored  through  with  a 
large  iron  spike.  A  blacksmith  is  the  operator,  who  is  said  to  be 
very  skilful  both  in  driving  a  nail  and  driving  a  bargain.  It 
sometimes  happens  that  the  candidates  for  this  piece  of  service 
at  his  hands  are  so  numerous  and  impatient,  that  they  are  obliged 
to  submit  to  be  arranged  in  order  as  they  arrive,  and  wait  till  each 
in  his  turn  can  be  gratified  with  a  wound  in  the  unruly  member, 
which  they  use,  meanwhile,  with  no  small  eloquence,  to  induce 
him  to  hasten  to  their  relief,  and  when  he  is  come,  to  get  the 
business  done  as  cheaplj"^  as  they  can.  The  shrewd  knave,  how- 
ever, is  wise  enough  to  take  his  time,  and  extort  a  larger  or  a 
smaller  fee,  according  to  the  number,  rank,  or  fanaticism  of  his 
customers.'' 

8 — 10.  (8)  we  have  treasures,"  a  very  politic  plea.  Tliese 
men  knew  that  hidden  stores  of  provisions  would  be  important 
to  Ishraael,  and  their  secret  would  be  lost  with  them  if  he  put 
them  to  death.  (9)  it  wliicli  Asa  made,  see  1  Ki.  xv.  22.  A 
large  cistern  would  be  necessary  for  the  supply  of  the  fortress. 
(10)  captive,  intending  to  set  np  a  patty  kingdom  under  the 
ehelter  of  the  Amiuonibes. 

Granaries  in  tlic  Eaut. — In  Palestine  wells  or  cisterns  are  used 
for  grain.  In  them  the  farmers  store  their  crops  of  all  kinds 
after  the  gi-ain  is  threshed  and  winnowed.  They  are  cool  and 
perfectly  dry.  The  top  is  hermetically  sealed  with  plaster,  and 
covered  with  a  deep  bed  of  earth  :  and  thus  they  keep  out  rats, 
mice,  and  even  ants — the  latter  by  no  means  a  contemptible 
enemy.  The  custom  is  doubtless  an  ancient  one,  and  is  extended 
from  this  country  through  the  Carthaginians  of  North  Africa 
into  Spain.  They  seem  to  be  alluded  to  in  the  passage  cited 
above.  These  cisterns  not  only  preserve  the  grain  and  other 
stores  deposited  in  them  from  insects  and  mice,  but  they  are 
admirably  adapted  to  conceal  them  from  robbers.  These  ten 
men  had  doubtless  thus  hid  their  treasui'es,  to  avoid  being 
plundered  in  that  time  of  utter  lawlessness  ;  and  in  a  similar 
time  I  found  people  storing  away  grain  in  cisterns  far  out  in  the 
open  country  between  Aleppo  and  Hamath  ;  and  they  told  me  it 
was  to  hide  it  from  the  Government  tax-gatherers.  It  is  quite 
dangerous  to  come  upon  a  deserted  site  full  of  these  open  cisterns 
and  wells,  especially  at  night,  as  I  have  often  found.  Frequently 
they  are  entirely  concealed  by  the  grass,  and  the  path  leads  ripht 
among'  them.  They  must  always  be  dug  in  dry  places,  generally 
on  the  side  of  a  sloping  hill.  They  would  not  answer  in  a  wet 
country,  but  in  these  dry  climates  stores  have  been  found  quite 
fresli  and  sound  many  yeai's  after  they  were  thus  buried.* 

11—14.  (11)  Jolianan,  ch.  xl.  1.3  :  the  man  who  had  warned 
Gnlaliah.  (12)  great  waters,  a  large  open  pool,  2  Sa.  ii.  lo. 
Gibeon,  four  miles  N.W.  of  Jerus.,  on  the  road  from  Mizpah  to 
Ammon.  (13)  glad,  at  the  prospect  of  deliverance,  (li)  cast 
about,  turned  round. 

llccapfurcs. — In  the  year  17G0,  the  ship  Gond  latent,  from 
Waterford.  was  taken  by  a  French  jDrivateer  off  XJshant,  who  took 
out  all  the  crew,  except  five  men  and  a  boy,  over  whom  they 


prob.  were  in  the 
habit  of  repair- 
ing at  stated 
seasons  to  Jerus. 
Tlie  plight  in 
wliicli  they  now 
appeared  was  in- 
dicative of  deep 
mourning  on  ac- 
count of  tlic 
destruction  of 
tliatcity." — Hew 
dersoji. 

d  Cheever. 


a  "  Subterranean 
storehouses  for 
keeping  graia 
safe  from  rob- 
bers." —  Words- 
uvrl/i. 


V.  8.  "This  re- 
fers to  stores 
tliey  liad  con- 
cealed, as  is  clear 
from  the  men- 
tioning of  ' the 
oil  ami  honey.' 
During  the  time 
of  the  Kandiaa 
war  many  pri- 
soners received 
lenient  treat- 
ment, because  of 
the  assurance 
that  they  liad 
treasures  hid  iu 
tlie  field,  and 
that  they  should 
be  the  property 
of  tlieir  keepers. 
In  some  cases 
there  can  be  no 
doubt  there  were 
largo  sums  thus 
acquired  by  cer- 
t  a  i  n  i  n  d  i  V  i- 
duals." — Uuberls. 


I)  Dr.  Tlwvison. 


"  The  wise  and 
good  wish  well 
to  liberty, 
throughout  all 
lands ;  but  aim 
to  win  her  cause 
by  some  bold 
manly  movement 
from  the  heart  of 


156 


JEREMIATT. 


[Cap.  xli.  15-1& 


all  united 
nations ;  not  by 
base  assassin's 
craft,  o£  \\a.n%- 
man's  well  re- ! 
pnM.  E.it  liow  ! 
to  gain  tliis,  how  j 
to  inaugurate  i 
this  grand  con- 1 
certed  blessing, 
seems  a  knot ' 
time's  wearied  1 
fingers  work  at  I 
till  they  bleed  ;  i 
and  bullied  races  | 
vainly  pray  for. 
Still  the  i-idaie  i 
must  be  read.  | 
The  hour  must  i 
come  when  retri-  j 
butive  Mercy  ■ 
shall  succeed  her  | 
sterner  sister 
Justice,  and  aye 
reign  in  parity 
divine  with  ri-;li- 
teous  love." — 
Jiailey. 


I  Percy  Anec. 


o  2  Sa.  xix.  38, 
40. 

6"LesttheChal- 
dseans  sIiouM 
suspect  all  tlie 
Jews  of  being 
implicated  in 
lUimael's  trea- 
son, as  thon;;h 
the  Jews  sought 
to  liave  a  prince 
of  the  house  of 
David." — i'ausset 


placed  nine  Frenchmen.  While  iiavig-ating  the  vessel  to  France, 
four  of  the  English  formed  the  design  of  regaining  possession  of 
the  vessel.  One  Bvien  tripped  up  the  heels  of  the  Frenchman  at 
the  helm,  seized  his  pistol,  and  discharged  it  at  ajiother  :  making 
at  the  same  time  a  signal  to  his  three  comrailes  below  to  follow 
his  example  :  they  did  so.  and  soon  overcame  them,  the  French- 
men crying  for  quarter.  Xone  of  tha  British  sailors  could  either 
read  or  write,  and  were  quite  ignorant  how  to  navigate  the  vessel  ; 
but  Brien  steered  at  a  venture,  and  arrived  safe  at  Youghall,  in 
Ireland,  in  the  gaol  of  which  place  ho  lodged  his  prisoners.  In 
17i)4.  the  Brf.ti'i/.  of  London,  in  her  return  from  Jamaica,  parted 
from  her  convoy  in  the  Gulf  of  Florida,  and  was  captured  off  the 
Lizard  by  a  French  frigate.  The  captain  and  crew,  with  the 
exception  of  the  mate,  carpenter,  cook,  and  boy.  and  Mrs.  Williams, 
a  passenger,  were  taken  out  of  the  Brturi/  by  the  Frenchmen, 
and  a  lieutenant  and  thirteen  men  put  on  board  to  take  charge 
of  the  prize.  Three  days  after,  the  ship  being  driven  by  heavy 
gales  of  wind  in  sight  of  Guernsey,  a  plot  was  laid  for  securing 
the  Frenchmen,  and  retaking  the  ship.  Mfs.  AViHiams  counter- 
feited being  ill.  on  purpose  to  draw  the  attention  of  the  lieitt.enant, 
while  the  cabin-boy  removed  the  fire-arms,  etc.  This  beiag 
effected,  she  prepared  herself  with  extraordinary  resolution  for 
the  event.  At  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  when  the  lieutenant  wa3 
asleep  in  his  berth,  and  othci's  of  the  French  were  between  deck, 
in  the  fore  part  of  the  ship,  the  signal  was  given,  and  Mrs. 
Williams  locked  the  lieutenant  in  the  cabin,  and  stood  at  the 
door  with  a  pistol  in  her  hand,  to  prevent  its  being  opened  by 
force.  In  the  meantime,  the  French  on  deck  were  thrust  down 
the  fore  hatchway  by  the  three  men.  A  fine  breeze  brought 
them  into  Cov.'es  Road  in  twelve  hours  ;  and  Mrs.  Williams  waa 
found  standing  sentinel,  with  a  pistol  in  her  hand,  at  the  cabin- 
door,  when  a  boat's  crew  -^vent  on  board.  Thus,  by  the  spirited, 
exertions  of  a  woman  and  three  brave  fellows,  a  ship  and  cai'go, 
worth  £20,000,  was  rescued  from  the  enemy." 

15— IS.  (15)  escaped,  fl(;ieing  .at  once,  scarcely  even  showing 
fight,  but  losing  two  of  his  party.  (IG)  took  Jolianan,  he 
becoming  the  leader  on  the  death  of  Gedaliah.  (17)  Cllimham, 
Heb.  (Tcrnth-chriiihohiiin,  poss.  a  caravanserai  belonging  to  Chim- 
ham,  near  Bethlehem."  (IS)  because  of  the  Clialdasans,* 
who  would  certainly  take  vengeance  for  the  murder  of  the 
governor  whom  they  had  appointed. 

Ccvtauity  of  jiKhjmcnl. — There  was  a  man  who  committed  a 
foul  murder  in  a  Scottish  castle  upon  a  young  bridegroom,  at 
whose  marriage  festivities  he  had  hy|iocritically  assisted.  The 
assassin  took  horse  in  the  deal  of  night,  and  lied  for  his  life 
through  wood  and  winding  path.  When  the  sun  dawned,  he 
slackened  his  pace,  and  behold  !  he  was  emerging  from  a  thicket 
in  front  of  the  very  castle  whence  be  had  fled,  and  to  which,  by 
tortuous  paths,  he  had  returned.  Horror  seized  him  ;  he  was 
discovered,  and  condemned  to  death.  So.  however  far  and  fast 
we  may  fly,  we  shall  find  ourselves,  when  light  returns,  ever  ia 
presence  of  oiu-  sin  and  of  our  Judge. 


Cap.xlii.  1— 12.] 


JEREiflAH. 


157" 


CHAPTER    THE    FORTY-SECOND. 

1 — 3.  (1)  came  near,  sought  an  audience  to  ask  counsel  in 
the  time  of  perplexity.  (2)  unto  Jeremiah,  who  poss.  was 
one  of  the  captives  taken  away  by  Ishmael.  (2)  siipplication, 
etc.,  as  ch.  xxxvi.  7.  thy  God,  intimating'  that  he  had  prevail- 
ing power  with  Him.  (3)  show  us  the  way,  the  prayer  sounds 
righl  and  good,  but  it  does  not  seem  to  have  been  offered  in 
sincerity." 

Note  on  V.  2. — The  margin  has  this,  "  Let  our  supplication  fall 
before  Thee."  "  O  my  lord,"  says  the  suppliant,  "  let  my  prayer.'? 
be  prostrate  at  your  feet."  '•  O  forget  not  my  requests,  but  let 
them  ever  surround  your  feet."  "  Allow  my  su^jplications  to  lie 
before  you."  "Ah  !  give  but  a  small  place  for  my  prayers." 
"  At  your  feet,  my  lord,  at  your  feet,  my  lord,  are  all  my 
•requests."* 

4—6.  (4)  heard,  ch.  xxxiv.  10,  xxsv.  17.  (5)  between  us, 
or  against  us.  (G)  we  will  Obey,  good  promises  followed  by 
bad  performances." 

I'tificncc  in  jj?'ai/n: — How  many  courtiers  be  there  that  go  a 
hundred  times  a  year  into  the  prince's  chamber,  without  hope  of 
once  speaking  with  him,  but  only  to  be  seen  of  him.  So  must  we 
come  to  the  exercise  of  prayer  purely,  and  merely  to  do  our  duty, 
and  to  testify  our  fidelity.  If  it  please  His  Divine  Majesty  to 
speak,  and  discourse  with  us  by  His  holy  inspirations  and  interior 
consolations,  it  will  be  doubtless  an  inestimable  honour  to  us, 
and  a  pleasure  above  all  pleasures  ;  but  if  it  please  Him  not  to 
do  us  this  favour,  leaving  us  without  so  much  as  speaking  to  us. 
as  if  He  saw  us  not,  or  as  if  we  were  not  in  His  presence,  we 
must  not  for  all  that  go  our  way,  but  continue  with  decent  and 
devout  behaviour  in  the  presence  of  His  Sovereign  Goodness  ; 
and  then  infallibly  our  patience  will  be  acceptable  to  Him,  and 
He  will  take  notice  of  our  diligence  and  jierseverance  :  so  that 
another  time,  when  we  shall  come  before  Him,  He  will  favour 
us,  and  pass  His  time  with  us  in  heavenly  consolations,  and  make 
us  see  the  beauty  of  holy  prayer.* 

7—12.  (7)  ten  days,  he  had  to  wait  for  this  time  before  the 
answer  came.  The  delay  may  hav%  been  necessary  to  allay  the 
panic,  and  quiet  the  people.  They  had  impulsively  promised 
obedience  in  the  time  of  excitement.  (8 — 10)  still  abide, 
settling  down  quietly  under  the  power  of  the  Chalda^ans. 
repent,  ch.  xviii.  11.  (11,  12)  I  .  .  mercies,  by  overruling  the 
King  of  Babylon's  plans  concerning  you. 

Urlclis. — If  their  bricks,  in  those  hot  and  diy  countries,  are  in 
general  only  dried  in  the  sun.  not  burnt,  there  is  some  reason  to 
be  doubtful  whether  the  Hebrew  word  inaJhcn  signifies  a  brick- 
kiln, as  multitudes  besides  our  translators  have  supposed.  The 
bricks  used  in  the  construction  of  the  Egyptian  canals,  must  have 
been  vv^ell  burnt :  those  dried  in  the  sun  could  have  lasted  no 
time.  But  bricks  for  this  use  could  not  have  been  often  wanted. 
They  were  nob  necessary  for  the  building  those  treasure  cities 
which  are  mentioned  Exod.  i.  11.  One  of  the  pyramids  is  built 
with  sun-dried  bricks,  which  Sir  J.  Chardiu  tells  us  are  durable. 


a  "They  profess 
gre.it  reverence 
for  Jereniiah.  as 
for  God  ;  but  will 
not  hearken  to 
the  one  or  tlie 
ot]ier,  but  prefer 
their  own  wilfiU- 
ness  to  both."— " 
Wordsworth. 


b  Itoberts, 


a  "  It  is  the  con- 
stant method  of 
hypocrites  to 
pretend  a  pro- 
found submission 
to  the  will  of 
God  till  that 
comes  to  cross 
their  inclinations 
or  interest." — 
Lou'th. 

fv.  5.  6.  /.  Fatv- 
cell,  iii.  308. 
"  Among  all  the 
graces  that  adorn 
a  Cliristiau  soul, 
like  so  many 
]ewels  of  various 
colours  and  lus- 
tres, against  ihe 
day  of  licr  espou- 
sals to  the  Lamb 
of  God,  there  is 
not  one  more 
brilliant  than 
patience."  —  £^. 
Hvnie. 
b  Sales. 

Posiilonius.  in  his 
Life  of.-Vugustine, 
relates,  that  the 
good  man,  going 
on  one  occasion 
to  preach  at  a 
distant  town, 
took  with  him  a 
guide  to  direct 
him  in  tho  way. 
This  man,  by 
some  unaccount- 
able means,  mis- 
took the  usual 
road,  and  fell  into 
a  by-path.  It 
afterwards 
proved,  that  in 
tliis  way  the 
preacher's  life 
had  beca  Eaved, 


158 


'JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  xlil.  13-19. 


as  his  enemies, 
aware  of  liis 
journey,  hail 
placed  them- 
selves in  t}ie  pro- 
per road  with  a 
design  to  liill 
him. 

a  Ilarmcr. 


a  "  Wliat  our 
hearts  are  most 
set  on  often  prove 
fatal  to  us.  Those 
who  think  to 
escape  troubles 
by  cliangins; 
tlieir  place  will 
find  them  wher- 
ever they  go." — 
J''iiusset. 

"Even  as  a 
mother  o'er  her 
children  bending 
yearns  with  ma- 
ternal love  :  her 
fond  embraces 
and  gentle  kiss  to 
each  in  turn  ex- 
tending, one  at 
lier  feet,  one  on 
her  knee  she 
places,  and  from 
their  eyes,  and 
voice,  and  speak- 
ing faces,  their 
varying  wants 
and  wishes  com- 
prehending, to 
one  a  look,  to  one 
a  word  addresses, 
even  with  her 
frowns  a 

motlier's  fond- 
ne.ss blending:  so 
o'er  us  watches 
Providence  on 
liigh.  and  hope  to 
Bonie  and  help  to 
others  lends,  and 
yields  alike  to  all 
an  ojion  car,  and 
when  she  seems 
her  favours  to 
deny,  slie  for  our 
prayers  alone  the 
boon  suspends, 
or,  seeming  to 
deny,  she  gr.ints 
the  prayer."  — 
J-'ilkaJfC. 

I  Murder. 

a  "  The  Jews 
going  intoKgypt 
for      proteciiou, 


'  as  woll  as  accommodated  to  the  temperature  of  the  air  there  ; 
which  last  circumstauce  is,  I  presume,  the  reason  they  are  in  such 
common  use  in  these  very  hot  countries.  There  must  then  be 
many  places  used  in  the  East  for  the  making-  bricks,  where  there 
are  no  kilns  at  all  ;  and  such  a  place,  I  apprehend,  the  word 
Dialhi'ii  signifies  ;  and  it  should  seem  to  be  the  perpetual  associa- 
tion of  a  kiln  and  of  the  places  where  bricks  are  made  witlvua 
in  the  "West  that  has  occasioned  the  word  to  be  translated  brick- 
kiln. The  interpretation  I  have  g^iven  best  suits  Jer.  xliii.  9. 
The  smoke  of  the  brick-kiln,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  a  royal 
Egyptian  palace  would  not  have  agreed  very  well  with  the 
Eastern  cleanliness  and  perfumes." 

13—16.  (13,  14)  Egji-pt,  seeking  shelter  there  was  the  plan 
generally  favoured,  see  no  war,  as  yet  the  battle  had  not  been 
carried  into  Egyi>t.  (15)  sojourn  there,  seeking  the  protection 
of  its  king  rather  than  the  protection  of  God.  (IG)  overtake 
you,  ch.  xliv.  14,  IS." 

Wild  Arabs. — The  deserts  that  lie  between  Egypt  and  Syria 
are  at  this  day  terribly  infested  by  the  wild  Arabs.  "  In  travel- 
ling along  the  sea-coast  of  Syria,  and  from  Suez  to  Slouut  Sinai,'' 
says  Dr.  Shaw,  "  we  were  in  little  or  no  danger  of  being  robbed 
or  insulted  ;  in  the  Holy  Land,  and  upon  the  isthmus  between 
Egypt  and  the  Red  Sea,  our  conductors  cannot  be  too  numerous."' 
He  then  goes  on  to  inform  us,  that  when  he  went  from  Ramah 
to  Jerusalem,  though  the  pilgrims  themselves  were  more  than 
six  thousand,  and  were  escorted  by  four  bands  of  Turkish  infantry, 
exclusive  of  three  or  four  hundred  sjiahcrx  (cavalry),  yet  were 
they  most  barbarously  insulted  and  beaten  by  the  Arabs.  This 
may  lead  us,  perhaps,  to  the  true  sense  of  the  preceding  words, 
"  And  he  shall  array  himself  wdth  the  land  of  Egypt,  as  a 
shepherd  putteth  on  his  garment."  It  signifies,  that  just  as  a 
person  appearing  to  be  a  shepherd,  passed  unmolested  in  common 
by  the  wild  Arabs  ;  so  Nebuchadnezzar,  by  his  subduing  Egy]it, 
shall  induce  the  Arab  tribes  to  suffer  him  to  go  out  of  that 
country  unmolested,  the  possession  of  Egypt  being  to  him  what 
a  shepherd's  garment  was  to  a  single  person  :  for  though,  upon 
occasion,  the  Arabs  are  not  afraid  to  aifront  the  most  powerful 
princes,  it  is  not  to  be  imagined  that  conquest  and  power  have 
no  effect  upon  them.  "  They  that  dwell  in  the  wilderness,"  says 
the  Psalmist,  referring  to  these  Arabs,  "shall  bow  before  him," 
whom  he  has  described  immediately  before,  '"  he  having  dominion 
from  sea  to  sea,  and  from  the  river  to  the  ends  of  the  earth,"  and 
which  he  unquestionably  supposes  was  the  great  inducement  to 
that  submission.  Thus  the  Arab  that  was  charged  with  the  care 
of  conducting  Dr.  Pococke  to  Jerusalem,  after  secretiug  him  for 
some  time  in  his  tent,  when  he  took  him  out  into  the  fields,  to 
walk  there,  put  on  him  his  striped  garment ;  apparently  for  his 
security,  and  that  he  might  pass  for  an  Arab.  So  D'Arvieux, 
when  he  was  sent  by  the  consul  of  Sidon  to  the  camp  of  the 
grand  emir,  equipped  himself  for  the  greater  security  exactly 
like  an  Arab,  and  accordingly  passed  unmolested  and  un- 
questioned.* 

17 — 19.  (17)  all  the  men,  for  a  limitation  of  this  denuncia. 
tion,  comp.  ch.  xliv.  14,  28.  (IS)  execration,  cfc,  ch.  xxiv.  9. 
(19)  admonished,  you,  or  testified  against  you." 


Cap.  2-lii.  20—22.1 


JEREMIAH. 


159 


The  worst  pvnishnteiif  of  sin  is  the  n-rath  to  come. — The  pirate 
Gibbs,  whose  name  was  for  \nany  years  a  terror  to  commerce 
with  the  West  iBcIies  and  South  America,  was  at  last  taken 
captive,  tried,  condemned,  and  executed  in  the  city  of  New  York. 
He  acknowledged,  before  his  death,  that  when  he  committed  the 
first  murder,  and  plundered  the  first  ship,  his  compunctions  were 
severe,  conscience  was  on  the  rack,  and  made  a  hell  within  his 
bosom.  But  after  he  had  sailed  for  years  under  the  black  flag, 
his  conscience  became  so  hardened  and  blunted  that  he  could  rob 
a  vessel  and  murder  all  its  crew,  and  then  lie  down  and  sleep  as 
sweetly  at  night  as  an  infant  in  its  cradle.  His  remorse  dimi- 
nished as  his  crimes  increased.  So  it  is  generally.  If,  therefore, 
remorse  in  this  life  is  Gods  way  of  punishing  crimes,  the  more 
men  sin  the  less  He  punishes  them  !     How  absurd  ! 

20—22.  (20)  dissembled,  see  w.  3,  5,  6.  (21,  22)  not 
obeyed,  as  you  so  faithfully  promised,  and  even  Bwore  to  do. 

I^rrsent  nr/e  suitable  to  hijjioeri.ty.  —  There  was  an  age  of 
chivalry,  when  no  craven  courted  knighthood,  for  it  involved 
the  hard  blows,  the  dangerous  wounds,  the  rough  unhorsiugs, 
and  the  ung-entle  perils  of  the  tournament ;  nay,  these  were  but 
child's  plaj^ :  there  were  distant  Eastern  fields,  where  Paynim 
warriors  must  be  sLiin  by  valiant  hands,  and  blood  must  flow  in 
rivers  from  the  Red-cross  knights.  Then  men  who  lacked  valour 
preferred  their  hawks  and  their  jesters,  and  left  heroes  to  court 
death  and  glory  on  the  battle-field.  This  genial  time  of  peace 
breeds  carpet  knights,  M'ho  flourish  their  untried  weapons,  and 
bear*  the  insignia  of  valour,  without  incurring  its  inconvenient 
toils.  Many  are  crowding  to  the  seats  of  the  heroes,  since  prowess 
and  jiatience  are  no  more  required.  The  war  is  over,  and  every 
man  is  willing  to  enlist.  "When  Home  commenced  her  long 
career  of  victory,  it  was  no  pleasant  thing  to  be  a  soldier  in  the 
Roman  legions.  The  power  which  smote  the  nations  like  a  rod 
of  iron  abroad,  v.'as  a  yoke  of  iron  at  home.  There  were  long 
forced  marches,  with  hunger  and  cold  and  weariness  ;  heavy 
armour  was  the  usual  load  when  the  legionary  marched  at  ease  ; 
but  •'  ease  "  was  a  word  he  seldom  used.  Rivers  were  forded  ; 
mountains  were  scaled  ;  barbarians  were  attacked  ;  proud  nations 
were  assailed  ;  kingdoms  were  subdued.  No  toil  too  stern  for 
the  scarred  veteran,  no  odds  too  heavy,  no  onslaught  too  ferocious, 
no  arms  too  terrible.  Scarcely  were  his  wounds  healed,  ere  he 
was  called  to  new  fields  ;  his  life  was  battle  :  his  home  the  tent ; 
his  repast  was  plunder  ;  his  bed  the  battle-field  ;  while  the  eagle's 
bloody  talons  removed  all  need  of  sepulchre  for  his  slaughtered 
bod3^  But  afterwards  when  Rome  was  mistress  of  the  world, 
and  the  Prictorian  cohorts  could  sell  the  imperial  purple  to  the 
highest  bidder,  many  would  follow  the  legions  to  share  their 
spoils.  It  is  not  otherwise  to-day.  Into  the  tiiumphs  of  martyrs 
and  confessors  few  are  unwilling  to  enter  ;  in  a  national  respect 
to  religion,  which  is  the  result  of  their  holiness,  even  iiiigodly 
men  are  willing  to  share.  They  have  gone  before  us  with  true 
hearts  valiant  for  truth,  and  false  traitors  are  willing  to  divide 
their  spoils," 


was  in  effect  re- 
fusing to  subniifc 
tliemsclves  to  tlie 
king  of  Babylon, 
to  whom  God 
liad  decreed  the 
povernment  of 
Judrea.  and  all 
tlie  neighbouring 
CO  u  n  tries."— 
LowCik 


V.  20.  Dr.  J.Orton, 
i.  £82;  T.  Gis- 
borne,  i.  173. 

"  Ottocar,  King 
of  Boliemia,  re- 
fused to  do  hom- 
age to  Bodol- 
phus  I.,  till  at 
last,  chastised 
with  war,  he  was 
content  to  do 
him  homage  pri- 
vately in  a  tent ; 
which  tent  wag 
so  contrived  by 
tlie  emperor's 
servants,  that, 
by  drawing  a 
cord,  all  was 
taken  awaj',  and 
and  so  Ottocar 
presented  on  his 
icnees,  doing  his 
homage,  to  the 
view  of  three 
armies  then  in 
the  field.  Thus 
God  at  last  shall 
uncase  the  closest 
dissembler  to  the 
sight  of  men, 
angels,  and 
devils  ;  having 
removed  all  veils 
anil  pretences  of 
religion  and 
piety." —  Spencer, 

A  Christian  with 
Christ  may  be 
safe  and  happy 
in  the  stocks,  is 
the  prison,  or 
even  in  the  den 
of  hous. 

a  C.  U.  Spurgeon, 


160 


JEREillAIT. 


[Cap.  xliij.  1—13 


a  Ps.  six.  13. 

"  He  wlio  will 
fight  the  ilovil  at 
his  own  weaiioii 
must  not  wonder 
i£  he  finilnliiinan 
over -match."  — 
SouOi. 

Christ  has  prn- 
mised  all  tliat 
pertains  to  life, 
and  He  is  "the 
•way  "  to  it. 

h  Dr.  Tliomas. 


a   Je.   xlvi.   14 ; 
Eze.  XXX.  18. 

They  that  are  not 
content  with 
their  present  con- 
dition are  like 
little  children 
upon  a  hill ;  and 
they  look  a  good 
way  off,  and  see 
another  hill,  and 
think,  if  they 
■were  on  the  top 
of  that,  then 
they  were  able  to 
touch  the  clouds 
with  their  fin- 
gers ;  but,  when 
they  are  on  top 
of  that  hill,  alas ! 
they  are  as  far 
from  the  clouds 
as  before.  So  it 
is  witli  many 
who  think  an- 
other condition 
■woulil  give  them 
happiness,  but. 
wdien  the  desired 
position  is  at- 
tained,find  them- 
selves as  far  from 
contentment  as 
before. 
6  Franklin. 

a  "  Toss,  the 
palace  of  Phii- 
raoh  was  being 
built  or  repaired 
at  tins  time  ; 
hence  arose  tlic 
mortal  and  brick 
kiln  at  the 
entry. "—Faussel. 

h  "lie  shall  in- 
Test  the  laud  uf 


CHAPTER  TEE  FORTY-THIRD. 

1 — 4.  (1,  2)  Azariali,  comp.  cli.  xlii.  1.  proud,  or  pre- 
sumptuous." self-willed  men.  '•  Who  refused  to  obey  Almighty 
God,  when  His  commands  crossed  their  inclinations.  (3)  setteth 
thee  on,  Baruch  was  Jeremiah's  friend,  .and  bclong-ed  to  the 
party  that  was  prepared  to  submit  to  Babylon.  He  belong-ed 
therefore  to  the  rival  political  party.  (4)  dwell  .  .  Judah, 
abide  quietly  under  Chaldasan  sway. 

Artji/iiirnt  ar/ninsf  .linniiifj  (v.  -i). — I.  That  God  denounces  sia 
with  abhorrence.  Three  things  show  sin  to  be  an  abomination. 
1.  The  misrepresenting-  conduct  of  the  sinner  :  2.  The  universal 
conscience  of  mankind  ;  3.  The  history  of  the  Divine  conduct 
towards  our  world.  II.  That  God  hates  sin  with  intensity.  1. 
For  its  deformitj' ;  2.  For  its  confusion  :  3.  For  its  misery.  III. 
God  prohibits  sin  with  earnestness.  1.  Hence  those  who  sin  war 
against  their  ov/n  highest  interest  ;  2.  Against  the  well-being  of 
the  creation  ;  3.  Against  God.* 

5—7.  (.5)  remnant,  ch.  xl.  11,  12.  (6)  men,  etc.,  comp. 
xli.  16.  (7)  Tahpanhes,  ch.  ii.  l(i,  in  the  northern  frontier  of 
Egypt,"  which  was  nearest  to  Palestine. 

IJi.scnntciit  cured. — All  human  situations  have  their  incon- 
veniences. We  feel  those  that  we  find  in  the  present  ;  and  we 
neither  feel  nor  see  those  that  exist  in  another.  Hence  we  often 
make  troublesome  changes  without  amendment,  and  frequently 
for  the  worse.  In  my  youth  I  was  a  passenger  in  a  little  sloop 
descending  the  river  Delaware.  There  being  no  wind,  we  were 
obliged,  when  the  tide  was  spent,  to  cast  anchor  and  wait  for  the 
next.  The  heat  of  the  sun  on  the  vessel  was  excessive — the 
company  strangers  to  me.  and  not  very  agreeable.  Near  the 
river  side  I  saw  what  I  took  to  be  a  pleasant  green  meadow,  in 
the  middle  of  which  was  a  large  shady  tree,  where,  it  struck  my 
fancy.  I  could  sit  and  read — having  a  book  in  mj'  pocket — and 
pass  the  time  agreebly  until  the  tide  turned.  I  therefore  pre- 
vailed with  the  captain  to  put  me  ashore.  Being  landed  I  found 
the  greatest  part  of  my  meadow  was  really  a  marsh  ;  in  crossing' 
which,  to  come  to  my  tree,  I  was  up  to  my  knees  in  mire  ;  and  I 
had  not  placed  myself  under  its  shade  five  minutes  before 
musquitoes  in  swarms  found  me  out,  attacked  my  legs,  hands, 
and  face,  and  made  my  reading  and  my  rest  impossible  ;  so  that 
I  returned  to  the  beaoh,  and  called  for  the  boat  to  come  and  take 
me  on  board  again,  where  I  was  obliged  to  bear  the  heat  I  had 
strove  to  quit,  and  also  the  laugh  of  the  company.  Similar  cases 
in  the  affairs  of  life  have  since  frequently  fallen  under  my 
observation.* 

8 — 13.  (S,  9)  great  stones,  as  largo  as  he  could  carry, 
hide  .  .  clay,  or  plaster  them  over,  buildiug  a  sort  of  dais  for 
a  king,  entry,  ete.,  as  Eastern  palace  grounds  were  very 
extensive,  this  may  have  been  at  some  distance  from  the  ]ialace 
itself."  (10)  my  servant,  ch.  xxv.  I».  set  .  .  hid,  a  symbolical 
declaration  that  he  should  surely  couquerthe  countiy.  pavilion, 
or  the  canopy  of  his  throne.  (11)  death  to  death,  ch.  xv.  2  ; 
Zee.  xi.  !).  (12)  fire,  the  destructive  agent  used  by  conquerors, 
array  himself,*  a  strong  fig.  to  indicate  absolute  possession  of 


Cap.  xliv,  1—6.] 


JEREMIAB. 


161 


the  land.     (13)  images,   statues.     Beth-shemesla,  i.e.  "the 
house  of  the  Sun,"  or  Heliopolis,  or  On. 

Claij. — 'i'he  words  apjjear  to  allude  to  embedding  stones  in  clay 
and  baking  them,  rendering  it  almost  impossible  to  recover 
them  ;  and  the  lesson  conveyed  is,  that  it  is  in  vain  to  seek 
safety  by  disobeying  God's  commands.  His  wrath  will  follow 
sinners  into  all  their  false  refuges,  and  destroy  them  and  their 
hiding-places  together.  Clay  v/as  used  at  a  very  early  period  for 
making  bricks.  The  bricks  of  which  the  tower  of  Babel  was 
built  were  of  clay,  baked  by  fu-e.  Gen.  xi.  3  ;  but  those  after- 
wards made  by  the  Israelites,  under  their  cruel  taskmasters, 
were  dried  in  the  sun,  Exod.  v.  13.  The  more  common  materials, 
however,  were,  and  still  are,  unburned  brirJis.  Of  these  the 
pyramids  of  Egypt  were  constructed.  They  are  composed  of 
'•  clay,  mud,  and  straw,  slightly  blended  and  kneaded  together,  and 
afterwards  baked  in  the  sun.  The  straw  which  keeps  these  bricks 
together,  and  still  jireserves  its  original  colour,  seems  to  be  a  proof 
that  these  bricks  were  never  burned  or  made  in  kilns.'  There  are 
many  passages  of  Scripture  explained  by  remembering  that  the 
reference  is  to  unburned  bricks,  as  Ezek.  xiii.  11  ;  Zech.  ix.  3  : 
Isa.  XXX.  13,  etc.  The  pigeon-houses  of  Egypt  were  constructed 
of  crude  bricks,  pottery,  and  mud,  and  placed  on  the  roofs  of  the 
huts  ;  to  this  the  Psalmist  may  allude,  Psa.  Ixvii.  13.  The 
watcrpots  at  Cana  (John  ii.  6)  were  probably  of  this  material. 
Mr.  Wilson  says,  while  he  was  sitting  by  the  well  of  Cana,  six 
females,  each  carrying  a  waterpot  on  her  head,  came  to  the  well 
to  get  water.  ''These  vessels  are  formed  of  clay,  hardened  by 
the  heat  of  the  sun,  of  globular  shape,  and  large  at  the  mouth, 
not  unlike  the  bottles  commonly  called  carboj's  used  in  our 
countTy  for  holding  vitriol  and  other  acids."  He  adds  that  these 
vessels  hold  about  the  same  quantity  as  those  spoken  of  by  the ' 
Evangelist — three  firkin.'^,  or  about  twelve  gallons  each.  Tempta- 
tions, diffieulties,  and  afflictions  are  likened  to  miry  clay,  Psa.  xl. 
2.  The  Slough  of  Despond,  of  which  Bunyan,  in  his  Pilgrlm'.t 
Prof/rr.fx.  speaks,  was  a,  pit  of  miry  clay.  'J  he  man  who  maketh 
riches  his  trust,  or  acquires  them  unjustly,  is  likened  to  a  man 
who  loadeth  himself  with  thick  clay — it  will  avail  him  nothing, 
but  will  be  a  trouble  to  him.  Hab.  ii.  G.  The  doors  of  the  granary 
of  Joseph  in  Egypt  are  kept  carefully  sealed,  but  not  with  wax. 
The  inspectors  put  their  seal  upon  a  handful  of  clay,  with  which 
they  cover  the  lock  of  the  door.  Job  xxxviii.  14.  Official  letters 
were  sealed  Avith  mud  or  clay,  and  the  patriarch  may  allude  to 
this  custom.  Some  such  seals  are  to  be  seen  in  the  British 
Museum. 

CHAPTER  THE  FOnTY-FOURTH. 

1 — 6.  (1)  dwell,  better,  unjmirn.  These  Jews  expected  soon 
to  reiurn  to  Judrea.  Migdol,  a  city  on  the  eastern  frontier 
of  Etryjrt,"  towards  the  Ptcd  Sea.  Talipanhes,  ch.  ii.  10. 
Noph,  Blemphis,  now  Cairo.  Patliros,*  or  Upper  Egypt.  (2) 
seen,  are  eye-witnesses  of  the  fulfilment  of  My  threatened 
judLnnents.  (3)  went  to  burn,  "  implying  perverse  assiduity." 
serv3  other  gods,  cunq).  De.  xiii.  <j,  xxxii.  17.  (4)  sent .  . 
prophets,  ch.  vii.  13,  xxv.  4.  (.5)  inclined  their  ear,  to 
listen  with  a  view  to  obedience.     (6;  poured  forth,  ch.  xiii.  18. 

VOL.  IX.     O.T.  L 


Eg.ypt,  and  take 
eutii-e  possession 
of  it,  just  iis  a 
slie]3lierd's  gar- 
nieut  covers  liia 
body  all  over. 
So  calamities, 
when  they  sur- 
round men  oa 
every  side,  are 
con^.pared  to  a 
garment.  Ps. 
ci.'c.  19. — Loulh. 

"With  as  great 
ease  as  a  shep- 
herd throws  his 
cloak  round  him 
when  going  forth 
to  watch  his 
flock  by  night  in 
the  open  field,  so 
easily  sliall  the 
king  of  Babylon 
take  possession 
of  all  the  wealth 
and  glory  of 
Eg3T5t.and  throw 
it  round  him,  and 
depart  without 
any  one  daring 
to  resist  his  pro- 
gTess."-Sp/.:  Com. 
•'  The  truest  de- 
finition of  evil  is 
that  which  repre- 
sents it  as  some- 
thing contrary  to 
nature ;  evil  is 
evil,  because  it  is 
unnatural:  a  vine 
which  should 
bear  olive  ber- 
ries, an  e}'e  to 
which  blue  seems 
yellow,  would  be 
diseased  ;  an  un- 
natural mother ; 
an  unnatural 
son;  an  u  n- 
natural  act,  are 
the  strongest 
terms  of  con- 
demnation."— I". 
ir.  livVcrison. 


a  Ey.  xiv.  2;  No. 
x.Nxiii.  7. 
b  Is.  xi.  11 ;  comp. 
Gp.  X.  14. 
'■  lu  noble  consis- 
tonc}'  with  that 
unbendint^detcr- 
niinaticn  to  do 
his  duty  wliicU 
had  marked  Jere- 
miah's whole  life, 
and    undeterred 


162 


JEREMIAn. 


[Cap.  xliv.  7-15. 


by  tlia  recent  | 
■violence  of  the 
Jews,  will)  liiul  S 
dr.a.'T.sjed  hiiniuco  | 
K.L'ypt  against  i 
liis  will,  we  liud  I 
liim  boldly  re-  j 
bilking  the  ten- 
deneios  to  idol- 
atry, which  seem 
to  have  grown 
only  tlio  stronger 
in  tlieir  tribula- 
tiun." — ^I'k.  Cum, 

C  G.  Brocks. 


a  Comp.  Nu.  xvi. 
38  ;  I'r  viii.  3(i ; 
Je.  vii.  19. 

"  God  designed 
that  this  rem- 
nant should  have 
kept  possession  in 
Judaea,  when  the 
rest  of  their 
brethren  were 
carried  away 
captive.  But  by 
their  going  into 
Egypt,  and  de- 
filing themselves 
vith  the  idol- 
atries of  that 
nation,  they  have 
provoked  God  to 
make  an  utter 
destruction  of 
them."' — Lmcth. 

h  1  Ki.  xi.  1-8, 
XV.  13,  xvi.  31. 

e  Job  xxii.  9  ;  Is. 
xix.  10. 

"  Oh,  how  will 
crime  eiigemler 
crime  I  throw 
guilt  upon  the 
BOul,  and,  like  a 
stone  cast  on  the 
troubled  waters 
of  a  lake,  'twill 
form  in  circles, 
round  succeeding 
round,  each  wider 
than  the  first." — 
Colman. 

d  Broois. 


a  "The  totality 
here  spoken  i  f 
must  be  confined 
to  those  who  had 


The  ahomlnahlc  thing  (v.  4). —  I.  Sin  is  an  abominable  thing,  if 
we  con.sidcr  it — 1.  In  reference  to  God  :  2.  lu  reference  to  the 
moral  law  ;  3.  In  reference  to  its  fatal  influence  on  man.  II. 
Sin  i.s  an  abominable  thing  which  God  hates.  1.  lie  has  shown 
it  in  the  expulsion  of  the  rebel  angels  from  lieaven  ;  2.  In  the 
exile  of  our  first  parents  from  Eden  ;  H.  In  the  iirevalence  of 
disease  and  death  among  men  :  4.  In  a  long  series  of  recorded 
judgments  ;  5.  In  the  cross  of  Christ.  III.  Sin  is  an  abominable 
thing  which  God  hates,  and  which  He  therefore  exhorts  and. 
entreats  us  not  to  commit.  1.  By  the  Bible  ;  2.  By  conscience ; 
.3.  By  affliction." 

7 — 10.  (7)  to  cut  off,  i.e.  to  certainly  bring  on  yourselves 
the  overwhelming  judgments  of  the  God  whom  you  offend." 
(8)  begone,  of  your  own  accord,  and  in  your  own  wilfulness. 
('.))  their  wives,  it  seems,  from  the  history,  that  the  Jewish 
queens  were  great  promoters  of  idolatry.'  land  Oi  Judah., 
which  was  sacred  to  Jehovah.     (10)  humbled,  or  contrite." 

Kcijlrct  of  past  n-arnuujs  (rv.  1),  10). — ••Have  ye  forgotten,"  etc. 
I.  It  was  tlieir  duty  to  recollect  the  lesr^ons  taught  by  the  past, 
IT.  They  were  not  unwilling  to  recall  the  im?t  glories  of  Israel, 
III.  They  ought  to  have  remembered  the  connection  between 
former  sins  and  their  punishment  (see  margin),  in  the  light  of 
God's  unchanging  justice.  IV.  Such  remembering  of  the  past, 
duly  improved,  had  saved  from  present  and  future  misery. 
Apply  : — Present  times. 

Memory:  a  irarnitig  voice. — A  gracious  soul  remembers  that 
man  was  stoned  to  death  for  gathering  sticks  on  the  Sabbath-dny. 
He  remembers  how  Saul  lost  two  kingdoms  at  once — his  own 
kingdom  and  that  of  heaven — for  sjiaring  Agag  and  the  fat  of 
the  cattle.  He  remembers  how  the  unprofitable  servant,  for  the 
non-improvement  of  his  talent,  was  cast  into  outer  darkness. 
He  remembers  how  Ananias  and  Sapphira  were  struck  dead 
suddenly  for  telling  a  lie.  He  remembers  how  Lofs  wife,  for  a 
look  of  curiosity,  was  turned  into  a  pillar  of  salt.  He  remembers 
how  Adam  was  cast  out  of  Paradise  for  eating  forVjidden  fruit, 
and  the  angels  cast  out  of  Heaven  for  not  keeping  their  standing. 
He  remembers  that  Jacob  smarted  for  his  lying  to  his  dying  day. 
He  remembers  how  God  followed  him  with  sorrow  upon  sorrow, 
and  breach  upon  breach,  filling  up  his  days  with  grief  and 
trouble.  He  remembers  how  Moses  was  shut  out  of  the  Holy 
Land,  because  he  spake  unadvisedly  with  his  lips.  He  re- 
members the  young  prophet  who  was  slain  by  a  lion,  for  eating 
a  little  bread,  and  drinking  a  little  water,  contrary  to  the 
command  of  God,  though  he  was  drawn  thereunto  by  an  old 
prophet,  under  a  pretence  of  a  revelation  from  heaven.  He 
remembers  how  Zach arias  was  stricken  dumb,  because  he 
believed  not  the  report  of  the  angel  Gabriel.  He  remembers 
how  Uzza  was  stricken  dead  for  supporting  the  ark.  wlien  it 
was  in  danger  of  falling;  nor  can  he  forg-ct  the  fifty  thousand 
men  of  Bethshemesh,  who  were  slain  for  looking  into  the  ark  ; 
and  the  remembrance  of  these  things  stirs  up  his  hatred  and 
indignation  against  the  least  sins.'* 

11—15.    (11)  set ..  evil,  Am.  ix.  4.     all  Judah,  all  the 

idolaters  :    r.  28  intimates  that  soinn  of  this  remnant  did  return 
from  Egypt."    (^12)  remnant  of  Judah,  those  are  distinctly 


Cap.  xliv.  16-23  ] 


JEREMIAH. 


163 


marked  out  who  had  sought  shelter  in  Egypt  in  oppcsitiou  to  the 
commands  of  the  Prophet.  (13)  punish,  conq).  eh.  xlii.  ];") — 18. 
(It;  none  .  .  escape,  i.e.  none  but  those  mentioned  in  v.  28. 
(15)  liad.  burned,  better,  '•  did  burn." 

Tliffniicn  (if  God  {v.  11). — I.  The  smile  of  God.  the  token  of 
His  favour,  brightens  all  nature  and  life,  "■  Thy  favour  is  life," 
etc.  II.  The  frown  of  God,  the  token  of  His  displeasure,  casts 
a  shadow  on  the  heart  and  life.  A]>ply — 1.  To  those  who  enjoy 
God  s  smile,  live  in  it,  rellect  it ;  2.  To  those  who  have  forfeited 
it,  seek  reconciliation  through  Christ. 

1  /le  secret  of  luip])invgx. — Some  time  since  I  took  up  a  little 
work,  purporting  to  be  the  lives  of  sundry  characters,  as  related 
by  themselves.  Two  of  these  characters  agreed  in  saying  that 
they  were  never  happy  until  they  ceased  striving  to  be  great 
men.  The  remark  struck  me,  as  you  know  the  most  simple 
remark  will,  when  God  pleases.  It  occurred  to  me  at  once,  that 
most  of  my  sorrows  and  sufEerings  were  occasioned  by  my 
unwillingness  to  be  the  nothing  that  I  am,  and  by  a  constant 
striving  to  be  something.  I  saw  that  if  I  would  but  cease 
struggling,  and  be  content  to  be  anything  or  nothing,  as  God 
pleases,  I  might  be  happy.* 

16—19.  (16,  17)  goeth  .  .  mouth,  referring  to  certain  rows 
wh.  they  had  made."  queen  of  heaven,  ch.  vii.  IS,  xix.  13. 
*'  To  the  moon  and  the  rest  of  the  host  of  heaven."  had.  "we 
plenty,  '•  fools  attribute  their  seeming  prosperity  to  God's  con- 
nivance at  their  sin.'*  (IS)  wanted  all,  been  starving  and 
suffering.  (19)  cakes,  ch.  vii.  18.  without  our  men,  or 
husbands.  The  thing  was  done  with  their  full  approval;"^ 
therefore  our  vow  must  stand. 

'Ilie  impiety  of  imgndJij  men  (rr.  16,  17). — I.  The  impiety  of  that 
people.  1.  Their  voluntary  engagements  ;  2.  Their  deliberate 
violation  of  them  ;  3.  Their  self-vindicating  effrontery.  II.  The 
resemblance  that  exists  between  them  and  us.  Look  at — 1.  The 
profane  sinner;  2.  The  self-righteous  formalist;  3.  The  hypo- 
critical professor.  III.  The  certain  issue  of  such  conduct.  1. 
How  did  it  fare  with  them  ?  2.  How  will  it  fare  with  you  ? 
Address — 1.  Those  who  disregard  our  testimony  ;  2.  Those  who 
tremble  at  the  word  of  God."* 

The  new  vwnn. — When  the  new  moon  is  first  seen,  the  people 
present  their  hands  in  the  same  form  of  adoration,  and  take  off 
the  turban,  as  they  do  to  other  gods.  If  a  person  have  a 
favourite  son  or  wife,  or  airy  friend  with  whom  he  thinks 
himself  fortunate,  he  will  call  for  one  of  them  on  that  night, 
and,  after  looking  at  the  new  moon,  will  steadfastly  look  at  the 
face  of  the  individual.  But  if  there  be  no  person  of  that  descrip- 
tion present,  he  will  look  at  his  white  cloth,  or  a  piece  of  gold.* 

20 — 23.  (20)  the  women,  who  evidently  had  taken  a 
prominent  position  in  arranging-  the  answer  to  be  given  to  the 
Prophet.  (21)  remember  them,  i.e.  the  various  idolatrous  acts. 
(22)  no  longer  bear,  even  Divine  patience  being  outworn  by 
long-continired  wilfulness  and  disobetlience."  (23)  sinned  .  . 
Lord,  not  merely  in  idolatrous  acts,  but  in  the  cherished  spirit 
of  disobedient  wilfulness.* 

The  ciivse  of  natiniuii  ndrer.tify  (v.  23). — I.  Indicate  some  form 
and  features  of  national  adversity.  II.  Point  out  some  of  the 
L2 


c  o  n  t  uiiiaciously 
refuscil  to  li.sten 
to  the  I'ropliet 
and,  after  tliejr' 
had  gduetldtlier, 
hvid  coiifonned  to 
the  id<ilatnes  of 
the  couutr.v.  The 
otliers  may  liavo 
removed  tliitlier 
under  different 
circumstances." 
— Jlendmson, 

b  Payson. 


a  Oomp.  Nu.  xxx. 
12;  De.  xxiii.  23; 
Ju.  xi.  36. 
'•  They  appeal  to 
their  rasli  and 
impious  vow  as 
an  obligation  of 
con.s  eience." — 
Wiirdswnrth. 
b  "  It  is  the  curse 
of  inijiiety  not  to 
perceive  theliand 
of  God  in  calami- 
ties."— Fidtssi'l. 
"  They  argue, 
from  the  lalla- 
cious  topic  of 
worldly  pro?pe- 
rity,  that  then 
they  must  needs 
have  been  in  the 
right." — Loulh. 
"  So  perversely 
did  they  miscon- 
strue providence, 
thoiigli  God,  by 
His  prophets,  had 
so  often  ex- 
plained it  to 
them,  and  the 
tiling  itself 
spoke  the  direct 
contrary." — Mat, 
Henry. 

c  Ku.  XXX.  7,  8. 
d  C.  kimeun,M.A. 
e  lioberls. 


a  "Wlien  chao 
tisement  comes, 
men  nuist  not  be 
content  with  ex- 
amining the  im- 
mediate past,  but 
nnist  make  a 
more  searching 
inc)uirj'.  and  they 
will  then  find 
that     6iu     louf 


164 


JE RE  MI  An. 


[Cap.  xliv.  24-28. 


persisted  in  has 
been  that  whicli 
the  Divine  justice 
could  no  longer 
bear." — Spk.  Cum. 

6  La.  i.  8 ;  Da.  ix. 
11,  12. 

"There  arc  mine- 
rals called  liydro- 
phanouA,  which 
are  not  trans- 
parent till  they 
are  immersed  in 
water,  when  they 
become  so ;  as 
the  liydrophane, 
a  variety'  of  oixil. 
So  it  is  with 
many  a  Chris- 
tian. Till  tlie 
floods  of  adver- 
sity have  been 
poured  over  him, 
his  character  ap- 
pears murred  and 
clouded  by  self- 
ish n  e  ss  and 
■worldly  iutiu- 
ences.  But  trials 
clear  away  the 
obscurity,  and 
give  ilistinctnoss 
and  beauty  to  his 
p  i  e  t  y."  —  Pro/. 
HUchcock. 


a  "  The  Jews, 
heretofore,  in  the 
midst  of  all  their 
idolatry,  had  re- 
tained the  form 
of  appeal  to  the 
name  of  God, 
and  the  law,  the 
distinctive  glory 
of  their  nation. 
God  will  allow 
tliis  nu  more." — 

Vows  are  easily 
made,  but  more 
easily  bro'.;en.  A 
sea  captain,  wliilo 
iil)on  a  single 
plank  in  tlie  wide 
ocean,  vowed  to 
(iovote  his  life  to 
God  if  he  should 
be  saved,  but  for- 
got his  vow  as 
euoa  as  Lis  feet 


mistakes  that  are  made  in  tracing  their  causes.  III.  Show  that 
these  mistaken  ari.<e  from  the  pride  of  heart  which  declines  the 
admission  of  human  puilt.  IV.  Consider  the  Divine  dechiratiou 
in  the  words,  "  therefore,"  etc. 

Adn'T-'<ilji :  itn  hiiforij. — Scripture  history  (which  has  a  di- 
dactic intent  throuj^hnut)  is  one  continuous  detail  of  misfortune 
and  success,  trouble  and  cor?solation  : — the  narrative,  for  instance, 
of  the  pilgrimage  of  the  Israelites,  universally  acknowledged  to  be 
typical  of  the  way  of  regeneration.  In  this,  every  one  is  beset 
by  hindrances  and  temptations,  which,  though  sorely  oppressive 
while  they  last,  nevertheless  give  place  in  turn  to  triumph. 
The  hunger  and  thirst,  and  bitter  streams,  all  show  what  must 
be  anticipated,  but  no  less  so  the  supply  of  food,  and  the  sweeten- 
ing of  the  v^aters.  It  is  a  happy  thing  for  a  man  to  feel 
famished,  and  that  the  waters  are  bitter,  for  it  is  the  sign  of 
an  amending  uatiu'e,  and  leads  him  to  cry  to  God  for  help.  If 
we  are  not  often  so  imi:)elkd.  it  is  a  proof  that  we  are  but  little 
advanced  upon  our  journey.  There  can  be  no  virttie  or  gladness 
without  trial  and  suffering  in  the  first  place.  There  is  no  buying 
corn  of  Joseph  till  there  has  been  a  famine  in  the  land  :  nor  can 
any  man  know  what  are  the  green  pastures  and  the  still  waters, 
till  he  has  bsen  in  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death.  God 
cannot  lead  him  thither  till  he  has  felt  how  weak  he  is  in 
himself.  Until  this  experience  shall  have  been  gone  through, 
they  are  a  mere  mirage  of  the  imagination.  "  It  must  needs  be 
that  the  Son  of  Man  suffer  before  He  enter  into  His  glory."  In 
its  aptitude  for  grievances,  temptations,  and  pei'plexities,  con- 
joined with  its  free-will,  the  spirit  of  man  is  constituted  in  the 
very  be.st  manner  possiV)le  for  urging  him  on  towards  hraven. 
Though  they  are  painful  to  him,  Ihey  are  privileges.  That  waa 
a  deej)  insight  into  the  economy  of  Provi'dence  which  saw  that 

"  Sweet  are  the  uses  of  adversity." 
Had  Flavins  Bcethius  never  been  imprisoned  by  Theodoric,  he 
had  never  written  his   Conxvlntions  of  Fhiloso2)hij.     To  a  prison, 
also,  we  owe  i-'Ugrim's  Progress.' 

24—28.  (24,  25)  fulfilled  .  .  land,  "  when  Jer.  said  these 
words  he  pointed  to  their  hands,  in  which  they  were  carrying 
the  crescent-sliaped  cakes  wh.  they  had  vowed  to  the  goddess." 
surely  accomplisli,  better  read  as  an  ironical  phrase — '•  accom- 
plish then  four  words,  and  see  what  will  come  of  it."  ( 2G)  I 
have  sworn,"  comp.  God  s  solemn  vow  with  theirs.  God  re- 
fuses to  recognise  any  longer  His  covenant  relation  to  this  rem- 
nant. (27)\vatcll,  etc.,  ch.  i.  10;  Eze.  vii.  G.  (28)  small 
numlDer,  v.  14.     know,  by  better  and  desolating  experiences. 

Man's  iviirds  and  God's  (r.  28). — I.  The  words  of  man  betray 
often  the  sin  of  the  heart  and  the  vanity  of  the  mind.  II.  The 
words  of  God  manifest  His  integrity,  holiness,  power  and  love. 
I^I.  In  regard  to  life  and  salvation,  time  and  eterni';^-.  who.se 
shall  stand  ?  IV.  AYhose  word  shall  stand  the  test  of  the  hour  of 
repentance  or  death  ? 

Iniitlintin:  hearers. — It  is  said  of  Demosthenes  that,  speaking 
to  the  Athenians  on  a  very  .serious  Fubject.  aiul  fii'ding  llem  to 
be  inattentive,  he  paused,  and  told  Ihem  that  he  had  something 
of  sjiecial  importance  to  relate,  which  he  was  anxious  that  they 
should  all  heajT,    Silence  being  thus  obtained,  and  evez^  eye 


Cap.xlv,  1— 5.] 


JEREMIAH. 


165 


fixed  upon  him,  he  said  that  two  men.  having-  barg-aiued  for  the 
hire  ot  an  ass.  were  travelling  trom  A.thens  to  Megara  on  a  very 
hot  day,  and  both  of  them  striving  to  enjoy  the  shadow  of  the  ass. 
One  of  thom  said  that  he  hired  the  ass  and  the  shadow  too  ;  the 
other  said  that  he  hired  the  ass  only  and  not  the  shadow. 
Having  made  this  grave  statement,  Demosthenes  retired  ;  wh'-n 
the  people  pressed  him  with  great  eagerness  to  return  and  finish 
his  tale.  "  0  ye  Athenians,"'  said  he,  "  will  ye  attend  to  me  when 
speaking  about  the  shadow  of  an  ass  ;  and  will  ye  not  attend  to 
me  when  I  address  you  on  the  most  important  affairs  ? "  This 
reproof  does  not  apply  exclusively  to  the  "men  of  Athens.' 
English  people  are  deeply  concerned  in  it ;  and  the  ministers  of 
Christ,  who  are  accustomed  to  discourse  upon  subjects  immensely 
more  important  than  any  that  called  forth  the  eloquence  of  the 
Athenian  orator,  have  reason  to  urge  the  same  comi)laint.  Many 
persons  have  an  ear  for  vanity,  but  none  for  the  truth  :  they 
will  listen  to  follj^  but  not  to  the  words  of  wisdom.  To  the 
things  of  this  world  they  will  pay  a  fixed  attention,  but  to  Christ 
and  His  salvation  they  are  criminally  indifferent.* 

29,  30.  (29)  sign,  a  calamity  wh.  you  shall  trifncsa  shall  be 
to  you  the  assurance  of  calamities  wh.  you  shall  svjf'cr.  (30) 
Pharaoh-hophra,"  or  Apries,  who  succeeded  Piammis,  the 
successor  of  Pharaoh-Xecho.  who  was  beaten  by  Nebuchadnezzar 
at  Carcheniish.  The  calamity  of  Hophra  came  about  six  or  seven 
j^ears  after  Jer."s  prophecy.''  He  was  kept  prisoner  in  his  palace 
at  Sai's  for  more  than  ten  y-ars,  and  died  B.C.  570.  He  was 
intensely  hated  by  the  Egyptians. 

Ilisforicnl  gif/ns  (r.  2'.*).— I.  The  sign  mentioned  in  the  text 
a  reminder  of  the  retributive  justice  of  God.  II.  The  events  of 
history  to  be  interpreted  in  the  light  of  Divine  justice  and  love. 
III.  Some  of  them,  as  destruction  of  Armada,  invention  of 
printing,  discovery  of  America,  pre-eminently  significant. 


CII AFTER   TEE  FOIITY-FIFTIL 

1 — 5.  (1)  when  .  .  written,  arp.  ch.  xxxvi.,  which  this  should 
follow.  (2.  3)  grief  .  .  sorrow,  Baruch  grieved  for  the  nation's 
sins,  and  sorrowed  for  the  punishments  such  sins  must  surely 
involve.  Possibly  also  Baruch  had  to  bear  personal  troubles  in 
that  anxious  tinie.  (4)  break  down,  comp.  ch.  i.  10.  (5) 
great  things,  matters  of  personal  benefit.  "  Dost  thou  aspire 
to  honour  and  dignity  in  a  time  of  common  calamity  V"  for  a 
prey,  ch.  xxxix.  18. 

Amhifioji  {r.  5). — I.  The  evil  denounced.  It  may  be  viewed 
under  three  aspects.  1.  There  are  some  who  pursue  worldly 
objects  that  are  far  above  them  :  2.  There  aie  some  who  pursue 
with  undue  eagerness  worldly  objects  they  might  reasonably  hope 
to  attain  ;  3.  There  are  some  who  pursue  all  classes  of  worldly 
objects  in  a  selfish  spirit.  II.  The  reasons  why  it  is  denounced. 
1.  Because  it  attaches  excessive  value  to  worldly  objects  ;  2. 
Because  it  misapprehends  the  comparative  advantages  of  the 
different  ranks  in  the  social  scale  ;  3.  Because  i%  overlooks  the 
duties  whi';h  arise  out  of  the  relations  we  sustain  to  our  race  and 
o\ir  Maker  ;  i.  Because  it  ignores  aJ.1  the  facts,  and  objects,  and 


were  on  the  solid 
earth.  Jtrs,  Jud- 
son,  ill  tlie  begin- 
ning of  lier  re- 
ligious life,  t\vice 
forgot  her  vows ; 
falling  oasilv  into 
the  old  liaiiit  of 
dancing  when  in 
the  society  of 
dancing  people. 


6  Thornton. 


a  "  The  prophecy 
^vas  fulfilled  by 
the  aniserable 
death  of  Apries, 
who  for  a  time 
flourished  in 
great  prosperity, 
and  arrogantly 
presumed  upon 
Ins  own  power, 
and  imjnously 
Taunted  that  no 
god  could  over- 
throw it.  but  was 
defeated  by  A  ma- 
sis,  wlio  had  re- 
belled against 
him,  and  wa3 
strangled  by  his 
own  subjects."— 
J/irodnliis. 
b  Bumuquet. 


a  "  Baruch,  who 
was  of  a  nobl9 
liouse  in  Jeru- 
salem, and  whose 
brother  Seraiah 
was  advanced  to 
high  place  in  the 
court  of  Judah, 
felt,  it  seems, 
some  disappoint- 
irent  in  seeing 
that  the  avenues 
to  the  promotion 
and  preferment 
of  whicli  lie  had 
a  reasonable  ex- 
pectation, and  to 
wdiich  he  aspired, 
were  closed  by 
his  call  to  the 
service  of  God." 
—  Wii}'(lsworf/i. 
rv.  2—5.  /;/•.  T. 
Jartion,  xi.  79. 

V,  5.    y.  Jlometu 


166 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  xlvi.  1—8; 


663;  r.  Maninn, 
V.  1022;  Jl.  Wil- 
kinson, i.  10  ; 
Jltibnk.  Crabb, 
271  ;  Dr.  G. 
F'i!/i,r(iin,n.235; 
Dr.  V.  Knox,  vi. 
291  ;  Dr.  E.  Pay- 
ton,  iii.  5U3. 

h  G.  Brooks. 

C  Whilecross. 


n  2  Chr.  XXXV.  20. 

Prnf.  Raiolinson 
objects  to  this 
identiflcation  of 
C.archemish,  and 
places  it  higlier 
■up  the  river,  in  a 
position  wliich 
made  it  the  key 
of  Sj'ria. 
h  Fr.  fourhir ; 
It.  forbire;  Ger. 
/urban,  to 
cleanse. 

c  "  Footmen  in 
the  time  of  Ho- 
linshed  were 
called  brigrins  ; 
hrUinIa  was  an 
Italian  division 
of  an  army." — 
Woolrych. 
"This  term 
translates  the 
Hebrew  word 
iiruon,  a  coat  of 
mail.  Brigandine 
is  defined  by 
Wedgwood  and 
Kiohardsou  as  a 
kind  of  scale 
armour,  made  of 
m  a  n  y-j  o  i  nt  e  d 
plates,  V  e  r  .V 
pliant  and,  easy 
for  the  body,  so 
called  from  being 
used  by  the  light- 
arm  ed  foot 
soldiers  known  as 
brigands."' — Vtn- 
a'l's. 
d  J'uxlon. 
a  "  The  moment 
seized  by  the 
Prophet  is  that 
when  the  Kg. 
•  host  first  feels 
that  tlio  battle  is 
lost,  and,  over- 
borne by  the 
enemy,  loses 
heart,  and  in 
do.spair,  yet  not 
witliont  a  strug- 
gle,  givi's  way." 


interests,    and    blessings   of  the    spiritual    world.     Address — 1. 
Worldling's  ;  2.  Christians.* 

Ainbition. — The  deadness  of  John,  Duke  of  Saxony,  to  the 
world  was  very  remarkable.  When  he  was  informed  of  the  re- 
bellion of  the  ascetics,  which  led  to  so  afflictive  a  war  in  Germany, 
he  said,  "If  it  be  the  will  of  God  that  I  should  continue  a  i)rince, 
as  I  have  hitherto  been,  His  will  be  done  ;  but  if  otherwise,  I 
can  descend  to  a  lower  station  ;  fewer  horses  and  a  humbler 
equipag-e  will  serve  me  as  well."" 


Cn AFTER   THE  FORTY-SIXTH. 

1 — 4.  (1)  G-entiles,  or  the  nations.  (2)  against  Egypt, 
or  relating^  to  Egypt.  Carcliemisll,  prob.  Circr.'^iuiii,  tho 
fortress  at  the  confluence  of  the  Chaljoras  and  the  Euphrates. 
Reference  is  to  a  second  battle  at  this  place  ;  in  the  first  Josiah 
had  been  killed.'*  (."S)  order,  or  get  in  order,  buckler,  a 
small  round  shield,  carried  by  light-ai'med  troops,  shield,  a 
heavier  defence,  covering  the  whole  body.  (4)  harness,  or 
mount,  furbish,'  rub  or  scour  to  brightness,  brigandines,' 
coats  of  mail. 

The  battle  cry  (v.  .3). — I.  There  are  wars  of  conquest,  result- 
ing from  unrighteous  ambition,  pride,  etc.  11.  There  ai'e  wars 
of  defence,  as  when  men  fight  for  home  and  liberty,  etc. — as 
Switzerland,  etc.  III.  There  are  wars  of  Divine  retribution,  as 
when  God  moves  the  hearts  of  men  to  punish  sin  and  oppression. 
IV.  In  the  midst  of  all  war  it  is  the  believer's  privilege  to  livo 
at  peace  with  God.  V.  Learn  the  folly  of  fighting  against  God. 
'•  Who  hath  fought  against  Gofl  and  prospered  .'  ' 

Brigandine. — A  piece  of  defensive  armour  ui-ed  in  early  times 
was  the  breastplate  or  corslet :  with  this  Goliath  was  accoutred  ; 
but  in  our  version  the  original  term  is  rendered  a  coat  of  mail  ; 
and  in  the  inspired  account  of  the  Jewish  armour  it  is  translated 
habergeon.  It  was  between  the  joints  of  this  harness  (for  so  we 
render  it  in  that  passage)  that  Ahab  received  his  mortal  wound 
by  an  arrow  shot  at  a  venture.  To  this  species  of  armour  the 
Prophet  Isaiah  alludes,  where  the  same  Hebrew  word  is  used  as 
in  the  preceding  texts,  but  is  here  rendered  breastplate  ;  and  in 
the  prophecies  of  Jeremiah  it  is  translated  brigandine.  From 
the  use  of  these  various  terms,  in  translating  the  Hebrew  terra 
shirion,  it  seems  to  have  covered  both  the  l>ack  and  breast  of  the 
warrior,  but  was  probably  intended  chiefl.v  for  the  defence  of 
the  latter,  and,  by  consequence,  took  its  name  from  that  cir- 
cumstance.'' 

5 — 8.  (5)  wherefore,  etc.,  a  sudden  exclamation  of  astonish- 
ment."    So  well   equipped  an  army  was  uoverthtless  driven  back 
in  dismay,     look  not  back,  make  no  attempt  to  halt  in  their 
flight,     fear,  or  panic,  wh.  utterly  disorganises  an  army.     (G) 
I  let    not,    better  rend.,    the   swift   shall   not   successfully   fiee^ 
I  north,    Euphrates   was  northward  in  relalion  to  Judah.      (7j 
I  as  a  flood,  as  their  own  Xile.  swelling  with  flood,    writers  .  , 
rivers,  or.  •'  as  the  streains  roll  on  their  waters  :"  or  'his  waters 
1  toss  to  and  fro  as  tho  rivers.'*     (8)  the  city,  better,  cities  io 
[general,  the  cxpitssion  of  the  world-couiiucriag  power. 


Cap.  y-lvi.  9—17.] 


JEREMIAH. 


1G7 


Adjuncts  ofn-ixr. — 

In  thy  faint  slumbers,  I  by  thee  have  watcii'd, 
And  heard  thee  murmur  tales  of  ii'on  wars  ; 
Speak  terms  of  manage  to  thy  bounding  steed  ; 
Cry,  Courage  !  to  the  field  1  and  thou  hast  talk'd 
Of  sallies  and  retii'es  ;  of  trenches,  tents, 
Of  pallisadoes,  frontiers,  parapets  ; 
Of  basilisks,  of  cannon,  culverin  ; 
Of  prisoners'  ransom,  and  of  soldiers  slain, 
And  all  the  currents  of  a  heady  fight.'' 

9—12.  (9)  Ethiopians,  Heb.  Cvsh.  Libyans,  Heb.  Put. 
shield,  so  forming  the  heavy-armed  detachments,  bow,  indi- 
cating that  they  were  the  light-armed  troops.  (10)  this,  the 
day  of  Egypt's  defeat*  sword,  etc.,  ch.  ii.  30.  (11)  virgin, 
Egypt  is  so  called  bee.  she  had  never  been  brought  under  the 
power  of  any  foreign  monarch,  not  be  cured,*  the  overthrow 
would  be  final,  the  loss  could  never  be  retrieved.  Egjqit  would 
never  recover  its  former  strength.  (12)  the  land,  i.e.  the  earth, 
mighty  .  .  mighty,  in  the  wild  confusion  the  warriors  trampled 
down  each  other. 

The  halm  of  Gllcad,  or  halsam  of  Mecca. — The  genuine  balsam 
of  Mecca  {Amyris  ojiobalmnnim)  is  both  scarce  and  expensive. 
The  kings  of  Judah  cultivated  this  shrub,  biit  ouly  to  a  very- 
small  extent.  It  will  be  interesting  to  learn  that  a  bottle  of  this 
extraordinary  balsam  is  kept  at  the  botanical  garden  at  Paris,  as 
an  object  of  the  rarest  and  highest  value.  What  is  generally 
sold  by  the  name  of  balsam  of  Mecca  is  merely  the  oil,  obtained 
by  boiling,  from  the  seeds,  stones,  and  branches  of  the  tree.  The 
balm  itself  is  too  rare  to  be  purchased  in  the  ordinnry  way. 
Josephus  informs  us  that  the  queen  of  Sheba  brought  it  first  to 
Juda3a,  where  balsam,  myrrh,  and  incense,  in  the  days  of  old,  were 
to  be  seen  used  by  the  populace  in  abundance  almost  daily.  This 
is  one  of  the  many  things  which  we  "  mourn  for"  in  "the  days 
gone  by."'  The  reason  of  its  excessive  scarcity  is  sujiposed  to  be 
owing  to  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem.  The  Jews,  actuated  by 
de.*pair  and  hatred,  destroyed  all  the  balsam  plants.  There  are 
none  now  to  be  found  in  Palestine.  Only  one  plantation  is  now 
kuo^Ti  to  furnish  it,  and  that  is  in  Arabia  Petrasa.  The  whole 
plantation  only  yields  about  three  pounds  annually,  and  it  is 
monopolised  by  the  Grand  Seignior.  This,  of  course,  we  can 
scarcely  refrain  from  noticing  without  an  expression  of  regret.'' 

13 — 17.  (13)  the  word,  or  prophetic  message,  how,  i.e. 
declaring  how.  (1-1)  declare,  etc.,  ch.  iv.  5.  Migdol,  etc.. 
ch.  xliv.  1.  stand  fast,  take  your  places  in  your  ranks." 
sword  shall  devour,  or  hath  devoured  :  alluding  to  the 
previous  conquests  of  Nebuchadnezzar.  (1."))  thy  valiant 
men,  or,  ''thy  mighty  one."  The  Sr})t.  understauds  the  refer- 
ence to  be  to  A])is,  the  Bull,  the  idol  of  Egypt.*  (10)  one  .  . 
another,  as  v.  12.  to  oiir  own  people,  this  would  be  the  cry 
of  the  liired  troop.^  in  the  Egyptian  army,  such  as  are  mentioned 
in  V.  9.     (17)  a  noise,  or  empty  sound  ;  or  ruin,  i.e.  is  ruined. 

BaWc-field.  after  a  lap.fc  of  time. — 

Then  after  length  of  time,  the  labouring  swains, 
Who  tu{n  the  turfs  of  those  unhappy  plains, 


b  "  The  rise  of 
theisile  is  gentle, 
but  at  the  uiouth 
it,  vnilike  most 
rivers,  is  much 
agitated,  owing 
to  the  sand  banks 
impeding  its 
course,  and  so  it 
ruslies  into  tlia 
sea  like  a  cata> 
ract." — Fausset. 
c  aimkespeare, 

a  For  "  day  of  the 
Lord  "  see  Is. 
xiii.  6  ;  Joel  i.  15, 
ii.  1 ;  Am.  v.  18  ; 
Zep.  i.  14, 15. 
h  Je.  XXX.  13 ; 
Eze.  XXX.  21. 
"  I'hysicians  in 
Entrland  would 
he  perfectly  as- 
tonibhed  at  the 
numerous  kinds 
of  medicine  wh. 
are  administered 
to  a  patient.  The 
people  them- 
selves are  unwill- 
ing to  take  one 
kind  for  long 
together,  and  I 
liave  known  a 
sick  woman  swal- 
low ten  difl'ercnt 
sorts  in  one  day. 
Sliould  a  patient, 
when  about  to 
take  liis  medi- 
cine, scatter  or 
spill  the  least 
q  u  a  n  t  i  t  y,  no- 
thing will  induce 
liim  to  take  the 
rest;  it  is  a  bad 
omen  ;  he  nmst 
have  tlie  nostrum 
change  d."  — 
Rvbcrl.t. 

c  J'icsse's  Art  of 
Vtrjumeiij. 

a  "  Some  take 
this  as  an  iron- 
ical address  to 
Egypt,  and  a 
s  u  m  m  o  n  s  to 
them  to  stand 
upon  their  de- 
fence."— IJender- 

b  ■'  Apis,  the  hull- 
shaped  Egypiian 
idol,  worsiiijiped 
at  Xoph.  or  Mem- 
phis. The  con- 
trast thus  is 
between  the  pal- 
pable imiiotence 
of  the   idol,  and 

; 


168 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  xlvi.  18-28. 


the  might  attri- 
b'.ito'l  to  it  by 
its  v.-orsliippers." 

— /•'(H.S.vW. 

e  Dnjdcn. 

a  "  Tabor  rises  in 
tho    form    of    a 
truncated  cone  to 
tlie     height      of  , 
about   1,350  feet  } 
above  ttie    plain 
of  KsJraelon,  its 
total      h  e  i  g  li  t  i 
above     tlie     sea  ! 
level  being  1,8j5  ; 
feet.       Otlieri 
mountains  of  j 
equal     elevation  i 
are  in  siglit,  but  j 
its  shape  and  the  I 
wide     extent    of  I 
the  plain  around  i 
it,  make  it  a  far 
more     conspicu- 
ous object.    Car- 
mel  also  is  a  most 
commanding 
mou  n  tain." — 
Robinson. 

6Comp.  Je.  iv.  31. 

«  Dr.  W.  liees. 


a  "  He  was  the 

first  of  the 
supreme  triad  of 
TUebep,  ami  con- 
fessedly his  form 
was  the  most 
elevated  and 
spiritvvil  under 
which  the  Egyp- 
tian priesthood 
represented  the 
divinity  to  the 
adoration  of  the 
people.  He  was 
tlie  deity  invi- 
sible and  un- 
fathomable, 
whose  name  sig- 
nifies the  coll- 
een led,  and  was 
the  mysterious 
mainspring,  who 
created,  pre- 
serves, and  go- 
verns the  world." 
— Leiwrmtint. 
h  Eze.  x.\i.\.  13. 
e  Home. 

a  "  Nations  have 
their  periods  ;  the 
Jewish  nation  it- 
self has  come  to 
an  end  as  a  na- ) 
Uon ;     but     the 


Shall  rusty  piles  from  the  plotijrh'd  furrows  take, 
And  over  empty  helmets  pass  the  rake  : 
Amazed  at  autique  titles  on  the  stones, 
And  mighty  reliqucs  of  giyantic  bones.« 

18—21.  (1!^)  as  Tabor,  or  "like  a  Tabor  amonjr  tlie 
mountains."  Tabor  is  mentioned  for  its  great  and  noble  eleva- 
tion." Nebuchadnezzar  is  compared  to  these  mountains.  (19) 
daughter  .  .  Egypt,  fig-,  term  for  the  people  of  Egypt.'  fur- 
nish .  .  captivity,  make  jireparatious  for  the  captivity  which 
will  surely  be  your  lot.  (-'0)  destruction,  or  '-the  destroyer." 
Lit.  "  a  gadfly  from  the  north  has  come  upon  her."  The  lly  that 
destroy.s  cattle.  (21)  hired  men,  mercenary  troops,  fatted 
bullocks,  ready  to  be  slaughtered. 

'J'he  oat/i.'i  of  ,/chorah  (r.  18). — -I.  The  Divine  oaths  recorded  in 
Scripture  exhibit  and  declare  the  glory  of  the  Divine  character. 
1.  As  they  show  forth  the  infinite  condescension  of  God  ;  2.  As 
they  furni.sh  a  sublime  and  awful  manifestation  of  the  sincere 
earnestness  of  the  Divine  mind  in  what  He  declares  unto  us  in 
His  AVord,  with  such  an  attestation  ;  3.  As  they  exhibit  the 
benevolent  solicitude  of  God  for  the  welfare  of  the  unworthy 
creatures  whom  He  thus  addresses  ;  4.  As  they  intimate  the  un- 
changeablene.ss  of  the  Divine  mind  in  relation  to  those  arrange- 
ments in  His  moral  and  natural  government  which  were  in  that 
manner  established  and  confirmed.  II.  The  Divine  oaths  also 
serve  to  illustrate  the  moral  character  of  man.  and  to  exercise  a 
powerful  influence  on  his  moral  and  spiritual  influence.  1.  As 
they  strongly  corroborate  the  fact  t.hat  the  human  heart  is  cot  rupt 
and  alienated  from  God  ;  2.  As  they  are  fearful  warnings  of  the 
perilous  condition  of  the  impenitent  and  unbelieving  soul  ;  3. 
As  they  afijord  the  strongest  encouragement  to  believers  in  their 
onward  progress  to  heaven.' 

22—26.  (22)  like  a  serpent,  as  a  snake  disturbed  by  the 
wood-cutters  glides  swiftly  away.  ('23)  though  . .  searched,  i.e. 
though  it  seems  to  be  impenetrable.  A  fig.  for  the  vast  multi- 
tudes of  the  Egyptian  army,  grasshoppers,  or  locusts.  (24) 
daughter,  as  r.  r.t.  (2.^)  multitude,  better.  '•  Amnion  of 
No.'""  No,  the  sacred  city  of  Thebes.  (26)  afterwards,  after 
a  time  of  Divine  judgments,  lasting  some  forty  yrs.* 

Ko-Ani-on  (v.  25). — No,  or  No-Amon,  or  Amon  of  No  ("marginal 
reading),  was  the  metropolis  of  Upper  Egypt,  by  the  Greek 
geograjihers  termed  Thebes,  a  city  eminently  di.stiugui.'^hed  for 
the  Avor.ship  of  Jupiter,  who  by  the  Egyptians  was  called  Amon 
or  Ammon  ;  hence  the  city  received  the  appellation  of  Diospolis, 
or  the  City  of  Jupiter.  The  grandeur  of  ancient  Thebes  must 
now  be  traced  in  the  four  small  towns  or  hamlets  of  Luxor, 
Karnak,  Medinet-Abou,  and  Gournou.  Karnak  is  regarded  by 
the  most  accurate  modern  travellers  as  the  principal  site  of 
Diospolis  ;  and  tho  Egyptians  seem  to  have  called  forth  all  the 
resources  of  wealth,  and  all  the  efforts  of  art,  in  order  to  render 
it  worthy  of  their  supreme  divinity." 

27,  28.  (27)  fear  thou  not,  eie..  Is.  xli.  13,  xliii.  5,  xliv.  2  ; 
Je.  XXX.  10.    (28)  a  full  end,  ch.  xxx.  11." 

GocVs  ])romise  iinchangcdhU: — Verse  28  is  so  closely  connected 
with  ver.  27,  that  both  must  be  read  together.  They  resemble 
chap.  xxx.   10,  11,  and  relate  probably  to  tho  ^ame  subject. 


Cap.  xlvli.  1-7.] 


JEREMIAH. 


169 


Towards  the  fall  of  the  Jewish  monarchy,  Juctea  became  the 
battle-ground  between  the  Egyptians,  on  one  side,  and  the  Baby- 
lonians on  t]i3  other.  It  was  subject  now  to  one  of  these  powers, 
now  to  the  other,  as  they  respectively  conquered.  At  length 
Babylon  became  finally  master  of  the  territory  fiom  the  rivei  of 
Egy[)t  to  the  Euphrates,  2  Kings  xxiv.  7.  In  the  days  of 
Jehoiakim  Jerusalem  was  held  under  vassalage  to  Nebuchad- 
nezzar, who  toolv  Daniel  and  his  companions,  with  jjrubably 
others  of  its  principal  inhabitants,  to  Babylon.  Subsequently 
Jerusalem  was  more  thoroughly  subdued  by  Nebuchadnezzar,  and 
large  numbers  of  its  peojile  were  carried  away  to  his  distant 
empire.  The  Proijhet,  in  the  passage  to  be  elucidated,  comforts 
the  Jews  under  the  humiliation  and  sufferings  thus  inflicted  on 
them.  Their  land  should  not  be  made  "  altogether  desolate," 
Jer.  XXX.  11.  The  nations  which  oppressed  and  enslaved  Judaea 
should  be  destroyed,  but  God  would  not  make  a  full  end  of  her. 
She  should  be  corrected  with  moderation,  and  her  sons  should 
afterwards  be  restored  to  their  own  land.  This  prediction  was 
fulfilled  when  the  Jews  returned  from  Babylon  under  favour  of 
Cyrus,  the  conqueror  of  all  the  East. 


CHAPTER  THE  FORTY-SEVENTH. 

1—4.  (1)  against,  or,  concerning,  before  .  .  Gaza,  it  is 
not  certain  which  Pharaoh  is  here  referred  to,  and  we  have  no 
certain  reference  to  the  event.  Poss.  he  took  Gaza  on  his  return 
from  his  victory  at  Carchemish."  (2)  waters  rise,  Is.  viii.  7. 
overflowing  flood,  or  torrent.  Is.  xxx.  28.  (3)  noise  .  .  hoofs, 
Nah.  iii.  2.  fathers  .  .  children,  each  would  care  only  to  save 
himself  in  the  general  fright  ;  and  natural  affections  would  be 
destroyed,  feebleness  of  hands,  by  being  made  helpless 
with  extreme  fear.  (4)  remnant  .  .  Caphtor,  prob.  Crete, 
whence  the  Philistines  had  originally,  in  jiart.  come.* 

Rii'nu  at  Gaza. — '■  The  ruins  of  white  marble  sometimes  found 
at  Gaza  f)rove  that  it  was  formerly  the  abode  of  luxury  and 
opulence.  It  has  shared  in  the  general  destruction  ;  and,  not- 
withstanding its  proud  title  of  the  capital  of  Palestine,  it  is  now 
no  moi-e  than  a  defenceless  village  "  (baldness  has  come  uj^on  it), 
'•  peopled  by,  at  most,  only  two  thousand  inhabitants."  It  is 
forsaken  and  bereaved  of  its  king.  "  The  sea-coast,  by  which  it 
was  formerly  washed,  is  every  day  removing  farther  from  the 
deserted  ruins  of  Ashkelon."  It  shall  be  a  desolation.  Ashkelon 
shall  not  be  inhabited.  "  Amid  the  various  successive  ruins, 
those  of  Edzoud  (Ashdod),  so  powerful  iinder  the  Philistines, 
are  now  remarkable  for  their  scorpions."  The  inhabitants  shall 
be  cut  off  from  Ashdod.  Although  the  Christian  traveller  must 
yiold  the  palm  to  Volney,  as  the  topographer  of  prophecy,  and 
although  supplementary  evidence  be  not  requisite,  yet  a  place  is 
here  willingly  given  to  the  following  just  observations.'' 

5 — 7.  (5)  baldness,  the  sign  of  mourning,  cli.  xvi.  C.  cut 
off,  or  speechless  through  grief,  valley,  or  low-lying  plain, 
known  as  SJii'jihcJah.  cut  thyself,  another  sign  of  extreme 
grief.  ((I)  sword,  rtc,  the  instrument  of  Divine  judgment." 
how  long,  this  is  the  supposed  complaint  of  the  Philistines. 


Gorpel  Clinrch, 
Gods  spiritual 
iL-riiel,  still  con- 
tinues, and  will 
to  the  end  of 
time;  in  Ihttt  this 
promise  istohave 
its  full  accom- 
plishment, tliat, 
though  God  cor- 
rect it,  He  will 
never  make  a  full 
end  of  it." — Mat. 
Henry. 

"  They  were,  ia 
truth,  great  ras- 
cals, and  be- 
longed to  that 
class  of  people 
who  find  things 
before  they  are 
lost." — Grimm. 

V.  28.  C.  H.  Hall, 
Bamp.  Lee.  153. 


a  2  Chr.  sxxT. 
20,  x.\-\Ti.  3. 

6  "  The  Philis- 
tines, being  the 
neighbours  of 
the  Phffinicians, 
would  naturally 
make  a  common 
cause  with  them 
in  case  of  foreign 
i  n  V  a  s  i  o  u."  — 
Henderson. 

"  There  can  be 
no  treaty  of 
peace  till  we  lay 
d  own  these 
weapons  of  re- 
bellion  with 
which  we  fight 
against  heaven ; 
nor  can  we  ex- 
pect to  have  our 
distempers  cured, 
if  our  dail)-  food 
be  poison." — 
Hcougal. 

e  Keith,  and  sea 
next  page. 


a  Eze.  xir.  17, 
xxi.  3. 

r.  6.  a  C/inis,  i. 
220  ;  A.  S/tants, 
3C3 ;   /,  Fruncii, 


170 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  xlviil.l— dS. 


n.   7>  ;    R.    CiCll, 
lL3o7. 


bC.  Simeon,  .U.A. 


"It  is  fabled  of 
Achilles,  the 
Grecian  chief, 
that  his  iiiotlier 
dipped  him,  when 
a  child,  in  the 
river  Styx,  by 
which  every  part 
of  }iis  boiy  was 
rendered  invul- 
nerable except 
the  heel  of  one 
foot,  by  whicli 
she  had  held 
him.  Paris,  his 
inveterate  ene- 
my, becoming 
acquainted  with 
this  one  unjiro- 
tected  part,  shot 
Achilles  in  the 
heel  and  mor- 
tally wounded 
him.  Thus  every 
man  needs  to  be 
armed  with  tlie 
complete  armour 
of  God,  else  his 
inveterate  foe, 
Satan,  will  be 
sure  to  hit  the 
least  part  that  he 
finds  unarmed." 
— Silencer. 


cA'n'A,  continued 
from  last  page. 


a  "  These  dis- 
tricts were  pos- 
sessed by  the 
Emim,  a  gigantic 
people,  but  the 
Moabites  were 
snccessfid  in  ex- 
jxdlingtheni.  and 
occupied  at  first 
a  considerable 
region,  the  up- 
lands east  of  the 
Dead  Sea,  and 
tlje  Jordan  as  far 
as  the  mountains 
of  Oilead,  to- 
guLber  witli    the 


(7)  given  it  a  charge,  wh.  it  is  bound  to  execute  to  the  full. 
sea  shore  ?  the  strip  of  tihore-laud  held  by  the  Philistines. 

The  means  of  tcrminailng  irar  (rr.  6,  7). — 1.  The  evils  of  pro- 
tracted war.  1.  War  is  a  tremendous  evil ;  2.  Well  might  the 
Prophet  desire  its  speedy  termination.  II.  The  reason  of  its  con- 
tinuance. 1.  War  is  one  of  those  judgments  with  which  God 
punishes  the  sins  of  men  ;  2.  Till  He  has  effected  His  ])urposes  by 
it.  no  human  efforts  can  bring  it  to  a  close.  III.  Means  of  its 
termination.  1.  The  intention  of  God's  chastisements  is  to  brings 
us  to  repentance ;  2.  On  the  attainment  of  this  end  He  will 
instantly  remove  His  judgments  from  us.  IV.  Suggests  some 
hints  respecting  those  heavy  judgments  which  God  has  de- 
nounced against  sinners  in  another  world,  and  respecting  the 
best  means  of  averting  them  from  our  souls.'' 

Zand  of  J'Jiilisfivr.s. — The  land  of  the  Philistines  was  to  be 
destroyed.  It  partakes  of  the  general  desolation  common  to  it 
with  Juda3a.  and  other  neighboviring  states.  While  ruins  are  to 
be  found  in  all  Syria,  they  are  particularly  abundant  along  the 
sea-coast,  which  formed,  on  the  south,  the  realm  of  the  Philistines. 
But  its  aspect  presents  some  existing  peculiarities,  which  travel- 
lers fail  not  to  particularise,  and  which  in  reference  both  to  the 
state  of  the  country,  and  the  fate  of  its  different  cities,  the 
Prophets  failed  not  to  discriminate  as  justly  as  if  their  descrip- 
tion had  been  drawn  both  with  all  the  accuracy  which  ocular 
okservation  and  all  the  certainty  which  authenticated  histoiy 
could  give.  And  the  authority  so  often  quoted  may  here  be 
again  appealed  to.  Volney  (though,  like  one  who  in  ancienfc 
times  was  instrumental  to  the  fulfilment  of  a  special  prediction, 
"he  meant  not  so,  neither  did  his  heart  think  so'"),  from  the 
manner  in  which  he  generalises  his  observations,  and  marks  the 
peculiar  features  of  the  different  districts  of  Syria,  with  greater 
acuteness  and  perspicuity  than  any  other  traveller  whatever,  is 
the  ever-ready  purveyor  of  evidence  in  all  the  cases  which  came 
within  the  range  of  his  topographical  descriiition  of  the  wide 
field  of  prophecy — while,  at  the  same  time,  from  his  known,  open 
and  zealous  hostility  to  the  Christian  cause,  his  testimony  is 
alike  decisive  and  unquestionable  ;  and  the  vindication  of  the 
truth  of  the  following  predictions  may  safely  be  committed  to 
this  redoubted  champion  of  infidelity .■: 


CHAPTER  THE  FORTY-EIGHTH 

1—3.  (1)  Moab,  Ge.  xix.  37.  The  districts  near  to  the  Dead 
Sea."  Moab  had  taken  part  with  the  Chalda^ans  against  Judah.* 
Neho,  a  town  8  Pom.  miles  S.  of  Heshbon.''  Kiriathaim, 
prob.  Et-tcjim.  west  of  Medeba.  and  S.W.  of  IIe.<hbon.  Misgab, 
this  word  is  better  translated  the  "hi?h  citadel."  Pief.  is  to  the 
celebrated  fortress,  Air-hrirs.''  (2)  Hcsllbon,'"  the  cajjital  city 
of  the  ^loabites,  Nu.  xxi.  2G.  When  (he  Chald.Tans  took  this 
city,  they  there  devised  plans  for  subduing  the  wliole  country. 
Ilcshbou'  in  Chaldee  means  ''  a  dericc."  madmen,  Is.  xxv.  10. 
(?,)  Horonaim,  Is.  xv.  o. 

J/(in!).—The  land  of  IMoab  lay  to  the  east  and  south-east  of 
Judaea,  and  bordered  on  the  east,  north-east,  and  partly  on  the 
south  by  the  Dead  Sea.     Its  early  history  is  nearly  analogous  to 


Cap.xlviii.  4— 6.] 


JEnEMIAU. 


171 


that  of  Ammon  ;  and  the  soil,  though  perhaps  more  diversified, 
is,  in  many  plaees  where  the  desert  and  plains  of  salt  have  not 
encroached  on  its  borders,  of  equal  feriility.  There  are  manifest 
and  abundant  vestiges  of  its  ancient  greatness.  ''  The  whole  of 
the  plains  are  covered  with  the  sites  of  towns,  on  every  eminence 
or  sjjot  convenient  for  the  construction  of  one.  And  as  the  land 
is  capable  of  rich  cultivation,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the 
country  now  so  deserted  once  presented  a  continued  picture  of 
plenty  and  fertility."  The  form  of  fields  is  still  visible  ;  and 
there  are  the  remains  of  Roman  highwaj's,  which  in  some  places 
are  completely  leaved,  and  on  which  there  are  milestones  of  the 
times  of  Trajan,  Marcus  Aurelius,  and  Severus,  with  the  number  of 
the  miles  legible  upon  them.  Wherever  any  spot  is  cultivated,  the 
corn  is  luxuriant :  and  the  riches  of  the  soil  cannot  i^erhaps  be 
more  clearly  illustrated  than  by  the  fact,  that  one  grain  of 
Heshbon  wheat  exceeds  in  dimensions  two  of  the  ordinary  sort, 
and  more  than  double  the  numl^er  of  grains  grow  on  the  stalk. 
The  frequency,  and  almost,  in  many  instances,  the  close  vicinity 
of  the  sites  of  the  ancient  towns,  ••  prove  that  the  population  of 
the  country  was  formerly  proi^ortioned  to  its  natural  fertility." 
Such  evidence  may  surely  suffice  to  ])rove  that  the  country  was 
well  cultivated  and  peopled  at  a  period  so  long  posterior  to  the 
date  of  the  predictions,  that  no  cause  less  than  supernatural 
could  have  existed  at  the  time  when  they  were  delivered,  which 
could  have  authorised  the  assertion,  with  the  least  probability  or 
apparent  possibility  of  its  truth,  that  Moab  would  ever  have  been 
reduced  to  that  state  of  great  and  permanent  desolation  in  which 
it  has  continued  for  so  many  ages,  and  which  vindicates  and 
ratifies  to  this  hour  the  truth  of  the  Scriptural  prophecies./ 

4 — 6.  (i)  Moab,  prob.  meaning  here  the  city  Ar-Moah, 
Nu.  xxi.  l.^.  her  little  ones,  "her  children  augmenting  the 
melancholy  and  distressing  scene  by  their  pitiable  shrieks."  (5) 
Luliith,  situated  on  a  height :  comp.  Is.  xv.  5.  continual 
weeping,  lit.  "  with  weeping  shall  go  up  weeping."  going 
down,  descending  into  the  valley  towards  Horonaim.  (fi)  like 
the  heath,  live  in  the  wilderness  like  the  heath,  or  juniper,"  do 
not  trust  to  walls. 

Flee  for  your  life  (y.  6). — I.  "Whence  you  are  to  flee.  II. 
"\Miere  you  are  to  flee.  III.  How  you  are  to  flee.  IV.  \Mien  you 
are  to  flee.     V.  Why  you  are  to  flee.  * 

The  heath  in  tlic  n-'ddcrncss. — This  does  not  refer  to  the  com- 
mon heather  so  familiar  in  our  own  country,  but  to  a  species  of 
plant  growing  in  lonely  desert  places  in  the  south  of  Palestine, 
w^hich  bears  some  resemblance  to  our  common  heather,  esiaecially 
to  those  dry  stumjis  over  which  fire  has  passed,  and  which  have 
been  bleached  by  exposure  to  the  weather.  This  plant  is  called 
by  a  long  name — Anastatica  ;  but  it  is  more  familiarly  known 
as  the  Rose  of  Jericho.  .  .  .  The  Crusaders  used  to  bring  it  home 
from  the  Holy  Land,  and  some  superstitious  tales  are  told  of  it ; 
as,  for  example,  that  it  fii-st  burst  into  blossom  on  Christmas  Eve 
to  welcome  the  birth  of  the  Heavenly  Babe,  and  paid  its  tribute 
of  honour  to  the  resurrection  of  the  Redeemer  by  continuing  in 
flower  till  Easter  morn.  But  its  own  true  history  is  stranger 
even  than  these  fables.  The  spots  Avhere  it  is  found  are  moistened 
with  water  during  the  rainy  season,  but  in  the  hot  summer  they 
are  diied  up,  and  become  baked  by  the  heat  almost  as  hard  as  a 


lowliuiclslietweea 
their  own  hills 
and  tlie  river,  a 
rppionjjerhapsSO 
miles  in  length, 
anil  lu  or  12 
broad." — Ayve. 

b  2  Ki.  xxiv.  2. 

c  Nu.  xsxii.  3,  38. 

d  Is.  XV.  1,  xtL 

7,  11. 

e  "An  ancient 
and  royal  city, 
nearly  midway 
between  tlie  ri- 
vers Jabbok  anil 
Arnon,  the  ruins 
of  which  cover 
the  sides  of  an 
ele^'ated  hill,  wh. 
commands  an 
extensive  view  of 
the  surrounding 
country."  —  Jleu- 
derson. 

/  Keith. 


a  "  Resort  to  the 
most  solitary 
places  3'ou  can 
Uiink  of,  where 
nothing      grows 

ibut       barren 

i  s  h  r  u  b  s,     and 
where  no  enemy 

I  can  find  you  out." 
—Lnu-th. 
h  Hugh  Mucmil- 

\  Ian. 
'•  All  furnish'd, 
all  in  aims,  all 
plumed  like  es- 
tndges.that  wing 
the  wind ;  baited 
like  eagles  liav- 
inglatclyl  athedl 
glittering  iu 
golden  coats,  like 
images  ;  as  full 
of  spirit  as  tlie 
month  of  May, 
and  gorgeous  as 
the  Eun  at  mid- 
summer ;  wanton 
as  youthful  goats, 
wild  as  young 
bulls. "  —  Shake- 
speure. 

A  soldier  of  Mar- 
shal Eaxe's  army, 
being  di.coven  d 
in  theft,  was 
condemned       to 


172 


JEREMIAB. 


[Cap.xlvlli.  7— lOU 


be  hung.  WHiat 
he  liaii  stuleii 
miglit  be  worth 
five  sliil lings. 
The  51  a  r  s  h  a  1 
meeting  him,  as 
he  was  leil  to 
execution,  said 
to  liim— "  What 
a  miserable  fool 
you  were  to  risk 
your  life  for  five 
shillings."  "  Gre- 
neral,"  replied 
the  soldier,  "  I 
have  risked  it 
every  day  for 
fivepence."  This 
repartee  saved 
his  life. 

"  So     calm,     the 

waters  scarcely 
seeni  to  stray, 
and  yet  they 
glide,  like  happi- 
ness, away."— 
Byron. 


e     Hugh 
millun. 


Mac- 


•  So  read  the 
LXX.,  Syr.,  and 
Vulg. 

b  Nu.  xxi.  29. 

c  "Solomon 
built  a  high  place 
for  Chemosh, 
near  to  Jerusa- 
lem (1  Ki.  xi.  7, 
33),  which  was 
defiled  by  Josiah 
(2  Ki.  xxiii.  13). 
There  are  various 
conjectures  con- 
cerning this  false 
god ;  some  identi- 
fying him  with 
Mars,  and  some 
with  Saturn." — 
Ai/n: 

d  lip.  Tiiiilo?: 

"  According  to 
Jewish  tradition, 
he  was  worsl lip- 
ped uuiler  the 
symbol  of  a  black  , 


brick.  Rain  seldom  falls  in  the  pouth  of  Palestine ;  months 
fre(iuently  pass  away  without  a  shower,  or  a  cloud  as  big-  as  a 
man's  hand  ;  the  sky  above  is  like  brass,  and  the  oarih  beneath 
as  iron  :  and  all  the  channels  of  the  streams  and  lills  are  diy  and 
I  wliite  as  the  roads.  Xow  what  becomes  of  the  Rose  of  Jericho : 
...  God,  whose  tender  mercies  are  over  all  His  works,  .  .  .  has 
f urui.shed  it  with  a  remarkable  provision  by  which  it  escapes 
from  the  dreadful  consequences  of  drought.  Whenever  all  the 
'  water  within  reach  of  its  roots  is  exhausted,  and  it  can  get  no 
f  more,  it  sheds  its  leaves,  gathers  all  its  branches  together,  and 
[  rolls  itself  up  into  an  irregular  elastic  ball.  And  thus  i)acked  up 
in  a  travelling  bag,  composed  of  its  own  framework,  like  the 
fairies  of  old  that  were  said  to  go  from  place  to  place  in  chariots 
of  nutshells,  it  awaits  patiently  till  the  wind  of  the  desert  begins 
to  blow.  It  is  then  speedily  uprooted,  rolls  easily  over  the  sur- 
I  face,  and  is  driven  to  and  fro  through  the  desert.  For  days,  and 
sometimes  even  weeks,  it  is  whirled  about  from  place  to  place, 
but  it  suffers  no  injury.  The  life  is  still  strong  in  it,  and  all  its 
tender  and  vital  parts  are  gathered  safely  into  the  middle,  pro- 
tected by  the  branches,  that  close  over  them  like  a  network.  Ifc 
looks  a  dry,  unsightly  thing  in  this  state.  But  at  last  it  is  carried 
to  the  brink  of  a  stream,  to  some  little  oasis  or  spot  of 
moisture  ;  and  no  sooner  does  it  feel  the  scent  of  water  than  it 
begins  slowly  to  unfold  its  branches,  to  stretch  down  its  roots 
into  the  moist  soil,  and  to  expand  its  tiny  flowers  in  the  genial 
atmosphere.  It  grows  on  that  spot  until  it,  too,  becomes  a  dry 
and  Inarched  land,  and  then  it  rolls  itself  up  in  a  ball,  is  again 
uprooted  by  the  winds,  and  carried  to  a  moist  i)lace,  where  it 
again  unfolds  itself  and  grows.  It  repeats  this  strange 
process  of  migration  until  its  seeds  are  perfected  and  ready  to 
be  shed  in  a  suitable  place  for  their  growth,  when  it  finully  dies. 
And  though  its  withered  branches  continue  for  many  j'oars  to 
curl  and  expand,  according  to  the  state  of  the  atmo-sphere,  this 
is  no  longer  a  vital,  but  a  mechanical  process.'' 

7 — 10.  (7)  works,  or  fortifications."  Chemosh,  the  national 
god  of  Moab,'  representing  the  whole  land.'  priests,  etc..  ch. 
xlix.  3.  (8)  valley,  or  lowlands  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Jordan, 
plain,  ci>))ij>.  De.  iv.  43,  upland  pasture  districts.  (D).  give 
wings,  bee.  only  extreme  haste  can  save  any  of  them.  (10) 
deceitfully,  or  renu.istlji.  negligently.  Reference  is  to  the 
agents  sent  by  God  to  execute  His  judgments  on  Moab. 

Lii]i(')vnn}inrx.<i  and  zeal  (r.  10). — He  serves  God  deceitfiilly — 1. 
Who  serves  Him  with  the  body  without  the  soul  ;  2.  He  who 
serves  Him  with  the  soul  without  the  body,  when  both  may  be 
conjoined  in  His  service  ;  3.  He  who  reserves  one  faculty  for  sin 
or  one  sin  for*  themselves,  or  one  action  to  please  himself  and 
many  for  religion.'' 

Moah. — Moab  has  often  been  a  field  of  contest  between  the 
Arabs  and  Turks  ;  and  although  the  former  have  retained  pos- 
session of  it.  both  have  mutually  reduced  it  to  desolation.  The 
different  tribes  of  Arabs  who  traverse  it  not  only  bear  a  per- 
manent and  habitual  hostility  to  Christians  and  to  Turks,  but  one 
tribe  is  often  at  variance  and  at  war  with  another  :  and  the 
regular  cultivation  of  the  soil,  or  the  improvement  of  those 
natural  advantages  of  whicli  the  country  is  so  full,  is  a  matter 
either  never  thought  of,  or  that  cannot  be  realised.    Property  k 


Cap.  xlviii.  11-17.] 


JEUEMIAH. 


173 


there  the  creature  of  power,  and  not  of  law  ;  and  possession  forms 
no  security  when  pkmder  is  the  preferable  right.  Heuce  the 
exteu  ive  jtlains,  where  they  are  not  partially  covered  wich  wood, 
present  a  barren  aspect,  which  is  only  relieved  at  intervals  by  a 
few  clusters  of  wild  fig  trees,  that  show  how  the  richest  gifts  of 
nature  deg-euerate  when  unaided  by  the  industry  of  man.  And  in- 
stead of  the  profusion  which  the  plains  must  have  exhibited  in 
every  quarter,  nothinj?  but  "  patches  of  the  best  soil  in  the 
territory  are  now  cultivated  by  the  Arabs:"  and  these  only 
"  whenever  they  have  the  prospect  of  being  able  to  secure 
the  harvest  against  the  incursions  of  enemies.'  The  Arab  herds 
now  roam  at  freedom  over  the  valleys  and  the  plains  ;  and  "  the 
many  vestiges  of  field  enclosures"  form  not  any  obstruction  ;  they  «  ^«''A. 
wander  undisturbed  around  the  tents  of  their  masters,  over  the 
face  of  the  country  ;  and  while  the  valley  is  perished,  and  the 
plain  destroyed,  the  cities  also  of  Aroer  are  forsaken  :  they  are  for  i  «  "  -^s  wine  left 
the  flocks  which  lie  down,  and  none  make  thL-ni  afraid.  Thesti'ong  I  *°.^'^J^-*  ™  }^^ 
contrast  between  the  ancient  and  the  actual  state  of  Jloab  is  i  uT'flavouTaVi'd 
exemplified  in  the  condition  of  the  inhabitants  as  well  as  of  the  j  streiigUi,  which 
land  :  and  the  coincidence  between  the  prediction  and  the  fact  is  '  j'  y-'^^^'^  '"'^e  by 
as  striking  in  the  one  case  as  in  the  other.'  "  "  " 


star,  wli.  would 
seem  to  coiiiite- 
naucethe  opinion 
that  he  corre- 
sponded to  Sa- 
turn." —  Jlandd- 
son. 

r.  10.  Bp.  Taylor, 
V.  J27 ;  <S.  iiacis, 
iii.  84;  G.  Ma(- 
Iheir,  ii.  117;  T. 
Kitdwles,  ii.  2G9  ; 
B}i.  JUumpden, 
lUl. 


being  poured 
from  one  vessel 
into  another,  so 
Jloab,  owing  to 
its  never  having 
been      dislodged 


pride  of  strength 

unimpaired." — 

Fausstt. 

"  Wine,    as    first 

expressed     from 

the 


11—13.  (11)  settled  .  .  lees,  as  wine  is  left,  after  fermenta- 
tion, to  preserve  its  .strength  and  flavour."  For  similar  figure 
comp.  Zep.  i.  12.  emptied  ..  vessel,  by  a  refining  process ;  from  itsTetUe^ 
that  removes  the  dregs.  taste,  his  pride  and  luxury.  (12)  1  meuts, retains  its 
wanderers,''  themselves  wandering  fr.  distant  Chaldrea,  and 
making  him  wander  :  but  the  fig.  is  taken  from  lifting  a  pitcher 
to  pour  out  its  contents.  (13)  ashamed,  bee.  her  idol  can  give 
her  no  security,     of  Beth-el,  1  Ivi.  xii.  L'S). 

Wiuulrrcrs  of  the  ilc^crt  (r.  12).— Ihe  Bedouin  fwandering)  I  J{;fekSioured 
Arabs  are  now  the  chief  and  almost  the  only  inhabitants  of  a  |  fluid  or  juice,  it  is 
country  once  studded  witli  cities.     Traver.sing  the  country,  and  •  *'"-'^  fermented, 
fixing  their  tents  for  a  short  time  in  one  place,  and  then  decamp-  i  P^^**'""  tlu-ougli 
r  ii,         1  i      ■  J.  -1  T    T  • ,    ;  1  piocess  that  se- 

ing  to  another,  depasturing  every  part  successively,  and  despoil-  [  parates  the  im- 

ing  the  whole  land  of  its  natural  produce,  they  are  wanderers  ;  purities  and  set- 
who  have  conic  up  against  it,  and  who  keep  it  in  a  state  of  per- 1  t'csthem  as  lees 
petual  desolation.  They  lead  a  wandering  life  ;  and  the  only  !  standing  th^ 
regularity  they  know  or  practise  is  to  act  upon  a  systematic  j  upon  its  lees  or 
echeme  of  spoliation.  They  prevent  anj'  from  forming  a  fixed  i  'I'fgs,  in  s'ome 
settlement  who  are  inclined  to  attempt  it;  for  although  the  '  |t''|f  ^^""j^^.t^j;^^ 
fruitfulness  of  the  soil  would  abundantly  repay  the  laboiu-  of ;  improved.  a 
settlers,  and  render  migration  wholly  unnecessaiy,  even  if  the  \  g'oss  and  co.arse 
population  were  increased  more  than  tenfold,  j-et  the  Bedouins !  'I'^'^o™  remains, 
forcibly  deprive  them  of  the  means  of  subsistence,  compel  them  |  the  fecule^nt  mat- 
to  search  for  it  elsewhere,  and,  in  the  words  of  the  prediction,  I  ter  stays  by,  and 
literally  cause  them  to  wander.  "  It  may  be  I'emarked  generally  |  tiecomesfa-tened, 
of  the  Bedouins,"  says  Burckliardt.  in  describing  their  extortions  j  Tody  of  TlJ  wine 
in  this  very  countrj%  "that  wherever  they  are  the  masters  of  the  I  itself."- Bus/uwii. 
cultivators,  the  latter  are  soon  reduced  to  beggaiy  by  their  un-  j  b'Lit.  niurf  Abo 
ceasing  demands." "  V^  •  ^  '^■'-''^sel   to 

°  I  dram    the    wine 

I  off      fronx     the, 
14—17.  (If)  mighty,  and  quite  able  to  stand  in  the  war.  I '^''^f  > 
(]."•,)  gone  up,  fled  away  out  of.    chosen  .  .  men,  the  choice  :  I'.s:,'-  a  uoleHj 
of   them  have  only  gone   to  battle  to  be  slain.     (IG)  near  to  ,  "■  •!«'  * 

come,  Is.  xiii.  22.     About  twenty-two  years   passed  bet.  this  i  <^  ^"'*- 


174 


JEREUJAn. 


[Cap.  xlviii.  18-25. 


'•  There  is  n  spirit 
of  retii<taiice  im- 
planted by  llie 
Deity  in  tlie 
breast  of  man, 
j)roportiolie(l  to 
tlie  size  of  tlie 
wrongs  he  is 
rtestiiieil  to  en- 
dure."— C.  /.  Fox. 

a  W.  R.  Williams. 

a  "  Jer.  draws  a 
picture  of  tlie 
conquered  in- 
liabitants,  who 
formed  a  valu- 
a')Ie  part  of  the 
spoil  of  war,  col- 
leoted  together 
outsiile  tho  walls, 
waiting  until  the 
time  com"S  for 
their  captors  to 
ai  a  r  c  h  them 
away  to  the 
slave-  mar  t." 
— Spk.  Com. 

h  Wordsworth. 

"Destruction 
o'ertalces  as  often 
those  that  fly  as 
those  that  boMly 
meet  it." — Dill- 
hum. 

e  Keith. 


a  "  Strength  is 
often  expressed 
by  the  horn, 
wherein  the 

strength  of  bulls 
and  such  like 
creatures  con- 
sists ;  and  by  the 
arm,  wherein  hu- 
man strength 
doth  chiefly  dis- 
cover itself." — 
Luifth. 

Vs.  Ixxv.  5,  10; 
Li.  ii.  o. 

The  armoiu-y  of 
a  natiim  may  be 
well  stored  with 
every  part  of  the 
best  armour  wh. 
is  possilile  to  be 
provided,  but  it  is 
«f    no    practical 


prophecy  and  the  calamity.     (17)  strong  staff,  that  thought 
itself  so  strong. 

'ihc  Ktronfi  .flaff  and  flic  hrnii/i/iil  rod  (r.  17). — I.  The  purposes 
of  our  Heavenly  Father  in  great  Ijercavemcnts.  1.  To  tcjcii  ua 
that  we  should  not  mi,'S])lace  our  trust  ;  2.  To  convince  us  of  our 
sin.s  and  to  sever  us  from  them  ;  3.  To  teach  us  His  own  inde- 
pendence of  the  instruments  He  employs  ;  4.  To  remiiid  us  of 
the  sovereignty  of  God  ;  5.  To  exhibit  His  wise  and  watchful 
providence.  II.  The  duties  to  which  we  are,  amid  such  scenes, 
specially  called.  1.  AVe  are  to  exercise  submission  ;  2.  That  we 
should  profit  by  the  example  of  those  who  have  died  in  the  Lord; 
3.  That  we  should  cease  from  mac  and  put  our  trust  in  God." 

18—20.  C18)  Dibon,  Is.  xv.  2.  sit  in  thirst,  covip.  "sit  in 
the  duft,"  Is.  xlvii.  1."  "Sit  in  a  land  where  everything  is 
parched."*  (ID)  Aroer,  on  the  river  Aruon.  De.  ii.  :;(;.  It  lay 
in  the  way  of  the  Moabites  who  fled  to  Arabia  Dcserta  ;  and  its 
inhabitants  would  learn  from  the  fugitives  the  lot  that  surely 
awaited  themselves.     (20)  it  is,  i.e.  JJtlimi. 

D'lhon. — The  ruins  of  Diban  (Dibon)  situated  in  the  midst  of  a 
fine  plain,  are  of  considerable  extent,  but  present  nothing  of 
interest.  The  neighbouring  hot  wells,  and  the  similai  ity  of  the 
name,  identify  the  ruins  of  Myoun  witli  Meon,  or  Beth  Meon  of 
Scripture.  Of  this  ancient  city,  as  well  as  of  Araayr  (Aroer), 
nothing  is  now  remarkable  but  what  is  common  to  them  ■with  all 
the  cities  of  Moab — their  entire  desolation.  The  extent  of  the 
ruins  of  Rabba  (Rabbath  Moab),  formerly  the  residence  of  the 
kings  of  Moab?  sufficiently  proves  its  ancient  importance,  though 
no  other  object  can  be  particularised  among  the  ruins  excejit  the 
remains  of  a  palace  or  temple,  some  of  the  ^^•alls  of  whicli  are 
still  standing;  a  gate  belonging  to  another  building:  and  an 
insulated  altar.  There  are  many  remains  of  private  buildings, 
but  none  entire.  There  being  no  springs  on  the  spot,  the  town 
had  two  birkets,  the  largest  of  which  is  cut  entirely  out  of  the 
rocky  ground,  together  with  many  cisterns.  Mount  Xebo  was 
completely  barren  when  Burckhardt  passed  over  it,  and  the  site 
of  the  ancient  city  had  not  been  ascertained.     Isebo  is  spoiled." 

21—25.  (21)  Holon,  Jos.  xv.  .51.  Jaliazah,  Nu.  xxi.  23  ; 
Is.  XV.  4.  Mepliaath,  Jos.  xiii.  18.  xxi.  37.  (22)  Beth- 
diblatliaim,  comp.  Nu.  xxxiii.  4().  and  Eze.  vi.  14.  (23)  Beth- 
ganml,  the  city  of  camels.  Tlie  site  is  unknown.  Beth-meon, 
comp.  Jos.  xiii.  17.  Now  Minn,  a  mere  ruin.  (24)  Kerioth., 
Jos.  XV.  25  :  Am.  ii.  2.  Bozrah,  Ge.  xxxvi.  33  ;  Is.  Ixiii.  1. 
(2.5)  horn,  the  Eastern  emblem  of  strength  and  sovereignty." 

Citir.t  of  Maah. — And  the  cities  of  IMoab  have  all  di.-a]  peared. 
Their  place,  together  with  the  adjoining  part  of  Idunia^a,  is  cha- 
racterised in  the  map  of  Vo\nc]f>i  'JrnvcJit.  by  the  ruins  of  towns. 
His  information  respecting  these  ruins  was  derived  from  some  of 
the  wandering  Arabs  :  and  its  accuracy  has  been  fulh-  corrobo- 
rated by  the  testimony  of  different  European  travellers  of  high 
respectabdity  and  undoubted  veracity,  who  have  since  visited 
this  devastated  region.  The  whole  country  abounds  with  ruins. 
And  Burckhardt,  who  encountered  many  difficulties  in  so  desolate 
and  dangerous  a  land,  thus  records  the  brief  history  of  a  few  of 
them  :  "The  ruins  of  ICleale,  Heshbon.  Jleon.  IMedaba,  Dibon, 
Ai-oer,  still  subsist  to  illustrate  the  history  of  the  Beiii  Israel." 


Cap.  xlviii.  26-30.] 


JEREMIAH. 


175 


And  it  might  with  eqiial  truth  have  been  added,  that  they  still 
subsist  to  confii-m  the  inspiration  of  the  Jewish  Scrijjture,  or  to 
prove  Ihat  the  seers  of  Israel  were  the  prophets  of  God.  for  the 
desolation  of  each  of  these  very  cities  was  the  theme  of  a  pre- 
diction. EverythiDg  worthy  of  observation  respecting  them  has 
been  detailed,  not  only  iu  Burckhardt's  Travd.s  in  Syria,  but  also 
by  Seetzeu,  and,  more  recently,  by  Captains  Irby  and  Mangles, 
\\  ho,  along  with  Mr.  Banks  and  Mr.  Legh,  visited  this  deserted 
district.  The  predicted  judgment  has  fallen  with  such  truth 
upon  these  cities,  and  upon  all  the  cities  of  the  land  of  Moab  far 
and  near,  and  they  are  so  utterly  broken  down,  that  even  the 
prying  curiosity  of  such  indefatigable  travellers  could  discover 
among  a  multiplicity  of  ruins  only  a  few  remains  so  entire  as  to 
be  worthy  of  particular  notice.  The  subjoined  description  is 
drawn  from  their  united  testimony  : — Among  the  ruins  of  El  Aal 
(Eleale)  are  a  number  of  large  cisterns,  fragments  of  buildings, 
and  foundations  of  houses.  At  Hesliban  (Heshbouj  are  the  ruins 
of  a  large  ancient  town,  together  with  the  remains  of  a  temple, 
and  some  edifices.  A  few  broken  shafts  of  columns  are  still 
standing  ;  and  there  are  a  number  of  deep  wells  cut  in  the  rock. 
The  ruins  of  Medaba  are  about  two  miles  in  circumfcre/ice. 
There  are  many  remains  of  the  ^\alls  of  private  houses  con- 
Rtriicted  v.'ith  blocks  of  silex,  but  not  a  single  edifice  is  standing. 
The  chief  object  of  interest  is  an  immense  tank  or  cistern  of 
hewn  stones,  "which,  as  there  is  no  stream  at  Medaba,"  Burck- 
hardt  remarks,  '•  might  still  be  of  use  to  the  Bedouins,  were  the 
surrounding  ground  cleared  of  the  rubbish  to  allow  the  water  to 
flow  into  it ;  but  such  an  undertaking  is  far  beyond  the  views 
of  the  wandering  Arabs."  There  is  also  the  foundation  of  a 
temple  built  with  large  stones,  and  apparently  of  great  antiquity, 
with  two  columns  near  it.'' 

26—30.  (26)  make  . .  drtinken,"  God's  judgments  are  repre- 
Bented  as  a  cup  of  intoxication  :  ch.  xxv.  15.  wallow,  or  "reel 
from  side  to  side."  *  '"  Fall  plump  down  as  drunkards  do."  '  in 
derision,  exposed  to  the  scorn  of  his  enemies.  (27)  Israel  .  . 
thee,  Moab  had  made  game  of  the  calamities  of  the  Jews, 
among  thieves,  so  as  to  deserve  such  insult.  Eeference  is 
intended  to  the  fact  that  Moab  had  acted  as  a  thief  in  seizing 
the  country  of  Heuben.''  (28)  like  the  dove,  wh.  often  makes 
its  nest  in  the  sides  and  roofs  of  caverns  :  Is.  xvi.  1,  2.  (29) 
pride  of  Moab,  Is.  svi.  6.  (30)  wrath,  in  the  sense  of  exceed- 
ing arrogancy.  lies  .  .  effect,  or  his  strength  shall  not  match 
his  pride.     '•  The  nothingness  of  his  lies."  or  boastings. 

FyrrJnis  and  the ]>JiiIoiioj>hrr. — When  PjTrrhus,  king  of  Epirus, 
was  making  great  preparations  for  his  intended  expedition  into 
Italy,  Cineas,  the  philosoiihcr.  took  a  favourable  opportunity  of 
addressing  him  thus  :  "  The  Romans,  sir,  are  reported  to  be  a 
warlike  and  victorious  people  ;  but  if  God  permit  us  to  overcome 
them,  what  use  shall  we  make  of  the  victory  ? "  "  Thou  askest," 
said  Pyrrhus,  "  a  thing  that  is  self-evident.  The  Romans  once 
conquered,  no  city  will  resist  us  ;  we  shall  then  be  masters  of  all 
Italy."  Cineas  added,  "  And  having  subdued  Italy,  what  shall 
we  do  next .' "  Pyrrhus,  not  yet  aware  of  his  intentions,  replied, 
*'  Sicily  next  stretches  out  her  arms  to  receive  us."  "  That  is 
very  probable."  said  Cineas,  "but  will  the  possession  of  Sicil.y 
put  an  end  to  the  war?"   .''God  grant  us  success  in  that," 


use  there.  It 
must  be  taktn. 
and  '  put  on  '  tlia 
WiiiTU  rs  ;  each 
part  iu  its  right 
place  aud  rela- 
tion ;  aud  not 
only  so,  it  Tiui.';t 
be  used  .-iftpr  it  is 
put  on,  and  useA 
in  the  jiroper  way 
and  at  the  proper 
times,  iu  order 
that  its  utility 
may  be  proved  in 
the  preservatiou 
and  victory  of  the 
warrior  over  lii.-j 
foes.  So  with  the 
a)-mour  of  God. 
He  has  provided 
the  best  moral 
armour  in  the 
universe  for  His 
people.  (PeeEph. 
vi.  13—18.)  It  is 
in  the  armoitry 
of  the  Scripture, 
the  means  of 
gnice,  aud  the 
Spirit's  agency, 
but  the  soldier 
of  the  Cross  must 
put  it  on,  and 
use  it  in  all 
courage  and  pro- 
priety, or  he  will 
not  be  victorious 
over  his  enemies, 
nor  will  the  prac- 
tical glory  of  the 
armour  be  mani- 
fest."-/oA/i  Bate, 
b  Keith. 


a  "  The  ministers 
of  the  Divine 
justice  are  to 
make  Jloab  drink 
of  tlie  wine-cup 
of  God's  fury,  till 
terror  deprives 
Iiim  of  his  senses. 
His  sin  had  been 
that  of  mag- 
nifying himself 
against  Jehovah 
by  depriving  the 
lleubeiiitesof  the 
countrj'  wliich 
God  had  takea 
fr.  the  Amorites 
to  give  tUem." — 
6>/.-.  Com. 

b  Fiierst. 

c  "  Sh.all  be  so 
afflicted  by  God's 
wrath  as  to  dis- 
gdvqt'  all  his  past 
priiie.  riches,  and 
vainglory,      aud 


176 


jEnE.)riAiT. 


[Cap.  xlviii.  31—39. 


thou 
rob- 
that 
thou 
liiia 


f'lll  in  his  shame- 
ful   abasement.' 

-/■((». ^■.^■f^ 

d  '•  Didst 
find  Israel 
iiiug  thee, 
wlieuevcr 
spakest  of 
tliou  skippest  for 
joy  ?  No.  Israel 
did  not  rob  thee, 
but  tlion  liast 
taken  advantage 
of  his  misery  to 
spoil  him." — 
Wordswoi-th. 
e  Cheever. 


a  "  Trans. '  Eglah 
Shelishiah ;'  'fr. 
Zoar  to  Horo- 
naim,  even  to 
the  third  Eglah  ;' 
several  places 
seem  to  have 
borne  the  name 
of  Kglali.aml  tliis 
is  specified  as  the 
•  tliird  Eglah.'  " 
—Lighlfool. 

"  So,  where  nnr 
wide  Numidian 
■"vfistes  exteml, 
sudden  til*  im- 
petuous Imrri- 
canes  descend, 
■wlieel  thi-ough 
the  air,  in  circ- 
ling eddies  play, 
tear  upthesaads, 
and  sweep  whole 
plains  away  ;  the 
helpless  tr.'iveller, 
with  wild  sur- 
prise, sees  the 
dry  desert  all 
around  him  rise, 
and,  smother'd  in 
the  dusty  wiiirl- 
wind.  dies."  — 
Addison. 


h  Keith. 


a  Is.  xri.  12. 

"'Wefind.Vrabs,' 
La  Hoiiuc  tells  us 
from  D'.'rvieux, 
'  who  have  their 
arms  scarred  by 
the  gaslies  of  a 
knife,  which  they 
BometiTnes  give 
♦  henibelves,  to 
«mrk      out      to 


answered  Pj'rrhus,  "  and  we  shall  make  these  only  the  fore- 
runners of  greater  thiug-s,  for  then  Lybia  and  Carthage  will  soon 
be  ovirs  ;  and  these  things  being  completed,  none  of  our  enemies 
can  offer  any  farther  reisistancc."  '•  Very  true,"  arlded  Cineas, 
"  for  then  we  may  easily  regain  IMacedou,  and  make  an  absolute 
conquest  of  Greece  ;  and,  when  all  these  are  in  our  possession, 
what  shall  we  do  then  ?  "  Pyrrhus,  smiling,  answered,  "  Why 
then,  my  dear  friend,  we  will  live  at  our  ease,  drink  all  day  long, 
and  amuse  ourselves  with  cheerful  conversation."  ''Well  eir," 
said  Cineas,  "  and  ^vhy  may  we  not  do  all  this  now,  and  without 
the  laboiir  and  hazard  of  an  enterprise  so  laborious  and  uncer- 
tain ? "  Pyrrhus,  however,  unwilling  to  take  the  advice  of  the 
philosopher,  ardently  engaged  in  these  ambitious  pursuits,  and 
at  last  perished  in  them.' 

31—34.  (31)  howl  for  Moab,  Is.  xv.  .5.  all  Moab,  camp. 
"■  whole  Palesiina,'  Is.  xiv.  31.  men  of  Kir-liere3,  Is.  xvi.  7,  11. 
(32)  vine  of  Sibmah,  Is.  xvi.  8.  over  the  sea,  i.e.  the  Dead 
Sea.  sea  of  Jazer,  this  must  be  a  poetic  fig.,  as  Jazer  lies  in 
an  upland  valley,  fifteen  m.  N.  of  Heshbon.  The  river  of  Jazer, 
a  tributary  of  the  Arnon,  may  be  intended.  (33;  joy,  etc., 
Is.  xvi.  10.  (34)  Elealeh,  Is.  xvi.  9.  Zoar,  Is.  xv.  5.  as  an 
heifer,  or  trans,  "even  to  the  third  Eglah,""  Nimrim, 
Is.  XV.  G. 

The  Cities  of  Moah. — Wlien  the  towns  of  Moab  existed  in  their 
prime,  and  were  at  ease,  when  arrogance,  and  haughtiness,  and 
pride  prevailed  among  them,  the  desolation  and  total  desertion 
and  abandonment  of  them  all  must  have  utterly  surpassed  all 
human  conception.  And  that  such  numerous  cities,  which  sub- 
sisted for  many  ages,  which  were  diversified  in  their  sites,  some 
of  them  being  built  on  eminences,  and  naturally  strong  ;  others 
on  plains,  and  surrounded  by  the  i-ichest  soil  :  some  situated  in 
valleys  by  the  side  of  a  plentiful  stream  :  and  others  where  art 
supplied  the  deficiencies  of  nature,  and  where  immense  cisterns 
were  excavated  out  of  the  rock,  and  which  exhibit  in  their  ruins 
many  monuments  of  ancient  prosperity,  and  many  remains  easily 
convertible  into  present  utility,  should  have  all  fled  away,  all 
met  the  same  indiscriminate  fate,  and  be  all  desolate,  without 
any  to  dwell  therein,  notwithstanding  all  these  ancient  assurances 
of  their  permanent  durability,  and  their  existing  facilities  and 
inducements  for  being  the  habitations  of  men,  is  a  matter  of  just 
wonder  in  the  present  day.  and  had  any  other  people  been  the 
possessors  of  Bloab,  the  fact  would  cither  have  been  totally 
impossible  or  unaccountable.  Trying  as  this  test  of  the  truth  of 
prophecy  is,  that  is  the  word  of  God,  and  not  of  erring  man, 
which  can  so  well  and  so  triumphantly  abide  it.  They  shall  cry 
of  Moab,  How  is  it  broken  down  ! ' 

35—39.  (35)  in  the  high  places,  this  would  be  the  last 
relic  of  the  national  religion.  When  the  temples  were  destroyed, 
worship  would  be  kept  up  on  the  ''high  places."""  (3ti)  lik& 
pipes,  or  like  the  flutes  used  at  funerals.  Comp.  Is.  xvi.  11.  (37) 
bald  .  .  clipped,  the  usual  signs  of  mourning.  Is.  xv.  % 
cuttings,  eh.  xvi.  (>,  xli.  5,  xlvii.  5.  (38)  generally,  better, 
"  nothing  but  lamentation  everywhere."  (3i')  turned,  the 
back,  to  floe  away. 

Cuttings  for  the  dead  (j>.  37). — The  relations  of  the  deceased 


Cap.  2-lviii.  40—47.] 


JEREMIAH. 


177 


often  testify  their  sorrow  in  a  more  serious  and  affecting'  manner, 
by  cutting-  and  slashing  their  naked  arms  with  daggers.  To 
this  absurd  and  barbarous  custom  the  Proplret  thus  alludes  : 
*'  For  every  head  shall  be  bald,  and  every  beard  clipped  ;  upon 
all  hands  shall  be  cuttings,  and  upon  the  loins  sackcloth."  And 
again,  '"  Both  the  great  and  the  small  shall  die  in  the  land  ;  they 
ehall  not  be  buried,  neither  shall  men  lament  for  them,  nor  cut 
themselves."  It  seems  to  have  been  very  common  in  Egypt,  and 
among  the  people  of  Israel,  before  the  age  of  Moses,  else  he  had 
not  forbidden  it  by  an  express  law  :  "  Ye  are  the  children  of  the 
Loril  your  God  ;  ye  shall  not  cut  yourselves,  nor  make  any  bald- 
ness between  your  eyes  for  the  dead."  Mr.  Ilarmer  refers  to 
this  custom,  the  "wounds  in  the  hands"  of  the  Prophet,  which 
he  had  given  himself,  in  token  of  affection  to  a  person.'' 

40  —  43.  (40)  he,  i.e.  Nebuchadnezzar."  aS  an  eagle, 
*naking  an  impetuous  dash.*  (41)  Keriotll,  trans.  "  the  cities." 
surprised,  taken  by  storm.  (42)  destroyed  .  .  people,  its 
national  existence  shnll  be  ended.     (43)  fear,  cic,  Is.  xxiv.  17, 18. 

Oities  of  Muah. — While  the  ruins  of  all  these  cities  still  retain 
their  ancient  names,  and  are  the  most  conspicuous  amid  the 
wide  scene  of  general  desolation,  and  while  each  of  them  was 
in  like  manner  particularised  in  the  visions  of  the  Prophet,  they 
yet  formed  but  a  small  number  of  the  cities  of  Moab  :  and  the 
rest  are  also,  in  similar  verification  of  the  prophecies,  desolate 
withotit  any  to  dwell  therein.  None  of  the  ancient  cities  of 
Moab  now  exist  as  tenanted  by  men.  Kerek,  which  neither 
bears  any  resemblance  in  name  to  any  of  the  cities  of  Moab 
which  are  mentioned  as  existing  in  the  time  of  the  Israelites, 
nor  possesses  any  monuments  which  denote  a  very  remote  anti- 
quity, is  the  only  nominal  town  in  the  whole  country,  and  in 
the  words  of  Seetzen,  who  visited  it,  "  in  its  present  ruined  state 
it  can  only  be  called  a  ha,mlet :  "  "  and  the  houses  have  only  one 
floor."  But  the  most  populous  and  fertile  province  in  Europe 
(especially  any  situated  in  the  interior  of  a  country  like  Jloab) 
is  not  covered  so  thickly  with  towns  as  Moab  is  plentiful  in  ruins, 
deserted  and  desolate  though  now  it  be.  Burckhardt  enumerates 
about  fifty  ruined  sites  within  its  boundaries,  many  of  them 
extensive.  In  general  they  are  a  broken  down  and  undistinguish- 
able  ma'^s  of  ruins  ;  and  many  of  them  have  not  been  closely 
inspected.  But,  in  some  instances,  there  are  the  remains  of 
temples,  sepulchral  monuments,  the  ruins  of  edifices  constructed 
of  very  large  stones,  in  one  of  which  buildings  '•  some  of  the 
stones  are  twenty  feet  in  length,  and  so  broad  that  one  constitutes 
the  thickness  of  the  wall :  "  traces  of  hanging  gardens  ;  entire 
columns  Iving  on  the  ground,  three  feet  in  diameter,  and 
fragments  of  smaller  columns ;  and  many  cisterns  cut  out  of 
the  rock.' 


44—47.  (44)  fleeth.  .  .  pit,  a  forcible  way  of  declaring  that 
none  shall  escape.  (45)  because  .  .  force,  or  without  force  : 
they  stand  powerless.  a  fire,  etc.,  comp.  Nu.  xxi.  28,  29. 
corner,  i.e.  of  the  beard,  crown,  etc.,  Nu,  xxiv.  17."  (40) 
Cliemosh,  v.  7.  (47)  bring  again,  com^.  ch.  xlvi.  26, 
xlix.  6.  39. 

Noah. — In  a  general  description  of  the  condition  of  the  in- 
habitants of  that  extensive  desert  which  now  occttpies  the  jjlace 

VOL.   IX.     O.T.  M 


their  mistresses 
I  wliat  tlidr  rigour 
[  iind  the  violenca 
I  of  love  ni.ado 
I  t  h  e  in  siiiler.' 
From  this  e.x- 
I  tract  we  letiru 
I  wh.at  particular 
part  of  the  body 
received  these 
cu  t  ti  ngs.  The 
S  c  r  i  p  t  u  re  fre- 
queiitly  spealis  of 
them  in  a  more 
general  manner," 
— JIaimer. 
h  Paxton. 

a  "  Nebuchadnez- 
zar's rise  seemed 
to  be  like  that  of 
the  mighty  eagle, 
spreading  out  hia 
wings,  featliered 
with  the  innu- 
merable colours 
of  the  variegated 
masses  w  h  i  cli 
composed  the 
t'haldaaan  host, 
sweeping  over 
dilferent  conn- 
tries,  and  strik- 
ing fear  in  his 
flight." — Hkinley. 

b  De.  xxvlii.  49 ; 
Je.  xlix.  22 ;  Eze. 
xvii.  3. 

It  is  said  of 
Ajitoninus,  Arch- 
bi-hop  of  Flo- 
rence, that,  after 
he  had  heard  the 
confession  of 

a  wretched 
usurer,  he  gave 
no  other  absolu- 
tion than  this  : 
"  God  be  merci- 
ful to  thee,  if  He 
please,  and  for- 
give th^e  tliy 
sins,  which  I  do 
not  believe,  and 
bring  thee  to 
eternal  life,  which 
is  impossible." 

c  Keith. 


a  "The  meaning 
is  that  the  fire 
of  war  consumes 
both  far  and 
near,  both  liair 
and  beard,  i.e. 
everything  that 
the  tire  can  singe 
or  destroy.' '— . 
Spk.  Conu 


ITS 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  xlviii.  44—47. 


**  Tlio  dcvasta- 
ti'iu  was  to  reacli 
tlie  most  elc- 
vatpil,  au:l  the 
most  remote, 
parts  of  tlie 
country."  —  Ihn- 
dfrson. 

"  Next  niglit— a 
dreary  iiiglit  I 
Cast  on  tlie 
wildest  of  tlie 
Cyclades  i';li>s, 
wlicre  never  Im- 
man  foot  liail 
mark'd  the  shore, 
these  ruirians  left 
me.. ..  Beneath  a 
shade  I  sat  me 
down,  more 
heavily  op- 
pres.s'il.  more  de- 
solate at  heart 
than  e'er  I  felt 
before  :  wlien 
Philomela  o'er 
my  liead  befrau 
to  tune  her 
melancholy 
strain,  as  piteous 
of  my  woes  ;  till 
by  degrees,  com- 
posing sleep  on 
■wounded  nature 
shed  a  kind  but 
short  relief.  At 
early  morn, 
waked  by  tlie 
chant  of  birds.  I 
look'd  around  for 
usual  oVijocts  : 
objects  found  I 
none,  excejit  be- 
fore me  stretch'd 
the  toiling  main, 
and  rocks  and 
■wood,?,  in  savage 
view,  behind." — 
Thomson. 
"  Open  rebukes 
are  for  magis- 
trates and  courts 
of  justice.  I'ri- 
vate  rebukes  are 
for  friends; 
wlicroall  the  wit- 
nesses of  the 
ofTender's  blushes 
are  blind,  and 
deaf,  and  dumb." 
—  Filtlmin. 

h  Keith. 


of  these  ancient  flonrishing  states,  Volney,  in  plain  but  unmeant 
illustration   of   this    pi'fdiction.   remarks,   that    the    '•  wretched 
pcasaJits  live   in  perpetual   dread  of  losing  the  fruit  of   their 
labours-:   and  no  sooner  have  they  gathered  in  their  harvest, 
than  they  hasten  to  secrete  it  in  ])rivate  places,  and  retire  auiong 
the  rocks  ■R-hich  border  on  the  Deail  Sea."     Towards  the  opposite 
extremity  of  the  land  of  Bloab.  and  at  a  little  distance  from  its 
borders,  Seetzen  relates  that  '•  there  are  many  families  living  iu 
caverns  ;  "  and  he  actually  designates  them  "  the  inhabitants  of 
the  rocks."      And  at  the  distance  of  a  few  miles  from  the  ruined 
site  of  Heshbon  there  are  many  artificial  caves  in  a  large  range 
of   perpendicular   cliifs,    iu   some  of   ■u'hich  arc   chambers   and 
small  sleeping  apartments.     While  the  cities  are  desolate,  with- 
out any  to  dwell  therein,  the  rocks  are  tenanted.     But  whether 
iiocks  lie  down  in  the  former  without  any  to  make  them  afraid, 
or  whetlier  men  are  to  be  found  dwelling  in  the  latter,  and  are 
I  like  the  dove  that  maketh  her  nest  in  the  sides  of  the  hole's 
I  mouth,  the  wonderful  transition,  in  eilher  case,  and  the    close 
I  accordance,  in   both,  of  the  fact   to   the   prediction,   assuredly 
I  mark  it  in  characters  that  may  be  visible  to  the  purblind  mind, 
I  as  the  word  of  that  God  before  whom  the  darkness  of  futurity  is 
j  as   light,   and   without  whom  a  sparrow  cannot  fall  tmto  the 
1  ground.      And   although   chargeable   with   the   impropriety    of 
i  being  somewhat  out  of  place,  it   may   not  be   here  altogether 
I  improper  to  remark  that,  demonstrative  as  all   these  clear  pre- 
j  dictions    and   coincident    facts    are    of   the   inspiration   of   the 
j  Scriptures,  it  cannot  but  be  gratifying  to  every  lover  of  his  kind, 
i  when  he'  contemplates  that  desolntion  caused  by  many  sins  and 
j  fraught  with  many  miseries,  which  the  wickedness  of  nuan  has 
I  wrought,  and  which  the    prescience  of   God  revealed,  to  know 
that  all  these  prophecies,  while  they  mingle  the  voice  of  wailing 
with  that  of   denunciation,  are    the   word   of   that   God    who, 
although  He  suffers  not  itiiqiiity  to  pass  unpunished,  overrules 
evil  for  good,  and  makes  the  wrath  of  man  to  praise  Him,  and 
who  in  the   midst   of   judgment   can    remember   mei'cy.      And 
reasoning  merely  from  the  "  uniform  exiierience  "  (to  borrow  a 
term  and  draw  an  argument  from  Hume)  of  the  truth  of  the 
prophecies  already  fulfilled,  the  un]irejudiced  mind  will  at  once 
perceive  the  full  force  of   the  proof   derived   from  experience, 
and  acknowledge  that  it  would  bo  a  rejection  of  the  authority 
of  reason  as  well  as  of  revelation  to  mistrust  the  truth  of  that 
prophetic   afHrmation  of   resuscitating    and  redeeming   import, 
respecting  Ammon  and  Moab,  which  is  the  last  of  the  series, 
and  which    alone    now   awaits  futurity  to  stamp  it  with   the 
brilliant  and  crowning  zeal  of  its  testimony  :  "I  will  bring  again 
the  captivity  of  Moab  in  the  latter  days,  saith  the  Lord.     I  will 
bring  again  the  captivity  of  the  chiLlren  of  Ammon,  saith  the 
Lonl.      The   remnant  of  My  people  sJiall  possess  them.     They 
shall  build  the  old  wastes,  they  shall  raise  up  the  former  desola- 
tions, and  they  shall  repair  the  waste  cities,  the  dctolatious  of 
raauy  geueratious."* 


Cap.  xlix.  1—11.] 


JEREMIAIT. 


179 


CHAPTER  TEE  FORTY-NINTH. 

1 — 3.  (1)  Ammonites,  the  people  settled  north  of  the 
MoabiLcs."  no  heir,  "in  seizing  Giiead  the  Ammonites  acted  as 
if  the  country  had  no  rightful  owner,''  or  heir.  their  king, 
or  Melcom,  their  god.*  (2)  Rabbah,  Am.  i.  14  :  comp.  2  Sa. 
xii.  26 — 30.  daughters,  smaller  towns  and  villages,  be  heir, 
or  victor.  This  was  partly  fulfilled  in  the  time  of  the  Maccabees. 
(3)  Ai,  an  unknown  town,  prob.  near  Heyhbou.  hedges,  or 
vineyard  walls.     Running  anywhere  for  shelter. 

Places  of  burial  {i\o). — The  places  of  burial  in  the  East  are 
without  their  cities,  as  well  as  their  gardens,  and  consequently 
their  going  to  them  must  often  be  by  their  garden  walls,  not 
hedges.  The  ancient  warriors  of  distinction,  who  were  slain  in 
battle,  were  carried  to  the  sepulchres  of  their  fathers  :  and  the 
people  often  went  to  weep  over  the  graves  of  those  whom  they 
would  honour.  These  observations  put  together  sufficiently 
account  for  this  passage.'^ 

4—6.  (4)  gloriest  .  .  valleys,  the  countiy  was  cut  into 
valleys  by  the  streams  flowing  towards  the  Jordan,  flowing 
valley,  flowing  now  with  the  blood  of  the  slain."  (5)  right 
forth,  wdthout  even  makiug  effort  at  resistance,  so  extreme  will 
be  yom-  fear,  gather  up,  rally  the  fugitives.  ((>)  bring 
again,  ch.  xlviii.  -47. 

Zeal  for  God. — Do  not  the  "  work  of  God  negligently  "  and 
idly  :  let  not  thy  heart  be  upon  the  world,  when  thy  hand  is  lift 
up  in  prayer  ;  and  be  sure  to  prefer  an  action  of  religion  in  its 
place  and  proper  season  before  all  worldly  pleasure,  letting 
secular  things,  that  may  be  dispensed  with  in  themselves,  in 
these  circumstances  wait  upon  the  other  ;  not  like  the  patriarch 
who  ran  from  the  altar  in  St.  Sophia  to  his  table  in  all  his  pon- 
tificals, and  in  the  midst  of  his  oSice,  to  see  a  colt  newly  fallen  j 
from  his  beloved  and  much-valued  mare  Phorbante.  More  pru-  i 
dent  and  severe  was  that  of  Sir  Thomas  More,  who  being  sent  for  ' 
by  the  king  when  he  was  at  his  prayers  in  public,  returned 
answer,  he  would  attend  him  when  he  had  first  performed  his 
service  to  the  King  of  kings.  And  it  did  honour  to  Rusticus, 
that  ■when  letters  from  Cajsar  were  given  to  him,  he  refused  to 
open  them  till  the  philosopher  had  done  his  lecture.  In  honour- 
ing God  and  doing  His  w^ork  put  forth  all  thy  strength  ;  for  of 
that  time  only  thou  mayest  be  most  confident  that  it  is  gained, 
which  is  prudently  and  zealously  spent  in  God's  service.* 

7—11.  (7)  Edom,  comp.  Is.  xxxiv.  5  ;  Am.  i.  11  ;  Obad. 
Edom  lay  along  the  south  of  Judah,  from  the  district  of  Moab 
to  the  Mediterranean,  wisdom  .  .  Teman,  comj).  Obad.  8. 
"Teman  was  a  strip  of  laud  N.E.  of  Edom.  It  is  here  put  for 
Edom  generally.""  counsel,  suited  for  times  of  emergency. 
(8)  dwell  deep,  turn  your  caravans  into  the  very  depths  of  the 
desert,  for  there  is  danger  in  the  well-known  tracts.  Dedan, 
this  people  was  noted  for  conducting  caravans.  (0)  grape 
gatherers,  Obad.  5.  (10)  secret  places,  even  the  hiding- 
places  of  Mt.  Sier.  his  seed,  i.e.  the  seed  of  Esau.  (11)  leave, 
etc..  the  usual  sign  of  mercy  mingling  with  judgment. 

Martin  Luther's  mill, — In  the  last  will  and  testament  of  this 
m2 


a  Ge.  xix.  37,  38. 
For  this  prophecy 
comp.  Zep.  ii.  9 ; 
Am.  i.  13 — 15. 
"  This  prophecy 
seems  to  have 
been  occasioneA 
by  their  aggre.M- 
sions  and  en- 
croachments on 
tlie  territory  of 
Israel,  E.  of  tho 
Jordan,  after  tlis 
deportation  of 
the  ten  tribes. 
Tlie  Ammonites 
were  subdued  by 
Nebuchadnezzar 
five  years  after 
tlie  fall  of  Jeru- 
salem."—  Words- 
icovth. 

b  1  Ki.  xi.  5,  33 , 
2  Ki.  xxiii.  13. 
c  Jlanner. 

a  "  The  abun- 
dance of  thy 
valley."— jE'/rn/d. 

"  In  the  riches 
of  thy  fat  and 
plentiful  valleys, 
which  overflow 
with  abundance 
of  all  things." — 
Lotrth. 

"  With  all  the 
zeal  which  young 
and  fiery  con- 
verts feel,  v/ithiu 
whose  heated 
bosoms  throngs 
the  memory  of 
a  thousand 
wrongs."  —  Lord 
/yrun. 

b  Jeremy  Taylor. 


a  Gesenltis. 
"  Its  inhabitants 
w  ere  among 
those 'children  of 
the  East'  famed 
for  wisdom,  be- 
cause of  their 
sldll  in  proverbs 
and  dark  say-' 
ing.s." — Spk.Com. 
b  When  God  de-' 
si,?ns  a  people  for 
destruction.  He. 
deprives  them  cf 
that  common) 
prudence       find, 


180 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  xlix.  12—22. 


foresifrht  which 
me  reqiiisito  for 
the  duo  maiiajrc- 
Bieiifc  of  tlipir 
affairs." — Lnn-ili. 
r.  II.  Dr.  JJhiir, 
iv.  4  !C. 
c  Cheeier. 


a  ••  The  I.lu- 
nixans  proiully 
iiuagiiieil  that 
ttio  terror  wilii 
which  tlie  cele- 
brity of  tlioir 
power  liail  iii- 
Pinred  tliose  by 
•whom  tliey  were 
s  u  r  r  o  u  u  rl  fi  (1, 
AvouM  secure 
thetn  against  any 
hostile  attacli." 
— llenJcrsun. 

f.  12.  D?:  n.  ir. 

HiimUlon,  Colli/. 
Lee.  431. 

rv.  15  —  18.  J. 
Joicett,  Lee.  137. 

r.'lG.  D):  Jamie- 
son,  i.  'i'So. 


a  "  From  A.D. 
6  36  onwards, 
Ptitra  suddenly 
vanishes  from 
the  pages  of 
history.  It  was 
unknown  to  the 
Arabs,  was  con- 
founded by  tlie 
Crusaders  witli 
an  entirely  dif- 
ferent place,  and 
only  in  the  pre- 
sent century  was 
its  real  site  dis- 
covered  by 
Burckhardt,  and 
full  details  piven 
of  its  splendid 
but  desolate  re- 
mains by  La- 
fa  o  r  d  8."  —  Spk. 
Com. 


h  "  'When  tlie 
Jordan  swells  in 
the  time  of  har- 
vests, the  lions 
that  lie  in  tlie 
thickets  on  the 
river-side,  are 
raised  out  of 
tlieircoverts.and 
Infest  the  coun- 
try."—itijc^A. 


eminent  reformer,  occurs  the  follo^^'i^g•  remarkable  passage  :— • 
"  Lord  God,  I  thanlc  Thee  that  Thou  hast  bjen  phrased  to  make 
me  a  poor  and  indigent  man  upon  earth.  I  liave  neither  house, 
nor  land,  nor  money,  to  k^ave  behind  me.  Thou  hast  given  nia 
wife  and  children,  whom  I  now  restore  to  Thee.  Lord,  nouri.sh, 
teach,  and  preserve  them,  as  Thou  hast  me.'' 

12—16.  (12)  they  .  .  cup,  the  Jews,  who  might  be  expected 
to  escape  judgments,  if  any  nation  did.  (I'.i)  Bozrah,  ch. 
xlviii.  24.  (llj  rumour,  cic,  Obad.  1.  (l.'j)  small  .  .  lieatlien, 
Obad.  2.  (16)  dwellest  .  .  rock,  the  cities  of  Edom  were  hewn 
in  the  sides  of  seemingly  inaccessible  rocks,  and  in  this  the 
people  felt  the  utmost  confidence  and  security."  nest  .  .  eagle, 
Obad.  4. 

JidcJi  (liveirt7i(j.9.  —In  this  beautifttl  passage  the  Prophet  strictly 
adheres  to  the  truth  of  history.  Esau  subdued  the  original  in- 
habitants of  Mount  Ilor,  and  seized  on  its  savage  and  romantio 
precipices.  His  descendants  covered  the  sides  of  their  mountains 
'•  with  an  endless  variety  of  excavated  tombs  and  private  dwell- 
ings, worked  ottt  in  all  the  symmetry  and  regularity  of  art,  with 
colonnades  and  pediments,  and  ranges  of  corridors,  adhering  to 
the  perpendicular  surface."  On  the  inaccessible  cliffs,  which,  iu 
some  places,  rise  to  the  h(>ight  of  seven  hundred  feet,  and  the 
barren  and  craggy  precipices  which  enclose  the  ruins  of  Petra, 
the  capital  of  the  Nebataai,  a  once  powerful  but  now  forgotten 
people,  the  eagle  builds  his  nest,  and  screams  for  tlie  safety  of 
his  young,  when  the  unwelcome  traveller  approaches  his  lonely 
hibitation.* 

17—22.  (17)  hiss,  in  mockery  at  the  utter  abasement  of  its 
pride,  plagues,  or  distresses.  (18)  overthrow,  etc.,  Ge.  xix. 
25.  neighbour  cities,  such  as  Admah  and  Zeboim."  (10)  he, 
i.e.  Nebuchadnezzar.  Svvelling,  or  flood  tiino.*  appoint  .  . 
time,  marg.  "prevent  me  in  judgment."  (20)  least  .  .  flock, 
the  weakest  and  humblest  of  the  Chaldiean  host,  draw,  or  drag 
them  about,  as  a  lion  would  a  sheep.  (21)  is  moved,  or  quakes. 
(22)  as  eagle,  ch.  xlviii.  40. 

I'ctra. — Petra,  the  ancient  capital  of  Idumrca.  hitherto  wrapped 
up  in  the  deep  recesses  of  solitude,  remained  until  lately  unknown. 
Here  was  the  cradle  of  commerce  seventeen  centuries  ago  ;  the 
emporium  of  northern  Arabia,  and  the  entrepot  between  Palestine, 
and  Syria,  and  Egj-pt.  It  was  the  birthplace  of  Balaam,  and 
renowned  for  oracles  and  auguries  ;  in  it,  as  a  strongliold,  were 
deposited  the  treasures  of  the  sultans  of  Egypt  :  and  yet  the 
name  of  Petra  seemed  to  have  become  all  but  extinct  with  the 
declension  of  the  Roman  power  in  the  East.  Here  is  a  town 
embosomed  amid  a  fortress  of  mountains  ;  utier  desolation  reigna 
over  wonderful  ruins,  noble  in  decay,  and  sublime  in  their  fall. 
Jlount  Ilor,  with  Aaron's  tomb,  surmounts  the  city  of  desolations, 
the  metropolis  of  moving  sands,  and  a  blighted  desert.  The 
entrance  is  from  the  east,  through  a  deej)  gorge,  or  ravine,  called 
El  sjih,  and  the  river  that  supplied  Edom  ilowed  through  this 
valley  ;  ihe  wall  of  rock  is  from  four  hundred  to  seven  hundred 
feet  high.  The  sides  of  this  romantic  chasm  are  clothed  with 
tamarisk,  wild  fig,  oleander,  and  the  caper  plant,  the  latter 
hanging  in  luxuriant  festoons  from  cracks  and  crevices  ;  the 
\  solitude  is  only  disturbed  by  the  screaming  of  eagles,  hawks,  owls, 


Cap.  xlix.  23-27.] 


JEREMIAH. 


181 


and  ravens,  wliicli  congregate  here  in  vast  multitudes.  The 
ruins  burst  on  the  eye  of  the  astonished  and  bewildered  traveller 
in  all  their  awful  magnificence.  This  amphitheatre  of  mountains 
is  tinged  with  extraordinary  hues,  and  is  at  once  romantic  and 
picturesque.  Sepulchres  and  tombs :  sculptures,  in  all  the 
majesty  of  art,  decorate  these  "everlasting  hills;"  more  than 
two  hundi-ed  and  fifty  sepulchres  are  chiselled  in  the  rock.  And 
this  is  Edom,  the  metropolis  of  Iduma^a  !  The  stupendous  ruins 
the  magnificent  tombs,  the  amphitheatre,  the  columns,  and 
capitals,  obelisks,  friezes — all  attest  the  magnificence  which  once 
reigned  in  this  mountain  metropolis  ;  a  city  o-f  desolation,  which 
even  the  bittern  scarce  disturbs,  '•  lines  of  confusion,  and  stones 
of  emptiness.''  The  territory  of  the  descendants  of  Esau  is 
swept  as  by  "  the  besoni  of  destruction,"  and  remains  a  miracle 
of  evidence,  as  palpable  as  any  monument  in  the  history  of  time. 
Its  eighteen  cities  are  mouldered  into  dust,  and  the  dwellers 
Among  the  rocks,  that  "  made  their  nests  among  the  stars,"  are 
brought  low.  The  attention  and  contemplation  seemed  to  be 
here  divided  between  the  survey  of  '•  nature,  who  invites  attention 
to  her  matchless  girdle  of  rocks,  wondrous  as  well  for  their  colours 
as  their  forms,  and  the  men  who  feared  not  to  intermingle  the 
works  of  their  genius  with  such  splendid  efforts  of  creative 
power. "'"^ 

23—27.  (2.S)  Damascus,  principal  city  of  Sji-ia.  Ilamath  .  . 
Arpad,  2  Ki.  xvii.  24.  faintliearted,  "the  sinews  are  re- 
laxed, unknit,  thro'  terror."'  sorrow  .  .  sea,  i.e.  as  on  the  sea." 
C24,  25)  not  left,  not  spared  in  the  time  of  general  calamity. 
Damascus  is  a  city  noted  for  the  beauty  of  its  situation,  etc.'' 
of  my  joy,  Z.,^.  in  which  I  delighted.  (2())  therefore,  better, 
mrehj.  {'11)  fire.  Am.  i.  4.  Ben-hadad/ the  name,  prob.,  of  a 
lace  or  dynasty  of  kings  of  Syria. 

Wrccl! — a  scene  of  frenzii  and  d'latrrpiy  - 

And  now  lash'd  on  by  destiny  severe, 

"With  horror  fraught  the  dreadful  scene  drew  near!- 

The  shijD  hangs  hovering  on  the  verge  of  death, 

Hell  yawns,  rocks  rise,  and  breakers  roar  beneath  t 

In  vain,  alas  !  the  sacred  shades  of  yore 

"Would  arm  the  mind  with  philosophic  lore  ; 

In  vain  they'd  teach  us,  at  the  latest  breath, 

To  smile  serene  amid  the  piangs  of  death. 

Even  Zeno"s  self,  and  Epictetus  old. 

This  fell  abyss  had  shuddered  to  behold. 

Had  Socrates,  for  godlike  virtue  famed, 

And  wisest  of  the  sous  of  men  proclaim'd, 

Beheld  this  scene  of  frenzy  and  distress. 

His  soul  had  trembled  to  its  last  recess  I 

O  yet  confirm  my  heart,  ye  powers  above, 

This  last  tremendous  sliock  of  fate  to  prove  ; 

The  tottering  frame  of  reason  yet  sustain  ; 

Kor  let  this  total  ruin  whirl  my  brain  1 

In  vain  the  cords  and  axes  were  prepared, 

For  now  the  audacious  seas  insult  the  yard  ; 

High  o'er  the  ship  they  throw  a  horrid  shade, 

And  o'er  her  burst  in  terrible  cascade. 

Uplifted  on  the  surge,  to  heaven  she  fiies, 

Her  shattered  top  half  buri^sd  in  the  skies  ; 


"  'Tis  to  be 
happy  that  we 
ruu  after  plea» 
sures  ;  and  covet 
(•<ic')  in  every 
thing  in  our  own 
proml  will.  But 
we,  alas  !  niistaka 
our  happiness, 
and  foolishly 
seek  it  where  it 
is  not  to  be 
found.  As  silly 
chililren  think 
to  catch  the  sun, 
when  they  see  it 
setting  at  so  near 
a  distance.  They 
travel  on,  and 
tire  themselves 
in  vain  ;  for  the 
thing  they  seek 
is  in  another 
world."  —  Bishop 
Hickes. 

c  Murray. 


a  Comp.  Is.  lyiL 

2U. 

I)  "  This  ancicnfc 
ci  ty  was  cele- 
brated for  its 
felicitous  posi- 
tion, tlie  exqui- 
site lieauty  of  its 
environs,  the 
magnitude  of  its 
tenipV,  and  the 
wealth  of  its  in- 
h  abi  tan  ts."— 
Ihndcrson. 

c  2  Ki.  xiii.  3. 

"  A  ship  that  has 
been  driven  by 
wave  and  tem- 
pest far  up  on 
the  beach,  where 
no  tide  can  ever 
come  to  lift  her 
off,  but  that  lies 
there,  high  and 
dry,  seams  gap- 
ing, s.ails  rotting, 
spai's  falling, 
hated  of  eai-th, 
and  driven  out 
from  the  water, 
is  not  half  so  piti- 
able an  object  as 
a  great  man  who 
by  policy,  policy, 
policy,  has  been 
cairied  out  of  the 
deep  channels  of 
honour,  and  lies 
all  awreck  upon 
the  sliore  of  good 


182 


JEREXtlAn. 


[Cap.  xlix.  28-39. 


mpn  a  opinions. 
—Il,rclifr. 

"  Tlio  very  rat^s, 
instinctively  hid 
quit  it:  there 
they  hoist  us,  to 
cry  to  tlie  sea 
that  roar'd  to  us; 
to  sigh  to  tlie 
■winds,  whoso 
pity,  sighinff 
hack  again,  did 
us  but  loving 
wrong." — aiiake- 
speare. 

d  ir.  Falconer. 


a  "  The  very 
noise  of  thn 
enemies  shall 
fri'jrlit  them,  and 
bring  a  panic 
fear  upon  them." 
—Loath. 

b    .Tnhn     Flavel, 

I69y. 


•'TTe  that  en- 
larges Ids  curi- 
osity after  tlie 
works  of  nature. 
d  e  m  oust  r  ably 
multiplies  the  in- 
lets to  happiness  ; 
therefore  we 
slioulil  cherish 
arilour  in  tlie 
pursuit  of  useful 
knowledge,  and 
reineniliLr  that  a 
blighted  spring 
ninkes  a  barren 
year,  and  that 
the  vernal  flow- 
ers, however 
beautiful  and 
pay,  are  only 
intended  by  na- 
ture; as  prepara- 
tives toautninnal 
frwits."  -Jv/iHMH. 

a  Ki-ilh. 


a  Is.  xxii.  C. 

''  The  reason  for 
the  judgment  on 
the  I'^laiuites  does 
ni'ta))pear.  They 
&0  uut  beem,  as 


Then  beafUong  pi  nn.i,'-iu,e^  thundcr.s  on  the  g^roiind. 

Earth  groans  !  air  tn  in  hies  !  and  the  deeps  resound  I 

Her  giaut  bulk  the  dread  concussion  feels, 

And  quivering  with  the  wound,  in  torment  reels. 

Again  she  pluuges  !  hark  1  a  second  shock 

Tears  her  strong  bottom  on  the  marble  rock  I 

Down  on  the  vale  of  death,  with  disinal  erics, 

The  fated  victims  shuddering  roll  their  eyes 

In  wild  despair,  while  yet  another  stroke, 

"With  deep  convulsion,  rends  the  solid  oak  : 

Till  like  the  mine,  in  whose  infernal  cell 

The  lurking  demons  of  destruction  dwell, 

At  length  asunder  torn  her  frame  divides, 

And  crashing  sj^reads  in  ruin  o'er  the  tides.'* 

28,  29.  (28)  Kedar,  ch.  ii.  10.  Hazor,  a  district  in  Arabia 
Petrtea,  divided  into  districts,  each  presided  over  by  a  petly  chief. 
(2'.})  curtains,  or  tent  hangings,  fear,  ctc.,'^  Muyor-viisMihib, 
see  ch.  vi.  25. 

Aiiihition. — What  are  all  the  vain  and  empty  titles  of  honour, 
to  the  glorious  and  substantial  privileges  with  which  believers 
are  dignified,  and  raised  above  all  other  men  by  Jesus  Christ  ? 
He  is  the  Son  of  God,  and  they  are  the  sons  of  God  also  !  He  is 
the  "  Heir  of  all  things,'  and  they  are  joint-heirs  with  Christ  J 
He  reigns  in  glory,  and  they  shall  reign  with  Him  !  He  sits 
upon  the  throne,  and  they  shall  sit  with  Him  on  His  throne.  Oh 
that  believers  did  but  understand  their  own  happiness  and 
privileges  by  Christ,  they  would  never  droop  and  sink  under 
every  small  trouble  as  they  do.* 

30—33.  (30)  get  .  .  off,  or  hurry  hastily  away,  dwell 
deep,  as  V.  8.  (31)  arise,  addressed  to  Nebuchadnezzar,  with- 
out care,  in  the  sense  of  its  security,  neither  .  .  bars,  cvmp. 
De.  iii.  5  ;  Eze.  xxxviii.  11.  (32)  utmost  corners,  mc  ch.  ix. 
26.     (33)  dragons,  or  jackals  ;  (ch.  x.  22)  or  serpents. 

Dntdpn.t. — It  shall  be  a  habitation  for-  dragons  (serpents).  I 
laid  his  heritage  waste  for  the  diagons  of  the  wilderness.  The 
evidence,  though  derived  from  testimouj',  and  not  from  per!>onal 
observation,  of  two  travellers  of  so  contrary  characters  and  views 
as  Shaw  and  Volney,  is  so  accordant  and  apposite,  that  it  may 
well  be  sustained  in  lieu  of  more  direct  proof.  The  former  re- 
presents the  land  of  Edom,  and  the  wilderness  of  which  it  now 
forms  part,  as  abounding  with  a  variety  of  lizards  and  vipers, 
which  are  very  dangerous  and  troublesome.  And  the  narrative 
given  by  Volney,  already  quoted,  isecpially  decisive  as  to  the  fact. 
The  Arabs,  in  general,  avoid  the  ruins  of  the  cities  of  Iduma^a, 
"  on  account  of  the  enormous  scorjiions  with  which  they  swarm." 
Its  cltie  ',  thus  deserted  by  man,  and  abandoned  to  their  undis- 
turbed and  hereditary  jjossession,  Edom  may  justly  be  called  the 
inheritance  of  dragons." 

34 — 39.  (31)  Elam,  the  province  of  Elymais.  part  of  Susiana, 
W.  of  Persia  proper.  (3."))  bow  of  Elani,  this  country  was 
famed  for  its  archers."  (3G)  the  four  winds,  it  is  said  that 
whirlwinds  seem  to  blow  from  all  quarters.  "  Wars  and  commo- 
tions are  metaphorically  denoted  by  winds."  (37)  dismayed, 
etc.,  for  coutirmatiou   of  this   prophecy,  comp.  Ua.  viii.  2,  27. 


Cap.  1. 1—8.] 


JEREillAK 


183 


(r,8)    destroy  .  .  king,  i.e.  ELim  would   lose  its  independent 
Bovereicfuty.     (39)  bring  again,  comj}.  ch.  xlviii.  47.* 

Of  all  the  causes  whicli  conspire  to  blind 
Mans  erring  judgement,  and  misguide  the  mind, 
What  the  weak  head  with  strongest  bias  rules, 
Is  pride,  the  never-i'ailing  vice  of  fools. 
"Whatever  nature  has  in  worth  denied, 
^he  gives  in  large  recruits  of  needful  pride  ; 
For  as  in  bodies,  so  in  souls,  we  find, 
"What  wants  in  blood  and  spirits  till'd  with  wind  : 
Pride,  where  wit  fails,  steps  iu  to  our  defence, 
And  fills  up  all  the  mighty  void  of  sense. 
If  once  right  reason  drives  that  cloud  away. 
Truth  breaks  upon  us  with  resistless  day. 
Trust  not  yourself  :  but.  your  defects  to  know, 
Make  use  of  every  friend  and  every  foe.<= 


CHAPTER  TEE  FIFTIETH. 

1 — 3.  (1)  against,  as  before,  better  rend,  concerning.  This 
prophecy  was  given  in  the  fourth  year  of  Zedekiah  :  see  ch.  li. 
6U,  GO."  (2)  set  .  .  standard,  or  flag,  to  call  attention  to  the 
herald"s  message.  Bel,  Is.  xlvi.  1.  Merodacli,  or  Mardiilt, 
the  tutelary  God  of  Babylon,  Is.  xxxix.  1.  confounded,  bee] 
unable  to  protect  the  city  they  were  supposed  to  defend.  (3) 
nortll,  the  district  of  Media.* 

iS'tHUfrs  returning  to  God(rv.\ — 5). — I.  In  those  days  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel  shall  come,  they  and  the  children  of  Judah,  together, 
— so  enmities  are  to  be  abolished.  II.  Going- and  weeping  :  going 
whither  /  weeping  wherefore .'  going  to  Ziou  with  tears  of  joy 
and  gratitude.  III.  They  seek  the  Lord  their  God.  IV.  They 
ask  their  way  to  Zion  with  their  faces  thitherward.  V.  Come 
and  let  us  join  ourselves  to  the  Lord  in  a  i^erpetual  covenant." 

BroJtoi  images  (v.  2). — As  it  was  generally  believed  that  the 
divinity  abandoned  any  figure  or  image  which  was  mutilated  or 
broken,  this  pro23lietio  declaration  may  be  considered  as  asserting 
the  destruction  of  the  idols.  Such  a  sentiment  still  prevails 
among  the  heathen.  Dr.  Buchanan,  who  visited  many  Indian 
provinces  at  the  commencement  of  the  seventeenth  century, 
mentions  that  a  Polygar  chief,  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  years 
before,  had  been  directed  by  the  god  Ganesa  to  search  for  trea- 
sures under  a  certain  image,  and  to  erect  temples  and  reservoirs 
with  whatever  money  he  should  find.  "  The  treasures  were  ac- 
cordingly found,  and  applied  as  directed  ;  the  image  from  under 
which  the  treasures  had  been  taken  was  shown  to  me,  and  I  was 
Bui-prised  at  finding  it  lying  at  one  of  the  gates  quite  neglected. 
On  asking  the  reason  why  the  pcoj^le  allowed  their  benefactor  to 
remain  in  such  a  plight,  ho  informed  me  that  the  finger  of  the 
image  having  been  broken,  the  divinity  had  deserted  it  :  for  no 
mutilated  image  is  considered  as  habitable  by  a  god."'' 

4 — S.  (i)  come,  or  return,  weeping,  partly  with  joy  at  so 
unexpected  an  opportunity  ;  partly  in  penitence  called  forth  by 
the  sense  of  the  Divine  goodness  and  faithfulness.  (5)  faces 
thitlierward,  indicating  set  purpose  to  journey  to  Zion.    per- 


a  people,  to  have 
mulcsted  the  He- 
brews. It  is  pos- 
sible tliat  they 
may  have  been 
addicteil  to  ido- 
lan-}-,  anil  thus 
been  distinguish- 
ed fi'oni  the 
Persians  proper, 
wliose  relisrioniii 
the  njain  \va3 
inoiiotheistic."'- 
Ui'iiUei  son. 

b  Comp.  Ac.  ii.  9, 

c  Pope. 


a  B.C.  593. 

b  "The  devasta- 
tation  of  Babylon 
liere  foretold  in- 
cludes not  only 
that  by  Cyrus, 
but  also  that 
more  utter  one 
by  Darius,  who 
took  Babylon  by 
artiiice,  wlien  it 
had  revolted 

from  Persia,  and 
'  mercilessly 
slaughtered     the 
inhabitants, 
I  hanging  4,U0O  of 
I  the  nobles ;  also 
I  the    final    deser- 
j  tion  of  Babj-loa 
I  owing  to  Seleucia 
having    beea 
built     close     by 
under     fc-ekucus 
Kioauor."— /'auj- 
Sel. 

c  Gamma  in  400 
Skts. 

d  Burder. 


a  "As  long  as  the 
.  sheep  are  in  the 

fold,  it  is  a  tres- 

pass  to  attack 
1  them,  and  is 
i  punished  as  such. 

But  Israel  haviag 


184 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  1.  9-13. 


left  the  fold,  has 
now  no  owner. 
anl  may  tliere- 
fore  lie  inal- 
treateil  with  iiii- 
pu  11  i  ty."—Spk. 
Com. 

h  "  T.eatl  ye  the 
way  for  the 
people,  out  of 
Balrylon,  as  th? 
he-goats  press 
forward,  and 
place  themselves 
at  the  head  of 
the  flocks,  and 
lead  them  to  pas- 
t  ur  e."—  Words- 
xcorth. 

tv.  4,  5.  J,  Dur- 
ham, 177;  Dr.  11. 
IIiDtler,  i.  'I'A,  ii. 
306;  J.  CiiniiiiKj- 
h(im.  ii.  15(1;  C. 
Bradlt^j,  ii.  82. 

V.  5.  J.  Diu-ham. 
214;  ,S.  Iti'iidrr, 
399 ;  G.  Camp- 
Ml,  231;  Noah 
Hill,  22  ;  /.  Srnll, 
27;  C.  Bnidley, 
ii.  104;  H.  ilel- 
vill,  ii.  155. 

e  II.  Melvill,  B.D. 


a  Some  render, 
"  as  a  heifer 
t  h  r  e  s  h  i  n  g," 
Whi'oh  being  nn- 
muzzled  would 
eat  abundantly 
and  become 
frisky. 

"Common  happi- 
ness is  sustained, 
not  by  great 
e.xertions,  wliich 
are  in  the  power 
of  a  few,  an<l 
happen  rarely 
even  to  them, 
but  by  gn.'at 
numbers  doing 
everyone  a  little, 
every  one  sonie- 
thinpr  in  his  par- 
ticular province, 
to  his  particular 
n  eigUbonrluiod. 
This  is  the  way 
in  which  Trovi- 
llence  intended 
friciety  to  be  car- 
ried on,  and  be- 
neficence to  be 
exercig  ei"  — 


petual  covenant,  Ne.  viii.  38,  x.  29.  (G)  on  the  moun- 
tains, -n-here  they  sacrifice  to  their  idols,  resting  place, 
Jchorah.  the  only  true  source  of  g-ooil.  (7)  devourod  them, 
as  wild  beasts  would  wandering-  sheep.  offend  not,  exou-iug- 
themselves  as  being:  agents  of  Jt  hovali,  who  was  angry  with  Kis 
lieople."  habitation  of  justice,  cdm/).  ch.  xxxi.  23.  (8;  he 
goats,  which  go  first,  and  lead  the  flock.* 

Seeking,  after  Jiadliifi  {v.  5). — I.  It  must  become  a  Christian  to 
be  always  inquiring  the  way  to  Zion  like  one  who  knows  he 
may  be  deceived,  but — 1.  It  is  comforting  to  remember  that  we 
are  not  to  stand  or  fall  by  human  decii^ion  ;  2.  There  are  cases  of 
depression  in  which  one  cause  or  another  weaves  darkness  round 
a  man,  so  that  while  his  face  is  towards  Zion  he  cannot  perceive 
that  he  is  on  the  road  ;  3.  A  Christian  should  never  be  too  confi- 
dent ;  4.  It  follows  that  you  ought  to  be  imitating  in  a.skiug  as 
to  the  road  to  Zion  :  the  dead  ;  the  living  ;  the  Bible  ;  God  ;  5. 
It  is  a  question  not  merely  for  beginners  but  for  most  advanced 
Christians  ;  (j.  It  does  not  imply  doubt  so  much  as  caution.  II. 
We  have  the  case  of  those  who  are  certified  as  to  the  direction  in 
which  they  are  proceeding,  by  busj-ing  themselves  in  iuquiriea 
as  to  the  way.  1.  Christianity  is  that  in  which  no  man  can  be 
too  advanced  to  study  the  alphabet  ;  2.  There  cannot  be  a  worse 
symptom  in  an  individual  or  congregation  than  a  distaste  for  the 
elementary  truths  and  facts  of  Christianity  :  3.  This  then  is  the 
test:  what  here  are  simple  truths  simply  delivered  ;  for  with  the 
believer,  what  was  glad  news  at  the  beginning  is  glad  news  to 
the  end  ;  4.  There  must  be  real  honesty  of  purpose  ;  there  is  such 
a  thing  as  asking  the  way  to  Zion  with  the  face  towards  Babylon ; 
5.  God  giveG  more  grace  in  proportion  as  that  akeady  given  ia 
improved." 

9—13.  (9)  assembly,  etc.,  the  mixed  annies  of  liledes.  Per^ 
sians,  and  their  allies,  from  thence,  i.e.  by  the  great  nations 
coming  from  the  north,  none  .  .  vain,  none  of  the  warriors 
.shall  return  without  aiding  in  the  conquest  :  or  none  of  the 
arrows  shall  fail  of  their  aim.  (10)  satisfied,  with  the  abun- 
dance they  bear  away.  (11)  fat,  big,  corpulent,  so  proud, 
heifer  at  grass,  who  might  eat  her  fill,  indulge  how  she 
pleased."  (12)  Omit  the  words. .« 7m// ic.  Babylon  waste  become 
the  hindmost  of  the  nations,  a  wilderness,  etc.  (13)  Comp.  ch. 
xix.  8,  xlix.  17. 

Mevodach. — Merodach  was  a  name,  or  a  title,  common  to  the 
princes  and  kings  of  Babylon,  of  which,  in  the  brief  Scriptural 
references  to  their  history,  two  instances  are  recorded,  viz.,  Mero- 
dach-baladan,  the  son  of  Baladan,  king  of  Babylon,  who  exer- 
cised the  office  of  government,  and  Evil-Merodach,  who  lived  iu 
the  days  of  Jeremiah.  From  Merodaeh  being  here  associated 
with  Bel,  or  the  temple  of  Belus.  and  from  the  similarity  of 
their  judgments — the  one  bowed  down  and  confounded,  and  the 
other  broken  in  pieces — it  may  reasonably  be  inferred  that  some 
other  famous  Babylonian  building  is  here  also  denoted  ;  while, 
at  the  same  time,  from  the  express  identity  of  the  name  with 
that  of  the  kings  of  Babylon,  and  even  with  Evil-Merodach,  then 
residing  there,  it  may  with  equal  reason  be  inferred  that,  under 
the  name  of  Merodaeh,  the  palace  is  spoken  of  by  the  Prophet. 
And  next  to  the  idolatrous  temple,  as  the  seat  of  false  wor.-hip 
which  corrupted  and  destroyed   the  nations,  it  may   well   be 


Cap.  1. 14-20.] 


JETIEMIAH. 


185 


imagined  that  the  royal  residence  of  the  despot  who  made  the 
earth  to  tiemble  and  oppressed  the  loeoj^le  of  Israel,  would  be 
selected  as  the  marked  object  of  the  righteous  judgments  of  God. 
And  secondary  only  to  the  Bii^s  Nimrood  in  the  greatness  of  its 
ruins  is  the  Mujelibe,  or  Makloube,  generally  understood  and 
described  by  travellers  as  the  remains  of  the  chief  palace  of 
Babylon.* 

14 — 16.  (14)  ptlt  .  .  array,  post  yourselves  in  good  positions. 
(15;  £liout,  as  conquerors  do.  lOLindations,  hetier.  buttrmxcfi. 
(IG)  sower,  so  that  even  the  fields  shall  not  be  tilled.  "Grain 
was  grown  within  the  city  wall  sufficient  to  last  for  a  long 
sii'ge.  '"     "  Conquerors  usually  spare  agriculturists." 

I  ahicc  at  Lahijam. — The  palace  of  the  king  of  Babylon  almost 
vied  with  the  great  temple  of  their  god.  And  there  is  now  some 
controversy,  in  which  of  the  principal  mountainous  heajos  the 
one  or  the  other  lies  buried.  But  the  utter  desolation  of  both 
leaves  no  room  for  any  debate  on  the  question, — which  of  the 
twain  is  bowed  down  and  confounded,  and  which  of  them  is 
broken  in  pieces.  The  two  palaces,  or  castles,  of  Babylon  were 
strongly  fortiiicd.  And  the  larger  was  suriounded  by  three 
walls  of  great  extent.  When  the  city  was  suddenly  taken  by 
Demetrius,  he  seized  on  one  of  the  castles  by  surprise,  and  dis- 
placed its  garrison  by  seven  thousand  of  his  own  troops,  whom 
he  stationed  within  it.  Of  the  other  he  could  not  make  himself 
master.  Their  extent  and  strength,  at  a  period  of  three  hundred 
years  after  the  deliver}-  of  the  prophecy,  are  thus  sufhciently 
demonstrated.  The  solidity  of  the  structure  of  the  greater  as 
well  as  of  the  lesser  palace,  might  have  warranted  the  belief  of 
its  unbroken  durability  for  ages.  And  never  was  there  a  build- 
ing whose  splendour  and  magnificence  were  in  greater  contrast 
to  its  present  desolati':>n.  The  vestiges  of  the  walls  which  sur- 
rounded it  are  still  to  be  seen,  and  serve  with  other  circumstances 
to  identify  it  with  the  Mujelibe.  as  the  name  Merodach  is 
identified  with  the  palace.  It  is  broken  in  pieces,  and  hence  its 
name  Mujelibe,  signifying  overturned,  or  turned  upside  down. 
Its  circumference  is  about  half  a  mile  ;  its  height  one  hundred 
and  forty  feet.  Bttt  it  is  '•  a  mass  of  confusion,  none  of  its 
members  being  distinguishable."  The  existence  of  chambers, 
passages,  and  cellars,  of  different  forms  and  sizes,  and  built  of 
different  materials,  has  been  fully  ascertained.  It  is  the  recep- 
tacle of  wild  beasts,  and  full  of  doleful  creatures  ;  wild  beasts  cry 
in  the  desolate  houses,  and  dragons  in  the  pleasant  palaces — 
"  venomous  reptiles  being  very  nimierous  throughout  the  ruins." 
"All  the  sides  are  worn  into  furrows  by  the  weather,  and  in 
some  places  where  several  channels  of  rain  have  united  together, 
these  furrows  are  of  great  depth,  and  penetrate  a.  considerablo 
way  into  the  mound."  '■  The  sides  of  the  ruin  exhibit  hollows 
worn  partly  by  the  weather."  It  is  brought  down  to  the  grave, 
to  the  sides  of  the  pit.* 

17 — 20.  n?)  scattered  sheep,  dwelling  in  different  parts 
of  the  Babylonish  kingdom.  "  Like  a  f  oek  driven  and  scared  in 
all  directions."  king  of  Assyria,  Shahnaneser.  (18)  have 
punished,  in  the  destruction  of  Nineveh."  (I It)  habitation, 
or  pasturage.  Carmel,  cic,  places  noted  for  their  rich  pastures.* 
(20;  those  days,  perhaps  referring  to  the  more  distajat  times 


'•  T;iou  floest  xi.^ 
wrong  ill  seeking 
a  scar  in  a  smooth 
skill." — Lyly. 

b  Keith, 


a  Aristotle, 

"  The  happiness 
of  life  consists, 
like  the  day.  not 
ill  single  lia-hes 
(of  liglit).  but  in 
one  continuous 
niilil  serenity. 
1  he  most  beau- 
tiful period  of 
the  heart's  exist- 
ence is  ill  this 
calm  equable 
light,  even  al- 
though it  be  only 
moonshine  or 
twihght.  Now 
the  mind  alone 
can  obtain  for  us 
this  heavenly 
cheerfulness  and 
peace.  "-A'icA/e?'. 

"  Go,  fix  some 
weighty  truth ; 
cliain  down  some 
passion  ;  do  some 
generous  deed ; 
teach  ignorance 
to  see,  or  grief  to 
smile;  correct 
thy  friend,  be- 
friend thy  great- 
est foe  ;  or,  with 
warm  heart,  and 
confidence  di- 
vine, fpring  up, 
and  lay  strong 
hold  on  Him 
who  made  thee." 
— I'vuiig. 

"A  hundred 
mouths,  a  hun- 
dred tongues  and 
threats  of  brass 
inspired  with 
iri.ii  lungs." — 
Virgil. 

b  Keith, 


a  "  At  the  taking 
of  this  city,  the 
last  king  of  As- 
syria was  killed, 
and  the  seat  and 
title  of  the  em- 
pire removed  to 
Babylon,  wh.  wm 


186 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  L  21-24. 


no  limger  called  ' 
the  Assyrian,  but 
the  Uabyuiiiiau 
mo  liar  o  hy."  — 
Ltul/i. 

b  Is.  l\v.  10;  Eze. 
xxxiv.  13,  14. 

f.  20.  S.  S.  Pierce, 
2'&. 

Happiness  is  like 
mauaa ;  it  is  to 
be  gathered  iu 
grains  and  en- 
303-ed  every  day. 
It  will  uot  keuj), 
it  cauuub  be 
accumulated,  nor 
liave  we  to  go 
out  of  ourselves 
or  into  remote 
places  to  gather 
it,  since  it  has 
rained  dotvu  tr. 
heaven,  at  our 
Very  doors,  or 
ratlier  witliiuside 
them. 

c  Keith. 


a  This  appears 
to  be  intended  as 
a  name  for  Baby- 
lon. 

6  '•  Because  she 
is  tlie  land  of 
■  Jifcral/mim,  or 
double  rebellion, 
therefore  she  is 
the  land  of  I'l'kod, 
or  visitation  ;  i.e. 
of  punishment 
from  God." — 
Wnrdsienrlli. 
The  falling 
masses  bear  evi- 
dent proof  of  tlie 
operation  of  tire 
having  been  con- 
tinued on  them, 
as  well  after  they 
were  broken 

down  as  before, 
since  every  ])art 
of  their  surface 
has  been  so 
equally  exposed 
to  it,  that  many 
of  them  have  ac- 
quired a  rouniled 
foriu,  and  in 
none  can  the 
place  of  separa- 
tion from  its  ad- 
joining one  be 
traced  by  any 
appearance  of 
superior      fresli- 


of   the  Messiah,     not  found,   com^K   Ps.  s.  15,   xxsviii.  36  ; 
Is.  xli.  12. 

'J'na.fiiir.'i  of  Chahhra. — And  after  the  incessant  spoliation  of 
ages,  now  that  the  cud  is  come  of  the  treasures  of  Chaldiua.  the 
eurlh  itself  fails  not  to  disclose  its  hidden  treasures,  so  as  to 
testify  that  they  once  were  abundant.  In  proof  of  this  an  in- 
stance ma}'  be  f;ivcn.  At  the  ruins  of  Hooniauia.  near  to  those 
of  Ctesiphon,  pieces  of  silver  having  (on  the  oth  JIarch,  1812) 
been  accidentally  discovered,  edging  out  of  the  bank  of  the 
Tigris,  '•  on  examination  there  were  found  and  brought  away," 
by  jocrsons  sent  for  that  purpose  by  the  pacha  of  Bagdad's  officers, 
"  between  six  and  seven  hundred  ingots  of  silver,  each  measuring 
from  one  to  one  and  a  half  feet  iu  length  ;  and  an  earthen  jar, 
containing  upwards  of  two  tliousand  Athenian  coins,  all  of  silver. 
Many  were  jjurchased  at  the  time  by  the  late  Mr.  lUch,  formerly 
the  East  India  Company's  resident  at  Bagdad,  and  are  now  in  his 
valuable  collection,  since  bought  by  Government,  and  deposited 
in  the  British  Museum.''  Amid  the  ruins  of  Ctesiphon  '•  the 
natives  often  pick  up  coins  of  gold,  silver  and  copper,  for  which 
they  always  find  a  ready  sale  in  Bagdad.  Indeed,  some  of  the 
wealthy  Turks  and  Armenians,  who  are  collecting  for  several 
French  and  German  consuls,  hire  people  to  go  and  search  for 
coins,  medals,  and  antique  gems  ;  and  I  am  assured  they  never 
return  to  their  employers  empty-handed."  as  if  all  who  spoil 
Chaldffia  shall  be  satisfied,  till  even  the  ruins  be  spoiled  unto  the 
uttermost."^ 

21—24.  (21)  Merathaim,  or  fhf  rclch."  This  command  is 
given  to  Cyrus  and  his  allies.  Pekod,  or  rlsitation  ;  prob.  a 
district  of  Babylonia,  and  hero  used  as  another  symbolic  name 
for  Babylon.*  (22,  23)  hammer  .  .  earth,  Is.  xiv.  4—0,  1(5,  17. 
desolation,  com  p.  Re.  xviii.  IS).  (21)  snare,  Cyrus  took  the 
city  by  surprise,  by  draining  the  Euphrates. 

JJoifrKction  of  JJtibijloii  hij  frc. — On  the  summit  of  the  hill  are 
"  immense  fragments  of  brick-work  of  no  determinate  figures, 
tumbled  together,  and  converted  into  solid  vitrified  masses." 
"  Some  of  these  huge  fragments  measured  twelve  feet  in  height, 
by  twenty-four  in  circumference  ;  and  from  the  circumstance  of 
the  standing  brick- work  having  remained  in  a  perfect  state,  the 
change  exhibited  iu  the.se  is  only  accountable  from  their  having 
been  exposed  to  the  fiercest  fire,  or  rather  scathed  by  lighting." 
"  They  are  completely  molten — a  strong  presumption  that  fire 
was  used  in  the  destruction  of  the  tower,  which,  in  parts,  resem- 
bles what  the  Scriptures  prophesied  it  should  become.  '  a  burnt^ 
mountain.'  In  the  denunciation  respecting  Babylon,  fire  is  par-* 
ticularly  mentioned  as  an  agent  against  it.  To  this  Jeremiah 
evidently  alludes,  when  he  says  that  it  should  be  '  as  when  God 
overthrew  Sodom  and  Gomorrah,'  on  which  cities,  it  is  said.  '  the 
Lord  rained  brimstone  and  fire.'  '  Iler  high  gates  shall  be 
j  burned  with  fire,  and  the  people  shall  labour  in  vain,  and  the 
;  folk  in  the  fire,  and  they  shall  be  weary,' "  '•  In  many  of  these 
,  immense  unshapen  masses  might  be  .traced. the  gradual  effects  of 
j  the  consuming  power,  which  liad  produced  so  remarkable  an  ap- 
pearance ;  exhibiting  parts  burnt  to  that  variegated  dark  hue, 
I  seen  in  the  vitrified  matter  lying  about  in  glass  manufactories  ; 
while,  through  the  whole  of  these  awful  testimonies  of  the  fire 
j  (whatever  lire  it  was  !)  which,  doubtless,  hurled  them  from  their 


Cap.  1.25-28.] 


JEREMIAIT. 


187 


original  elevation  "  (I  will  roll  thee  down  from  the  rocks),  "  the 
regular  lines  of  the  cement  are  visible,  and  so  hardened  in  com- 
mon with  the  bricks,  that  when  the  masses  are  struck  they  ring 
like  glass.  On  examining  the  base  of  the  standing  wall,  con- 
tiguous to  these  huge  transmuted  substances,  it  is  found  tolerablj' 
free  from  any  similar  changes — in  short,  quite  in  its  original 
state  ;  hence.'  continues  8ir  Kobert  Kcr  Porter,  " I  di-aw  the 
conclusion,  that  the  consuming  power  acted  from  above,  and 
that  the  scattered  ruin  fell  from  some  higher  point  than  the 
summit  of  the  present  standing  fragment.  The  heat  of  the  fire 
which  produced  such  amazing  effects  must  have  burned  with 
the  force  of  the  strongest  furnace  ;  and  from  the  general  ap- 
pearance of  the  cleft  in  the  wall,  and  these  vitrified  masses,  I 
should  be  induced  to  attribute  the  catastrophe  to  lightning  from 
heaven.  Ruins  by  the  explosion  of  any  combustible  matter  would 
have  exhibited  very  difterent  appearances.""^ 

25—28.  (25)  armoury,  storehouse  of  weapons.  God's 
weapons  for  the  judgment  of  nations  are  war,  famine,  pestilence, 
disease,  and  death.  (2G)  utmost  border,  i.e.  even  the  hind- 
most parts  of  the  army.  Some  refer  it  to  the  long  distance  from 
which  the  Median  army  came,  storehouses,  or  granaries,  as 
heaps,  of  corn,  to  be  burnt  as  a  bonfire."  (27)  bullocks,  fig. 
for  her  strong  youths,  or  princes,  magnates.  (28)  them  that 
flee,  esp.  the  Jews,  of  his  temple,  wh.  the  C'haldaiaus  had 
destroyed. 

Drstnicflnn  of  Bttltjlon  htj  fire. — The  high  gates  of  the  temple 
of  Eelus,  which  were  standing  in  the  time  of  Herodotus,  have 
been  burnt  with  fire  ;  the  vitrified  masses  which  fell  when  Bel 
bowed  down  rest  on  the  top  of  its  stupendous  ruins.  "  The  hand 
of  the  Lord  has  been  stretched  upon  it  ;  it  has  been  rolled  down 
from  the  rocks,  and  has  been  made  a  burnt  mountain," — of 
which  it. was  further  prophesied,  "They  shall  not  take  of  thee  a 
Btone  for  a  corner,  nor  a  stone  for  foundations,  but  thou  shalt  be 
desolate  for  ever,  saith  the  Lord."  The  old  wastes  of  Zion  shall 
be  built;  its  former  desolations  shall  be  raised  up  :  and  Jerusalem 
shall  be  inhal)ited  again  in  her  own  place,  even  in  Jerusalem. 
But  it  shall  not  be  with  Bel  as  with  Zion,  nor  with  Babylon  as 
with  Jerusalem.  For  as  the  "  heaps  of  rubbish  imj^regnated  with 
nitre  "  which  cover  the  site  of  Babylon  "  cannot  be  cultivated," 
BO  the  vitrified  masses  on  the  summit  of  Birs  Nimrood  cannot  be 
rebuilt.  Though  still  they  be  of  the  hardest  substance,  and  in- 
destructible by  the  elements,  and  though  once  they  formed  the 
highest  ]iinuacles  of  Belus,  yet,  incapable  of  being-  hewn  into  any 
regular  form,  they  neither  are  nor  can  now  be  taken  for  a  corner 
or  for  foundations.  And  the  bricks  on  the  solid  fragments  of 
wall,  which  rest  on  the  summit,  though  neither  scathed  nor 
molten,  are  so  firmly  cemented,  that,  according  to  Mr.  Eich,  "  it 
is  nearly  impossible  to  detach  any  of  them  whole,"  or*,  as  Captain 
Mignan  still  more  forcibly  states,  "they  are  so  firmly  cemented, 
that  it  is  utterly  impossible  to  detach  any  of  them."  "  My  most 
violent  attempts,"  savs  Sir  Robert  Ker  Porter,  "  could  not  separate 
them."  And  Mr.  Buckingham,  in  assigning  reasons  for  lessening 
the  wonder  at  the  total  disappearance  of  the  walls  at  this  distant 
period,  and  speaking  of  the  Birs  Nimrood  generally,  observes, 
'■  that  the  burnt  bricks  (the  only  ones  sought  after)  which  are 
found  in  the  filujelibe,  the  Kasr,  and  the  Birs  Nimrood,  the  Oiily 


ness,  or  any 
exe  nptiou  from 
the  influeiico  of 
the  destroying 
flame. 

'•  The  common 
course  of  things 
is  in  favour  of 
liappiness  ;  hap- 
piness is  the 
rule,  misery  tlie 
exception.  Were 
tlie  order  re- 
versed, our  at- 
tention would  be 
called  to  ex- 
amples of  health 
and  competency, 
instead  of  disease 
and  want."  — 
Falpy. 
c  KaiUl. 


a  "  This  meta- 
phor desciihes 
ihe  suddenness, 
ease,  and  com- 
pleteness with 
which  Babylon 
will  be  taken  and 
spoiled ;  it  will  be 
like  the  confla- 
gration of  a  barn 
of  coru."-IKo/-dj>- 
icoii/i. 

"Ai-iosto,  in  one 
of  his  romantic 
legends,  tells  us 
of  a  tree,  many- 
branched,  and 
covered  witii  de- 
lectable bunches ; 
but  whoso  shook 
that  tree  to  win 
tlie  fruit,  found, 
too  late,  that  not 
fruit,  but  stones 
of  crushing 
weight,  came 
down  upon  his 
head.  The  sen- 
sualities which 
fools  call  pleasure 
are  such  a  tree : 
they  who  seek  its 
fruit  become  its 
victim  s."  — (S. 
Coley. 

"  All  men  that 
have  r  a  m-b  1  e  d 
after  happiness 
have  failed  ;  nei- 
ther learning,  nor 
fame,  nor  wealth, 
nor  pleasure, 
taken  separately 
or  jointly,  could 
ever  give  it, 
without  actinp 
up  to  the  heigb 


183 


JEREillAH. 


[Cap.  1.  2Q-AO. 


«nil  (iignity  of 
liuinan  natnrp, 
awX  ppttiiij:  a 
/i^ht  set  of  prin- 
ciples fortlioufjlit 
anil  practico; 
aiiioiis--<t  wliioli 
may  be  rockoiieil 
the  love  of  jus- 
tice, tempeniMC(\ 
fortitivle,  aiul 
benevolence.  "  — 
Anloiiinus. 
b  Keith. 


B  Comp.  Job  xvi. 
13. 

6  "  The  Baby- 
lonians were  so 
discouraged  by 
liaviiig  lost  some 
battles,  that  they 
retireil  within 
the  walls  of  tlie 
city,  and  could 
not  be  induced 
to  meet  Cyrus 
again  in  the 
field."  —  Nendei- 
ton. 

a  "  Babylon  has 
hitherto,  by  its 
ambition,  kept 
the  world  in  un- 
rest :  now  by  its 
fall  men  every- 
where can  rlwcll 
in  security." — 
Spk.  Com. 

Is.  xiv.  6—8. 

i  Stems  and 
Twigs. 


a  D.  doten,  F.  ra- 
doter. 

6  Or  hired  sol- 
diers from  the 
Burrouudiug  na- 
tions. 

c  "  Many  of  their 
idols  were  huge 
and  grotesque  in 
nppeai'ance,  and 
calculated  to  in- 
spire beholders 
■wit!)  terror." — 
Jii'ii  derson. 

"  Fnlly  to  under- 
stand this  lias- 
sage,  a  person 
must  see  the 
frenzy  of  the 
heathen  when 
they  get  a  sight 
of  thfir  idols. 
Thus,  when  the 


three  great  monuments  in  whicli  there  are  any  traces  of  their 
having  been  used,  are  so  difficult,  in  the  two  la.st  indeed  so  im- 
possible, to  be  extracted  whole,  from  the  tenacity  of  the  cement 
iu  which  they  are  laid,  that  they  could  never  have  been  resorted 
to  while  any  considerable  portion  of  the  walls  existed  to  furnish 
an  easier  supply  :  even  now.  though  some  portiou  of  the  mounds 
on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  river"'  (the  Birs  is  on  the  western 
side)  "  are  occasionally'  dug  into  for  bricks,  they  are  not  extracted 
without  a  comparatively  great  expense,  and  very  few  of  them 
whole,  in  proportion  to  the  g'reat  number  of  fragments  that  come 
up  with  them."  Around  the  tower  there  is  not  a  single  whole 
brick  to  be  seen.* 

29—32.  (29)  archers,«  r.  14.  (30)  therefore,  etc.,  oh.  xlix. 
2G.  (31)  most  proud,  Jlch.  "  0  pride."  "  0  man  of  pride."  Bab. 
is  the  peisouification  of  pride.  (32)  fire  .  .  oities,  Cyrus  seem.s 
to  have  ravaged  the  Babylonian  district  for  twenty  j-ears  before 
taking  Bay  Ion  itself. 

The  Ahiiifjhtij  Deliverer  (vv.  .31 — 34). — I.  God's  vengeance  on 
His  enemies.  II.  His  merciful  interposition  on  behalf  of  His 
people.  1.  An  interesting  title  to  be  considered  ;  2.  An  im- 
})ortant  qualification  referred  to  ;  3.  A  convincing  proof  adduced  ; 
4.  A  gracious  fact  declared. 

33,  34.  (33)  refused.  .  .  go,  therefore  the  strong  arm  o<t 
Jehovah  must  deliver  them,  by  judgments  on  their  enemiea. 
(34)  Redeemer,  or  Goel,  avenger,     tiie  land,  orearth.** 

The  .strenrith  of  ihe  Iledeemer  {v.  34). — I.  These  words  suggest  a. 
difficulty  :  why  does  Israel  so  often  suffer  ?  1.  God  does  not 
display  His  strength  at  once  in  order  to  glorify  it ;  2.  In  order 
to  make  His  people  lay  hold  of  it ;  3.  Hereby  He  chastens  His 
people  ;  4.  And  instructs  them  :  o.  And  that  He  may  show 
mercy  to  their  oppressors.  II.  These  words  convey  a  blessed 
truth  ;  1.  Consider  the  might  of  the  enemies  from  whom  He  de- 
livers them  ;  2.  Consider  the  completeness  of  the  deliverance  ; 
3.  Consider  that  He  upholds  to  the  end  all  whom  He  has  redeemed. 
III.  These  words  imply  a  terrible  warning — 1.  To  all  who  op- 
press God's  people  ;   2.  To  all  who  reject  Hia  help.* 

35 — 40.  (35)  sword,  symbol  of  war.  "Wise  men,  MariU  Da. 
i.  4.  (30)  liars,  impostors  ;  the  astrologers  or  scothsnyers  are 
referred  to.  dote,"  or  rave  :  talk  idlj',  senselessly.  (37)  min- 
gled people,  mixed  races,*  many  of  whom  had  been  brought  to 
Babylon  as  captives,  like  the  Jews,  as  women,  divested  of  all 
manliness.  (38)  drougllt,  better  read  here  "a  sword."  Refer- 
ei;ce  is  to  Cyrus  emptying  the  bed  of  the  Eu]ihrates.  idols,  lit. 
terrtir.^."  "Mere  bugbears  to  frighten  children  with."  (39) 
wild,  pfc,  Is.  xiii.  21.  (40)  Sodom,  etc..  Ge.  six.  25  :  Je.  xlix.  18. 

llahi/lon  and 2'rnphecy. — This  possibly  refers  to  a  circumstance 
attending  the  capture  of  the  city  by  the  Persians  ;  but  it  more 
probably  alludes  to  the  physical  condition  of  the  country.  The 
plain  in  which  Babylon  stands  is  exposed  to  long  drought  and 
intense  heat  in  summer,  so  that  the  dry  soil  must  have  been  at 
all  times  perfectly  barren  without  artificial  irrigation  ;  but  with 
such  irrigation  the  ground  is,  even  at  this  day.  of  unexampled 
fertility,  except  upon  the  wide-spread  grit  and  debris  of  desolated 
cities.  Therefore  it  was  that  the  land  exhibited  one  of  th3  most; 
extensive  and  complicated  syst&ms  of  irrigation  that  the  world 


Cap.  1.41-46.] 


JEREMlAff. 


189 


ever  saw.  It  was  overrun  with  innumerable  canals  in  all  direc- 
tions— the  largest  of  them  navigable  and  feeding  others,  diminish- 
ing in  imp;>rtauce  with  their  distance  from  the  trunk.  Ihe^e, 
as  well  as  the  parent  river,  were  bordered  with  an  infinity  of 
hjalraulic  machines,  by  which  the  water  was  raised  and  dis- 
tributed into  the  fields  and  gardens.  The  same  plan  is  still 
pursued,  to  a  limited  extent,  at  some  spots  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  the  rivers.  But  it  is  now  literally  true  of  Eabjlon 
that  •■  a  drouyht  is  upon  her  waters,  and  they  are  dried  up."  'Yet 
still  the  lines  and  ridges  of  innumerable  canals  remain,  which 
enable  the  spectator  to  trace  the  general  .system,  and  to  verify 
the  ancient  historians  as  well  as  the  prophecies  of  Scripture  :  the 
whole  being  strongly  calculated  to  show  the  ei;tent  to  which 
human  skill  and  industry  were  once  employed  in  giving  to  this 
now  desolate  region  that  fertility  for  which  it  was  in  old  times 
celebrated.  This  explanation  seems  to  us  to  give  much  force  to 
the  present  prediction,  since  there  can  be  no  country  the  subsis- 
tence of  which  more  entirely  depended  upon  a  complicated 
system  of  irrigation.  Wherever  water  is  applied  in  this  region 
(with  the  ex«eption  already  made),  the  productive  powers  of  the 
Boil  and  climate  cannot  be  exceeded  ;  but  where  that  is  wanting, 
it  becomes  a  naked  desert. 

41 — 44.  (41)  many  kings,  in  the  allied  army  under  Cyrus, 
coasts,  or  remote  parts.  (42)  cruel,  Is.  xiii.  17,  18.  like  a 
man,  in  orderly  array,  so  as  to  seem  like  one  great  man  moving 
on.  (43)  waxed,  feeble,  so  that  he  attempted  no  resistance. 
Compare  the  panic  of  Belshazzar,  Da.  v.  6.  (44)  like  a  lion, 
ch.  xlix.  19.« 

Predictions  concernincf  Bahylflti. — The  united  testimonies. 
given  without  allusion  to  the  prediction,  afford  a  better  than  any 
conjectural  commentary,  such  as  previously  was  given  without 
reference  to  these  facts.  While  of  Babylon,  in  general,  it  is  said, 
that  it  would  be  taken  from  thence  ;  and  while,  in. many  jilaces, 
nothing  is  left,  yet  of  the  burnt  mountain,  which  forms  an  ac- 
cumulation of  ruins  enough  in  magnitude  to  build  a  city,  men 
do  not  take  a  stone  for  foundations,  nor  a  stone  for  a  corner. 
Having  undergone  the  action  of  the  fiercest  fire,  and  being  com- 
pletely molten,  the  masses  on  the  summit  of  Bel,  on  which  the 
hand  of  the  Lord  has  been  stretched,  cannot  bo  reduced  into  any 
other  form  or  substance,  nor  built  up  again  by  the  hand  of  man. 
And  the  tower  of  Babel,  afterward  the  temple  of  Belus.  which 
witnessed  the  finst  dispersion  of  mankind,  shall  itself  be  wit- 
nessed by  the  latest  generation,  even  as  now  it  stands,  desolate 
for  ever. — an  indestructible  monument  of  human  pride  and  folly, 
and  of  Divine  judgment  and  truth.  The  gi-eatest  of  the  ruins,  as 
one  of  the  edifices  of  Babylon,  is  rolled  down  into  a  vast,  indis- 
criminate, cloven,  confounded,  useless,  and  blasted  mass,  from 
■which  fragments  might  be  hurled,  with  as  little  injury  to  the 
ruined  heaji,  as  from  a  bare  and  rocky  mountain's  side.  Such  is 
the  triimiph  of  the  word  of  the  living  God  over  the  proudest  of 
the  temples  of  Baal.* 

45,  46.  (4.">)  therefore,  efc.  comp.  ch.  xlix.  20.  (46)  cry  .  . 
nations,  "  who  shall  be  astonished  at  the  unexpected  downfall 
of  so  great  a  city,  and  so  ]iotent  an  empire."" 

The  s2>uiUng  of  Chaldaa. — When  the  Eomans  under  lleraclius 


gods  are  taken 
out  in  proces- 
sicin,  the  multi- 
tudes slicut,  and 
the  pi-iests  mut- 
ter and  rave. 
T  lie  peslures  are 
all  diotorteil.  and 
tlie  devotees  are 
aliccted  with 
alternate  sorrow 
crjoy."— Vilc/iertj. 

"  As  the  ivy 
twines  around 
the  oak,  so  do 
misery  and  mis- 
fortune encom- 
pass the  h,ippi- 
ness  of  man. 
Felicity,  pure 
and  unalloyed 
felicity,  is  not  a 
plant  of  earthly 
growth  :  her 
gnrdtns  are  the 
skies."— .fiurtoM. 


a  "  The  compari- 
son of  the  invader 
of  Babylon  to  a 
lion  coming  up 
from  tlie  jungle 
of  Jordan  was 
very  apj  ropriate 
to  C.vrus,  who 
came  forth  from 
the  bed  of  .a  river 
to  take  the  city." 
—  Wordsworth. 

"  Ever.y  human 
soul  has  the  genn 
of  some  flowers 
within  ;  ami  they 
would  ojien,  if 
they  could  only 
fiml  sunshine  and 
free  air  to  ex- 
pand in.  I  al- 
ways told  you, 
that  not  having 
enough  of  sun- 
shine was  what 
ailed  the  world. 
Make  people 
liappy.  and  there 
\vi  1  not  be  half 
the  quarrelling, 
or  a  tentli  part  of 
tlie  wickedness 
tliere  is." — Mrsi 
Child. 

h  Kiith. 


a  Lnirth. 

Recent  evidence 
is  not  wan'ing 
to     Bhow     tbat^ 


190 


JEREMIAn. 


[Cap.  11. 1-4. 


xrliprever  a  trea- 
sure is  to  be 
fouiiil,  a  swonl, 
in  tlie  liaiid  of  a 
fierce  enemy,  is 
upon  it,  and  spo- 
liation lias  not 
ceaseil  in  tlie 
land  of  Ch.iMaja. 
"  On  tliG  west  of 
Hilleh,  tliere  are 
two  towns  wliich, 
iu  the  eyes  of  the 
Persians  and  all 
the  Shiites,  are 
rendered  sacred 
by  the  memory 
of  two  of  the 
greatest  martyrs 
of  that  sect. 
These  are  ^Nleslied 
Ali  and  Weshed 
Housien,  lately 
filled  with  riches, 
accuninlated  by 
the  devotion  of 
the  Persians,  bnt 
carried  off  by  the 
ferocious  Waha- 
bees  to  the  mid- 
dle of  their  do- 
Berts." 

"  Praise  is  the 
sacred  attribute 
of  heaven,  'tis 
ours  alone,  witli 
humble,  grateful 
he.arts,  t'  employ 
the  gracious 
instinct  it  be- 
stows, to  our  own 
honour,  h.ippi- 
ness,  and  virtue  : 
for  happiness  and 
virtue  are  the 
Bame."-i''/aHCi5. 

h  Keith. 


a  The  "  vannns  " 
of  the  Romans 
was  a  broad 
basket,  into 
Whicli  the  corn 
and  cliafE  was 
received  after 
thrashing:,  and 
then  thrown  to- 
wards the  wind. 
I'lie  Jews  Ui>ed  a 


ravaged  Chaldnaa,  "  though  much  of  the  treasure  had  been  re- 
moved from  Dcstagercd,  and  much  had  been  expended,  the 
remaining  wealth  appears  to  have  exceeded  their  hopes,  and  even 
to  have  satiated  their  avarice."  ANTiile  the  deeds  of  Julian  and 
the  words  of  Gibbon  show  how  Chaldaja  was  spoiled — how  a 
sword  continued  to  be  on  her  treasures — and  how,  year  after  year 
and  age  after  age,  there  was  rumour  on  rumour  and  violence  in 
her  land — more  full  illustrations  remain  to  be  given  of  the  truth 
of  the  same  prophetic  word.  And  as  a  painter  of  great  power 
may  cope  with  another  liy  drawing  as  closely  to  the  life  as  he, 
though  the  features  be  different,  so  Gibbon's  description  of  the 
sack  of  Ctesiphon,  as  previously  he  had  described  the  sack  and 
conflagration  of  tSeleucia  (cities  each  of  which  may  aptly  be 
called  ••  the  daughter  of  Babylon,"  having  been,  like  it,  the  capi- 
tal of  Chalda3a),  is  written  as  if.  by  the  most  graphic  representa- 
tion of  facts,  he  had  been  aspiring  to  rival  Volney  as  an  illustra- 
tor of  Scripture  prophecy.  "The  capital  was  taken  by  assault  ;  and 
the  disorderly  resistance  of  the  people  gave  a  keener  edge  to  the 
sabres  of  the  Moslems,  who  shouted  with  religious  transport,  •  This 
is  the  white  palace  of  Chosroes  ;  this  is  the  promise  of  the  apostle 
of  God.'  The  naked  robbers  of  the  desert  were  suddenly  enriched 
beyond  the  measure  of  their  hope  or  knowledge.  Each  chamber 
revealed  a  new  treasure,  secreted  with  art.  or  ostentatiously  dis- 
played ;  the  gold  and  silver,  the  various  wardrobes  and  precious 
furniture,  surpa-^sed  (says  Abulfeda)  the  estimate  of  fancy  or 
numbers  ;  and  another  historian  defines  the  untold  and  almost 
infinite  mass  by  the  fabulous  computation  of  three  thousand  of 
thou.sands  of  thousands  of  pieces  of  gold.  One  of  the  apartmenta 
of  the  palace  was  decorated  with  a  carpet  of  silk  sixty  cubits  in 
length  and  as  many  iu  breadth  (90  feet)  :  a  paradise,  or  garden, 
was  de])icted  on  the  ground  ;  the  flo^vers.  fruits,  and  shrubs,  were 
imitated  by  the  figures  of  the  gold  embroidery,  and  the  colours 
of  the  precious  stones  :  and  the  ample  square  was  encircled  by  a 
variegated  and  verdant  border.  The  rigid  Omar  divided  the 
prize  among  his  brethren  of  iVIedina  :  the  picture  was  destroyed  ; 
but  such  was  the  intrinsic  value  of  the  materials,  that  the  share 
of  Ali  alone  was  sold  for  20.000  drachmas.  A  mule  that  carried 
awaj''  the  tiara  and  cuirass,  the  belt;  and  bracelets  of  Chosroes, 
was  overtaken  by  the  pursuers  ;  the  gorgeous  trophy  was  pre- 
sented to  the  commander  of  the  faithful,  and  the  gravest  of  the 
companions  condescended  to  smile  when  they  beheld  the  white 
beard,  hairy  arms,  and  uncouth  figure  of  tlae  veteran  who  was 
invested  with  the  spoil  of  the  great  king."* 


Cn AFTER  THE  FIFTY-FIUST. 

1—4.  (1)  that  dwell,  etc..  i.e.  the  inhabitants  of  the 
metropolis  of  the  Chalda-ans.  Lit.  "  that  dwell  in  the  heart  of 
mj  insurgents."  destroying  wind,  ch.  iv.  11.  The  meta])hor8 
used  in  this  and  succeeding  verses  are  agricultural.  (2 )  fanners, 
cnmp.  ch.  XV.  7.0-  (.3)  brigandine,  ch.  xlvi.  4.  (4)  in  her 
streets,  or,  more  generally,  in  her  land. 

^Vh(l^  one  .'<in  n-ill  do. — There  was  but  one  crack  in  thelanthorn, 
and  the  wind  has  found  it  out,  and  blown  out  the  candle.  How 
great  a  mischief  one  unguarded  point  of  character  may  cause  us  1 


Cap.  li.  5-13.] 


JEREMTAff. 


191 


One  spai'k  blew  up  the  magazine  and  shook  the  whole  country  for 
miles  around.  One  leak  sank  the  vessel  and  drowned  all  on 
bora'd.  One  wound  may  kill  the  body.  One  sin  destroy  the  soal. 
It  little  matters  how  carefully  the  rest  of  the  lauthorn  is  pro- 
tected, the  one  point  which  is  damaged  is  quite  sufficient  to 
admit  the  wind  ;  and  so  it  little  matters  how  zealous  a  man  may 
be  in  a  thousand  things,  if  he  tolerates  one  darling  sin  ;  Satan  will 
find  out  the  flaw,  and  destroy  all  his  hopes.  The  strength  of  a 
chain  is  to  be  measui'ed  not  by  its  strongest  but  by  its  weakest  link, 
for  if  the  weakest  snaps,  what  is  the  use  of  the  rest .'  Satan  is  a 
very  close  observer,  and  knows  exactly  where  our  weak  points 
are  ;  we  have  need  of  very  much  watchfulness,  and  we  have  great 
cause  to  bless  our  merciful  Lord  who  prayed  for  us  that  our  faith 
f.'iil  not.  Either  our  pride,  our  sloth,  our  ignorance,  our  anger, 
or  our  lust,  would  prove  our  ruin  unless  grace  interposed  ;  any 
one  of  our  senses  or  faculties  might  admit  the  foe,  yea,  our  very 
virtues  and  graces  might  be  gates  of  entrance  to  our  enemies.  O 
Jesus,  if  Thou  hast  indeed  bought  me  with  Thy  blood,  be  pleased 
to  keep  me  by  Thy  power  even  unto  the  end.'' 

5 — 9.  (.5)  forsaken,  better,  iridowcd.  filled  with  sin,  i.e. 
with  the  punishments  resulting  from  sin.    (C)  ilee,  etc.,  ch.  1.  8." 

(7)  golden  enp,*  setting  off  her  poison,  and  enticing  men  to 
drink,  heedless  of  the  peril  of  so  doing.     Comp.  ch.  sxv,  15,  16. 

(8)  fallen.  Is.  xxi.  '.).'  take  value,  "spoken  ironically,  and 
intimating  that  her  ruin  is  irrecoverable."  <*  (9)  skies,  or 
clouds. 

Flee  ye,  etc.  (r.  8). — When  the  Arabs  have  drawn  upon  them- 
selves the  resentment  of  the  more  fixed  inhabitants  of  those 
countries,  and  think  themselves  unable  to  stand  against  them, 
they  withdraw  into  the  depths  of  the  great  wilderness,  where 
none  can  follow  them.  Thus  also  very  expressly  M.  Savary 
(torn.  ii.  p.  8):  "  Alwaj's  on  their  guard  against  tyranny,  on  the 
least  discontent  that  is  given  them,  they  pack  up  their  tents,  load 
their  camels  with  them,  ravage  the  flat  coiintr}',  and,  loaded  with 
plunder,  plunge  into  the  burning  sands,  whither  none  can  pursiie 
them,  and  where  they  alone  can  dwell."  Is  it  not  then  most 
probable  that  the  dwelling  deep,  mentioned  in  these  words,  means 
their  plringing  far  into  the  deserts,  rather  than  going  into  deep 
caves  and  dens,  as  has  been  most  commonly  supposed  ?  This  ex- 
planation is  also  strongly  confirmed  by  verse  30.  Flee,  get  you 
far  off,  dwell  deep.* 

10-13.  (10)  Lord  ..  righteousness,  i.e.  "their  justifica- 
tion in  their  controversy  with  Baliylon,  the  cruel  enemy  of  God 
and  His  people.""  (11)  make  bright,  or  sharpen,  shields 
some  render,  quivers.  Medes,*  including  the  Persians.  (12) 
upon  the  walls,  better  "  again.st  the  walls."  The  text  is  most 
prob.  a  summons  to  the  invaders.  (18)  many  waters,"^  the 
turnings  of  the  Euphrates,  and  the  canals  irrigating  the  land, 
measure,  meted  out  as  judgment  on  thy  covetousness  :  or  the 
term  limit,  to  which  it  will  be  allowed  to  go."* 

Bufij  of  arlnu>ivh'd<i\nfi  God's  mercies. — Consider — I.  What  is 
that  word  which  we  are  now  called  to  declare  ?  1.  The  agricul- 
tural ;  2.  The  commercial;  8.  The  political;  4.  The  religious. 
il.  In  what  manner  should  we  declare  them  .'  1.  Let  us  acknow- 
ledge God  in  them  ;  2.  Wc  must  adore  Him  for  them  ;  3.  13y  an- 


shoTel,  ami  threw 
the  corn  and 
cliafl'  agiiiust  tha 
wind. 

The  word  fan 
comes  to  us  from 
the  Lat.  raiinus, 
tlirougli  the  Fr. 
vaiinir.  And  the 
winnowing 
shovel  is  tlie 
origin  of  the 
ladies'  "fan." 

"  'J'here  is  no 
malice  like  the 
malice  of  the 
re  neg  a  d  e."  — • 
Ahtcuulay. 

b  C,  II,  Spurgeon. 


a     Comp, 
xviii.  1. 


Be. 


&"  The  cup  in  the 
hand  of  Babylon 
is  a  golden  cup ; 
she  chooses  such 
a  cup,  in  onler 
that  men's  eyes 
may  be  dazzled 
with  the  glitter 
of  the  gold,  and 
may  not  inquire 
what  it  con- 
tains."— Origen. 

c  Be.  si.  8,  xviii.  2. 

d  Loicth. 

V.  5.  Dr.  J.  Owen, 
xvi.  1U5. 


a  Fausset, 

b  "  The  Medes, 
the  Madai  of  Ge. 
X.  2,  were  a 
branch  of  the 
great  Aryan 
family,  who  as 
conquerors  had 
seized  upon  the 
vast  regions  ex 
tending  from  the 
Caspian  Sea  to 
the  Eastern 
borders  of  Meso- 
potamia, bub 
without  being 
nbie  to  dispossess 
the        Turauiaa 


192 


JE  RE  in  AH. 


[Cap.  11. 10-13. 


tribes  who  lial 
previously  dwc'lt 
tliere.  Tlicywere 
divided  into 
numerous  clans, 
ench  with  iis 
own  loc;il  chief, 
the  loaders  of  tlie 
larger  secticius 
bein?  thn>o  who 
arec;Uli'd  kings." 
— S/it.  C'cm. 

c  Re.  xvii.  1,  15. 

d  Eicald. 

e  C.  Simeon,  M.A. 

The  true  felicity 
of  life  i;  to  bo 
free  from  pertur- 
batiniis,  to  under- 
stand our  dnti.'S 
towards  heaven 
and  man.  to  en- 
joy the  present 
without  any 
anxious  depend- 
ence upon  the 
future  ;  not  to  1 
amr.se  ourselves  [ 
with  either  hopes 
or  fears,  but  to 
rest  satisfied  , 
with  wliat  we  I 
have,  which  is 
abundantly  suf- 
ficient ;  for  he 
that  Is  so  wants 
nothing. 

"  That  wlip.-ein 
God  Jlimself  is 
happy,  and  tlie 
li  o  1  y  angels 
happy,  and  in 
the  defect  of  wh. 
the  devils  are  un- 
happy, that  dare 
I  call  hajjpiness. 
"Whatsoever  con- 
duceth  unto  this 
may  with  ane.asy 
metaphor  deserve 
that  name; 
■whatsoever  else 
the  world  terms 
happiness  is  to 
me  a  story  out  of 
Pliny — an  appa- 
rition, or  real 
delusion,  wherein  I 
tliere  is  no  more 
of  Iiappiness  than 
the  name." — Sir 
Thomas  lirotcn. 

"An  extreme 
rigour  is  sure  to 
arm  everything  j 
nprainst  it,  and  at  - 
length  to  relax  | 
ju'oa  supine  neg- 
iect." — liiiikc.       I 


j  ticipation  bless  God  for  the  yet  richer  mercies  which  he  has  in 
reserve  for  us.' 

Sjioiliiig  of  Babylon  (r.  IH). — On  taking-  Babylon  sud'lenly  and 
by  surprise,  Cyru.s  became  immcriiately  jiossesscd  of  the  Ircasurea 
of  darkne-s,  and  hidden  riches  of  secret  places.     On  his  first  pub- 
licly appearino-  in  Babylon,  all  the  ollicers  of  his  army,  both  of 
the  Persians  and  allies,  according  to  his  command,  wore  very 
-splendid  robes,  thoe  belonging  to  the  superior  otlicers  being  of 
various  colours,  all  of  tlie  finest  and  brightest  dye,  and  richly 
embroidered  with  gold  and  silver  ;  and  thus  the  hidden  riciies  of 
secret  places  were  openly  displayed.     And  when  the  treasures  of 
Babylon  became  the  spoil  of  another  great  king,  Alexander  gave 
six  mince  (about   £15)  to  each  Macedonian  horseman,  to  each 
Macedonian  soldier  and  foreign  horseman  two  mina)  (£o),  and  to 
every  other  man  in  his  army  a  donation  equal  to  two  months' 
))ay.  Demetrius  ordered  his  soldiers  to  plunder  the  land  of  Babylon 
for  their  own  use.     But  it  is  not  in  these  instances  alone  that 
Chalda3  i  has  been  a  spoil,  and  that  all  who  spoil  her  have  been  satis- 
fied.    It  was  the  abundance  of  her  treasures  which  brought  suc- 
cessive spoliators.     Many  nations  came  from  afar,   and  though 
they  returned  to  their  own  country  (as  in  formerly  besicgingf 
Babylon,  so  in  continuing  to  dispell  the  land  of  Chalda^a),  none 
returned  in  vain.     From  the  richness  of  the  country,  new  trea- 
sures were  speedily  stored  up,  till  again  the    swoj-d   came  upoi 
them,  and  they  were  robbed.  The  prey  of  the  Persians  and  of  the 
Greeks  for  nearly  two  centuries  after  the  death  of   Alexander, 
Chaktea  became  afterwards   the  prey  chiefly  of  the  Parthians, 
from  the  north,  for  an  equal  period,  till  a  greater  nation,  the 
Romans,  came  from  the  coasts  of  the  earth  to  jiillage  it.     To  be 
restrained  from  dominion  and  from  plunder  was  the  exciting 
cause,  and  often  the  shameless  plea,  of  the  anger  and  iierce  wrath 
of  these  famed,  but  cruel,  conquerors  of  the  world.     Yet.  within 
the  provinces  of  their  empire,  it  was  their  practice,  on  the  sub- 
mission of  the  inhabitants,  to  protect  and  not  to  destroy.     Bufc 
Chaldasa,  from  its  extreme  distance,  never  having  yielded  perma- 
nently to  their  yoke,  and  the  limits  of  their  empire  having  been 
fixed  bv  Hadrian  on  the  western  side  of  the  Euphrates,  or  on  the 
very  borders  of  Chalda3a,  that  hapless  country  obtained  not  their 
protection,  though  rejioatedly  the  rcene  of  ruthless  spoliation  by 
the  Romans.     The  authority  of  Gibbon,  in  elucidation  of  Scrip- 
ture, cannot  here   be   distrusted,   any  more  than   that   of  the 
heathen  historians.     To  use  his  words,  "a  hundred  thousand  cap- 
tives, and  a  rich  booty,  rewarded  the  fatigues  of  the  Roman  sol- 
diers," when  Ctesiphon  was  taken,  in  the  second  century,  by  the 
gener.als  of  IMarcus.  Even  Julian,  who,  in  the  fourth  century,  was 
forced  to  raise  the  siege  of   Ctesiphon,  came    not   in   vain   to 
Chalda^a.  and  failed  not  to  take  of  it  a  spoil :  nor,  though  an  apos- 
tate, did  he  fail  to  verify  by  his  acts  the  truth  which  he  denied. 
After  having  given  Perisador  to  flames,  •'  the  plentiful  magazines 
of  corn,  of  arms,  and  of  splendid  furniture,  -were  partly  distri- 
buted among  the  troops,  and  partly  reserved  for  tlie  public  ser- 
vice :  the  useless  stores  were  destroyed  by  fire,  or  thrown  into 
the  stream  of  the  Euphrates  "  (Gibbon).    Having  also  rewarded 
his  army  with  a  hundred  pieces  of  silver  to  each  soldier,  he  thus 
sti'iiulated  them  (w  hen  .still  dissatisfied)  f o  fight  for  greater  spoil. 
••  Riches  are  the  object  of  jour  desires?  those  riches  are  in  the 


Cap.  li.  14-24.] 


JEREMIAH. 


193 


hands  of  the  Persians,  and  the  spoils  of  this  fruitful  country  are 
pro;^o.iO(l  as  a  prize  of  your  valour  and  discipline."  The  enemy 
bt'ing  defeated  after  an  arduous  conllict.  "'  the  spoil  was  such  as 
ini^jht  bo  expected  from  the  riches  and  luxury  of  an  Oriental 
tatiip  ;  large  quantities  of  silver  and  gold,  s;;)lendid  arms  and 
trappings,  and  beds,  and  tables  of  massy  silver." 

14—18.  (14)  Lord  .  .  himself,  Am.  vi.  8.  caterpillars,  or 
locusts  ;  Neh.  iii.  l.j.  lift  .  .  shout,  or  sing  over  thee  the  viu- 
tage-song,  as  those  who  tread  the  grapes.  (15,  1(>)  made,  etc., 
comp.  ch.  X.  12,  13.    (17,  IS)  every  man,  etc.,  ch.  x.  14,  15. 

Aplaijue  of  lucmtts — The  Mormons  are  threatened  with  as  many 
plagues  as  the  Egyptians  of  old.  The  last  grievance  is  the  advent 
of  locusts,  which  have  committed  great  devastation.  Their 
doings  are  thus  described  in  the  De.seret  Nems : — "  The  mode  of 
their  operations  in  this  city  and  neighbourhood  has  been  very 
simple.  After  flying  for  a  time  at  a  very  high  altitude,  numbers 
of  them  began  on  Sunday  afternoon,  the  5th,  to  fly  low,  and 
towards  evening  settled  down,  covering  trees  and  every  kind  of 
vegetation,  h.anging  in  clusters  from  twigs  and  tender  branches, 
and  covering  the  ground  under  foot.  Apple  trees,  pear  trees, 
carrots,  and  corn  seemed  their  favourite  food  ;  for  they  stripped 
them  of  every  leaf  in  an  incredibly  short  time.  Peach  trees 
Buffered  somewhat  in  the  fruit,  which  was  eaten  clean  away; 
but  the  leaves  were  mostly  uninjured.  Oats,  barley,  and  wheat, 
where  not  ripe,  suffered  severely.  It  was  a  curious-looking 
spectacle  to  see  ajiple  trees  stripped  of  everything  except  the 
fruit,  and  much  of  that  eaten  into  the  core  on  one  side,  after  the 
voracious  insects  had  cleansed  them  of  leaves,  in  some  instances 
devouring  the  tender  twigs.  There  seems  no  way  of  successfully 
driving  them  off  when  they  settle  down  in  a  locality.  They  can 
be  dislodged  from  particular  trees  by  kindling  small  fires  of  straw, 
a  little  damp,  underneath,  and  shaking  the  branches.  Then 
they  will  rise,  and  the  smoke  compels  them  to  leave.  They  can 
also  be  caught  in  large  quantities  with  bag  nets  or  similar  con- 
trivances, in  early  morning,  before  the  heat  of  the  sun  gives 
them  that  vitality  which  they  possess  during  the  day  ;  or  they 
can  be  so  caught  in  a  dull,  cloudy  day,  when  the  sun  is  not 
shining,  for  then  they  keep  near  the  ground.  AVhen  thus  caught, 
they  are  sometimes  boiled  and  fed  for  hogs  and  poultry,  the 
latter  being  particularly  fond  of  them.  One  wheat  field,  nearly 
nine  miles  out,  seemed  literally  alive  with  them,  flitting  in  count- 
less myriads  just  above  the  grain,  their  thin,  gauze-like  wings 
glistening  in  the  sunlight." 

19—24.  (19)  portion,  etc..  ch.  s.  16.  (20)  battle  axe,  ham- 
mer  :  "  the  reference  is  to  Cyrus.  (21,  22)  break  in  pieces,  and 
so  utterly  ruin.  (23)  captains,  Heb.  Pnhah,  prob.  the  original 
of  the  title  pasha.  (24)  render  unto,  bring  upon  Bab.  retri- 
butive judgments. 

<Ti>d.t  mrrri/  to  IT\.^  people  (v.  20). — I.  The  extent  of  God's 
mercy  to  His  chosen  people.  1.  They  are  constantly  represented 
as  a  remnant ;  2.  For  tliem  God  designs  the  richest  mercy.  II. 
The  interest  the  Jews  have  in  it.  1.  We  ought  not  to  overlook 
this  :  2.  The  promise  should  fill  us  with  unutterable  joy.  III. 
The  effect  whicn  the  contemplation  of  it  should  produce  on  us.  1. 
humiliation  ;  2.  Gratitude  ;  3.  Affiance.* 

TOL.  IX.     O.T.  S 


"Content's  s 
kingdom,  timl  I 
wear  the  crown." 
— Ufytctjod. 


V.  15.  Dr.  .7.  Bar- 
row, iv.  391. 

"  The  fountain  of 
content  must 
spring  up  in  the 
niiud  ;  and  he 
who  lias  so  little 
knowledge  of  hu- 
man nature  as  to 
seek  happiness 
l>y  changing  any- 
thing but  his 
own  dispositions- 
will  waste  his 
li'fe  in  fruitless 
efforts,  and  mul- 
tiply the  griefs 
which  he  pur- 
p<ises  to  remove."  ■ 
— Juhnwit. 

If  happiness  wer» 
an  attainment  of 
the  mind,  to  be 
acquired,  as  a 
science  or  an  art 
is  learned  from 
the  master,  n» 
])Iace  could  con- 
tain the  numbers 
that  would  fluck- 
to  the  school.. 
But  there  is  no 
such  school ;  each 
must  learn  tho 
lesson  by  himself. 

"  When  I  am 
pressed  with. 
thoughts  about 
«'orldly  or  home 
cares,  I  take  a 
Psalm,  or  a  say- 
ing of  I'aui,  and' 
go  to  sleep  OB 
it." — Lulher. 

a  "  The  mace,  or 
mall,  '.^as  aniorg 
thu  weapons  use»l 
by  ttiu  toldiers, 
and  by  the  As- 
syrian monarchs 
t  h  e  m .- .' Ives."— 
Ilaiclinson. 

V.  20.  Dr.  G.  Lav- 
son,  31. 


J  C.  Simeon,  M.A,\ 


194 


JERE^f^A  R. 


[Cap.  li.  25-35, 


e  Gescnius. 
b  Koberls. 

"  I  enrn  that  I 
eat,  get  that  I 
•wear,  owe  no 
man  hate,  envy 
110  man's  liappi- 
lless,  glail  of 
otlier  men's  !?ooil, 
anil  contfnt  witli 
my  har  m."  — 
S/taks^eare. 


25—29.  (2.">)  destroying  mountain,  fig.  for  Babylon,  -which 
liad  been  like  a  volcano,  burnt  mountain,  i.e.  cue  burnt  out, 
whose  fires  ai'e  (luenched,  and  which  is  left  a  mere  useless  ruin. 
(2(i)  not  .  .  Stone,  bee.  the  stones  of  volcanoes  are  unfit  for 
building-  purpose.^.  (27)  Ararat,  in  Armenia,  2  Ki.  xix.  37. 
Minni  and  Ashehcnaz,  also  in  Armenia.  Ge.  x.  3.  cap- 
tain, or  satrap,  rough  caterpillars,  or  bristling-  locusts." 
(28,  29)  prepare,  lit.  consecrate,  tremble,  -n'ith  its  fear  and 
confusion. 

Locv.tts  (ir  cntcrpillars  ? — Rome  think  locusts  are  meant  instead 
of  caterpillars  ;  and  one  reason  assigned  is,  that  they  '•  have  the 
appearance  of  horses  and  hor.semen."  Others  translate  ■■  bristled 
locusts."  There  are  bristled  caterjjillprs  in  the  East,  which  at  cer- 
tain seasons  are  extremely  numerous  and  anuoying.  They  creep 
along  in  troops  like  soldiers,  are  covered  with  stiff  hairs  or  bristles, 
which  are  so  painful  to  the  touch,  and  so  powerful  in  their 
effects,  as  not  to  be  entirel}'  removed  for  numy  days.  Should  one 
be  swallowed,  it  will  cause  death  :  hence  people,  at  the  particular 
season  -when  they  ai'e  numerous,  are  very  cautious  in  examining 
their  water  ves.sels.  lest  any  shoi;ld  have  fallen  in.  In  the  year 
182G,  a  family  at  Manipy  had  to  arise  early  in  the  morning  to  go 
to  their  work,  and  they  therefore  prepared  their  rice  the  evening 
before.  They  were  up  before  daylight,  aud  took  their  food  :  ia 
the  course  of  a  short  time  they  were  all  ill,  and  some  of  them 
died  during  the  day.  The  rice  chatty  was  examined,  aud  there 
were  found  the  remains  of  the  micutty,  the  rough  caterpillar. 
Dr.  Hawkesworth  says,  of  those  he  saw  in  the  West  Indies,  "  their 
bodies  were  thick  set  with  hairs,  and  they  were  ranging  on  the 
leaves,  side  by  side,  like  files  of  soldiers,  to  the  number  of  twenty 
or  thirty  together.  When  we  touched  them  we  found  that  their 
bodies  had  the  qualities  of  nettles." 

30 — 32.  (.30)  forborn,  etc.,  in  utter  hopelessness  and  despair, 
bars  are  broken,  all  her  fortresses,  and  chief  defences.  (34) 
one  .  .  another,  intimating  the  simultaneous  entry  of  the  enemy 
at  different  points."  (32)  passages,  poss.  the  fevrieg^  or  the 
passages  up  from  the  river  bank,  reeds  .  .  fire,  a  fig.  designed 
to  show  liow  dry  the  river  marshes  had  become.  The  reeds  may 
have  been  formed  into  stockp.des  on  the  river  banks."^ 

Orrrflivom  of  Babylon. — It  seems  a  contradiction  to  say  that 
one  post  shall  run  to  meet  another,  and  one  messenger  to  meet 
another,  to  show  the  king-  of  Babylon  that  his  kingdom  is  taken 
(not  at  one  end,  as  our  translation  says,  but)  at  the  extremity. 
Yet  this  was  strictly  true  ;  for  Babylon  was  taken  at  each  end  at 
the  same  time,  so  that  the  messengers  who  carried  the  news  to 
the  king  at  his  palace  in  the  middle  of  the  city,  did  run  to  meet 
each  other,  as  coming  from  opposite  quarters. 

33—35.  (33)  threshing  floor,  such  were  in  the  open  air,. 
the  ground  being  trodden  down  hard  by  cattle."  time  to  thresh, 
or  at  the  time  when  it  is  trodden.  (34)  devoured  me,  i.e.  the 
Jewish  nation,  wh.  is  here  introduced,  coni]iiaining  of  the  in- 
juries infiicted  on  them  by  the  Chakteans.  d.i"agon,  or  serpent 
-which  swallows  its  prey  whole.  A  sea  i-nonster.  delicates, 
delicacies,  treasures  ;  dainty  meats.  Ge.  xiix.  20.  cast  me  out, 
in'"a "circle^'oi-  i  keeping  up  the  fig.  of  the  overgorged  animal.     (;55)  my  fiesll, 


a  Hi'rfxfolu.t  says 
that  the  extreme 
parts  of  the  city 
■were  takeu  be- 
fore they  wlio 
dwelt  in  the 
mi'ldle  of  it  were 
sensible  of  their 
danger. 


6  "At  right  an  pries 
■with  tlie  river 
■were  the  main 
streets,  at  the 
enil  of  each  of 
■which  were 
gates,  anil  prob. 
steps  leailing 
down  to  tlie 
river,  ami  so  tlie 
people  were  car- 
ried across  in 
boats. "-<Sj)A-.  Com. 


c  "After  draining 
oft  the  river, 
Cyrns  burned  tlie 
Btockmle  of  dense 
tree-like  roeds  on 
its  Viaiiks,  form- 
ing the  outworks 
of  the  city  forti- 
fications. The 
burning  of  tliese 
would  give  tlie 
apiinarance  of  the 
niar.'^h  or  river 
being  itself  on 
fire." — Faussel. 

a  "Near  Jericlio 
-wore  no  less  than 
five  such  floors, 
all  trodden  by 
Cien,  cow.s,  and 
younger  cattle, 
Brrangpil  in  each 
ease  tive  abreast, 
nnd  driven  round 


Cap.  li.  36-40.] 


jEREmAH. 


195 


wh.  Nebuchadnezzar,  as  a  wild  beast,  devoured.*  inhabitant, 
viavg.  remainder  or  i)0.^terity. 

Uahyhm.— On  the  one  side,  near  to  the  site  of  Opis,  "  the 
country  all  around  appears  to  be  one  wide  desert  of  sandy  and 
barren  soil,  thinly  scattered  over  with  brushwood  and  tufts  of 
reedy  grass."  On  the  other,  between  Bussorah  and  Bagdad, 
"immediately  on  either  bank  of  the  Tigris,  is  the  untrodden 
desert.  The  absence  of  all  cultivation,— the  sterile,  arid,  and 
wild  character  of  the  whole  scene,  formed  a  contrast  to  the  rich 
and  delightful  accounts  delineated  in  Scripture.  The  natives,  in 
travelling  over  these  pathless  "deserts,  are  compelled  to  explore 
their  way  by  the  stars."  "  The  face  of  the  country  is  open  and 
flat,  presenting  to  the  eye  one  vast  level  plain,  where  nothing 
is  to  be  seen  but  here  and  there  a  herd  of  half-wild  camels.  This 
immense  tract  is  very  rarely  diversified  with  any  trees  of  mode- 
rate growth,  but  is  an  immense  wild,  bounded  only  by  the 
horizon."  In  the  intermediate  region,  '•  the  whole  extent  from 
the  foot  of  the  wall  of  Bagdad  is  a  barren  waste,  without  a 
blade  of  vegetation  of  any  description  ;  on  leaving  the  gates,  the 
traveller  has  before  him  the  prospect  of  a  bare  desert,  a  flat  and 
barren  country."  "  The  whole  country  between  Bagdad  and 
Hillah  is  a  perfectly  flat  and  (with  the  exception  of  a  few  spots 
as  you  approach  the  latter  place)  uncultivated  waste._  That  it 
was  at  some  fornjer  period  in  a  far  different  state,  is  evident 
from  the  number  of  canals  by  which  it  is  traversed,  now  dry  and 
neglected  ;  and  the  quantity  of  heaps  of  earth  covered  with 
fragments  of  brick  and  broken  tiles,  which  are  seen  in  every 
direction.— the  indisputable  traces  of  former  population.  At 
present  the  only  inhabitants  of  the  tract  are  the  Sobeide  Arabs. 
Around,  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach,  is  a  trackless  desert."  "  The 
abundance  of  the  country  has  vanished  as  clean  av.^ay  as  if  the 
'besom  of  desolation'  had  swept  it  from  north  to  south;  the 
whole  land,  from  the  outskirts  of  Babylon  to  the  farthest  stretch 
of  sight,  lying  a  melancholy  waste.  Not  a  habitable  spot  ap- 
pears for  countless  miles."  The  land  of  Babylon  is  desolate, 
without  an  inhabitant.  The  Arabs  traverse  it :  and  every  man 
met  with  in  the  desert  is  looked  on  as  an  enemy.  Wild  beasts 
have  now  their  home  in  the  land  of  Chaldasa  ;  but  the  traveller  is 
less  afraid  of  them. — even  of  the  lion, — than  of  '•  the  wilder 
animal,  the  desert  Arab."  The  country  is  frequently^  "  totally 
impassable."  •'  Those  splendid  accounts  of  the  Babylonian  lands 
yielding  crops  of  grain  two  or  three  hundredfold,  compared 
with  the  modern  face  of  the  country,  afford  a  remarkable  proof 
of  the  singular  desolation  to  which  it  has  been  subjected.  The 
canals  at  present  can  only  be  traced  by  their  decayed  banks.''" 

33—40.  (3G)  plead  thy  cause,  ch.  1.  34.  dry  .  ._  sea," 
poss.  referring  to  the  "great  lake  dug  by  Nitocris  to  receive  the 
waters  of  the  Euphrates."  Prob.  only  the  Uoual  Oriental  term 
for  any  largo  river,  or  great  body  of  water.  (37)  heaps,  or 
ruins  :  ch.  1.  2(),  39.  (3S)  yell,  or  growl  :  "  the  Heb.  word  is  an 
imitation  of  the  actual  sound."  (3'.))  heat,  i.e.  when  flashed 
with  confidence  and  security,  drunken,  or  a  drinking-bout,  a 
carousal,  a  perpetual  sleep,  the  sleep  of  death  at  the  hands 
of  their  coniiuering  enemy.*"  (-iUj  lamhs,  etc.,  all  classes  of 
society  are  here  indicated.*^ 

diulylon. — "'.  "he  soil  of  this  desert,"  says  Captain  Mignan,  who 


ratlier  in  all 
directions,  over 
the  tloor." — Ro- 
binson. 

"  Babylon  is  like 
a  thre.-iliiiigfloor 
not  troilileu  for  a 
long  time,  but 
the  time  of  har- 
vest, when  her 
citizens  shall  be 
tro(i(len  under 
foot,  shall  come." 
—  Calcin. 

"  There  sliall  bo 
a  clear  riddance 
made  of  her  in- 
habitants and 
their  treasures, 
as  the  liarvest 
clears  the  fields, 
and  leaves  them, 
empty  and  bare." 
—Lotcth. 

h  "  Xebucliadnez- 
zar  liad  devoured 
Jerusalem,  had 
treated  her  as 
ruthlessly  as  a 
crocodile  does  its 
l>rey,  and  for  tliia 
cruelty  he  and 
Babylon  are 
justly  to  be 
punished." — Sp&. 
Cum. 

If  you  make 
transient  objects, 
uncertain  riclies, 
or  fleeting  plea- 
sures your  cliief 
good,  prepare  for 
disappuiutmeut. 

"  Our  content- 
ment is  our  best 
having."— i8/*<iA«- 
sjjeare, 

c  Keilh, 


a  Lit.  fulfilled  ia 
Cyrus's  draining 
tlie  river.  Fig.  , 
in  tlie  exhaustion 
of  the  muliitudes 
and  wealth  of 
Babylon. 

b  "  The  night  in 
wh.  tlio  con(juest 
of  Babylcn  was 
effected,  was  dur- 
ing the  grrat 
festival       whiclv 


196 


JEREMIAir. 


[Cap.  11. 41—44. 


hail  been  insti- 
tutcil  ill  liunoiir 
of  the  iilols.  aiKl 
at  wliicli  rrvrlry 
of  every  desc.ri|i- 
tion  WMsiiuiiilgi'il 
in  tosuoli  a  pitijli 
that  most  of  tlie 
inhabitants  were 
more  or  l<'ss  in  a 
state  of  inebria- 
tion." —  JJender- 
son. 

c  Is.  xxxiT.  6. 

Tou  may  be  the 
greatest  man  and 
tlie  richest  in  the 
world  ;  but  if 
you  are  witliout 
Christ,  you  are 
"  wretihcd  and 
miserable  and 
poor  and  blind 
and  naked." 

a  Keith. 


a  Is.  xiii.  19. 

"  Babylon  had 
been  embellislied 
with  ornaments 
more  tlian  any 
city  that  we  are 
acquainted 
with."  —  Jlcrodo- 
(us. 

b  Comp.  Is.  viii. 
7,  xvii.  12,  13. 

e  Grotius. 

d  "Beference 
may  be  to  the 
holyvessels  taken 
out  of  the  temple 
of  tlie  Lurd  at 
Jerusalem,  and 
placed  ill  tlie 
temple  of  Sel." 
—  Wordsworth. 

V.  42.  "  This  me- 
taphor is  in  com- 
mon use  to  sliow 
the  overwhelm- 
ing power  of  an 
enemy.  'Tippio 
Saib  went  down 
upon  liis  foes ; 
1  ke  the  sea  he 
swept  tlie'u  all 
away.'  '  True, 
tiue,  the  Bi'iti^li 


traversed  it  on  foot,  and  who,  in  a  gin^le  day,  crossed  forty 
watcr-cnnrses,  "  consists  of  a  hard  clay,  mixed  with  sand,  which 
at  noon  b;^came  so  heated  with  the  sun's  rajs  that  I  found  it  too 
hot  to  walk  over  it  with  any  degree  of  comfort.  Those  who 
have  crossed  those  desert  wilds  ar  ;.lrcady  ae  jiiaintcd  with  their 
dreary  tediousness  even  on  horseback  ;  wliut  it  is  on  foot  they 
can  easily  imagine."  Where  astronomers  first  calculated  eclipses, 
the  natives,  as  in  the  deserts  of  Africa,  or  as  the  mariner  without 
a  compass  on  the  pathless  ocean,  can  now  direct  their  course 
only  by  the  stars  over  the  pathless  desert  of  Chalda;a.  AVhere 
cultivation  reached  its  utmost  height,  and  where  two  hundred- 
fold was  stated  as  the  common  j^roduce,  there  is  now  one  wide 
and  uncultivated  waste  ;  and  the  sower  and  reaper  are  cut  off 
from  the  land  of  Babjdon.  "Where  abundant  stores  and  treasures 
were  laid  up,  and  annually  renewed  and  increased,  fanners  have 
fanned,  and  spoilers  have  spoiled  them  till  they  have  emptied 
the  land.  Where  labourers,  shaded  by  palm  trees  a  hundred  feet 
high,  irrigated  the  fields  till  all  was  plentifully  watered  from 
numerous  canals,  the  wanderer,  without  an  object  on  which  to 
fix  his  eye  but  "  stinted  and  shortlived  shrubs,"  can  scarcely 
set  his  foot  without  pain,  after  the  noonday  heat,  on  the  "  arid 
and  parched  ground,"  in  plodding  his  weary  Avay  through  a 
desert,  a  dry  land,  and  a  wilderness.  Where  there  were  crowded 
thoroughfares,  from  city  to  city,  there  is  now  "  silence  and 
solitude  ; "  for  the  ancient  cities  of  Chaktea  are  desolations, — 
where  no  man  dwelleth,  neither  doth  any  son  of  man  pass  there- 
by.'' 

41—44.  (41)  Slaesliach,  ch.  xxv.  26.  praise  .  .  earth, 
ch.  xlix.  2.5."  (42)  the  sea,  a  fig.  for  the  invading  army.*  (43) 
cities,  related,  or  dependent  cities.  Poss.  the  reference  may  be 
to  the  inner  and  outer  cities,  the  two  parts  into  which  Babylon 
was  divided  by  the  Euphrates."  (44)  Bel,  Is.  xlvi.  1.  swal- 
lowed up,  poss.  alluding  to  the  sacrifices  offered  to  this  idol  ; 
more  prob.,  to  the  treasures  taken  by  the  nation  called  after  the 
name  of  this  god."^  flow  together,  in  their  pilgrimages  to  Bel's 
shrine,     wall,  r.  58. 

Cities  of  Chahkea. — "While  the  ancient  cities  of  Chaldasa  ai"e 
thus  de.solate,  the  sites  of  others  cannot  be  discovered,  or  have 
not  been  visited,  as  none  pass  thereby  ;  the  more  modern  cities, 
which  "flourished  under  the  empire  of  caliphs,  are  "  all  in  ruins." 
The  second  Bagdad  has  not  indeed  yet  shared  the  fate  of  tho 
first.  And  Hillah — a  town  of  comparatively  modern  date,  near 
to  the  site  of  Babylon,  but  in  the  gardens  of  which  there  is  not 
the  least  vestige  of  ruins — yet  exists.  But  the  former,  "  ran-  acked 
by  massacre,  devastation  and  oppression,  during  several  hundred 
years,''  has  been  ''  gradually  reduced  from  being  a  rich  and 
powerful  city  to  a  state  of  comparative  poverty,  and  the 
feeblest  means  of  defence."  And  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
latter,  about  eight  or  ten  thousand,  it  is  said  that  "  if  any- 
thing could  identify  the  modern  inhabitants  of  Hillah  as  the 
descendants  of  the  ancient  T-abylonians.  it  would  be  their  ex- 
treme profligacy,  for  which  they  are  notorious  even  aniong  their 
immoral  neighbours."  Thej''  give  no  sign  of  repentance  and 
reformation  to  warrant  the  hope  that  judgment,  so  loi,,  con- 
tinued upon  others,  will  cease  from  them  :  or  that  they  are  the 
peo])lc  that  shall  escape.    Twenty  years  liave  not  passed  siuoo 


Cap.  li.  45-490 


JEREMIAH. 


197 


towns  in  Chalctea  have  been  ravaged  and  pillaged  by  the  Waha- 
bees  ;  and  60  lately  as  1823.  the  town  of  Siieeivban  "  was  sacked 
and  ruined  by  the  Coords."  and  reduced  to  desolation.  Indica- 
tions of  ruined  cities,  whether  of  a  remote  or  more  recent  period, 
abound  throughout  the  land.  The  process  of  destruction  is  still 
completing.  Gardens  which  studded  the  banks  of  the  Tigris 
have  very  recently  disappeared,  and  mingled  'w  ith  the  desert, — 
and  concerning  the  cities  also  of  Chaktea  the  word  is  true  that 
they  are  desolations.  For  "  the  whole  country  is  strewed  over 
with  the  debris  of  Grecian,  Roman,  and  Arabian  towns,  con- 
founded in  the  same  mass  of  rubbish. '« 

45 — 49.  (■!.■))  deliver  .  .  soul,  preserve  his  life  from  the 
perils  of  the  time  of  judgment.  (4G)  rumour,  of  the  approach 
of  the  Chaldajan  army.  There  would  then  be  a  year  elapse, 
during  which  they  would  have  opportunity  for  escape."  (i?) 
therefore,  the  exiles  should  take  warning  from  these  events. 
(48)  sing  for  Babylon,  all  nature  shall  njoice  at  the  downfall 
of  the  oppre^^sor.  All  God's  faithful  servants  shall  be  glad  because 
of  Ilis  judgments  upon  idtilaters.  (4'.))  Tra/i.t.  '■  Babylon  also 
shall  fall,  O  ye  slain  of  Israel !  Those  also  of  Babj'lon  shall  fall, 
O  ye  slain  of  all  the  earth  !  *  Departed  spirits  of  the  slain  are 
called  to  rejoice  in  Babylon's  ^all. 

JJivnlalion  (f  JJahi/lon. — But  while  these  lie  in  indiscriminate 
ruins,  the  chief  of  the  cities  of  Clialda^a.  the  tirst  in  name  and  in 
power  that  ever  existed  in  the  world,  bears  many  a  defined  mark 
of  the  judgments  of  heaven.  The  pi-ogressive  and  predicted 
decline  of  Babjdon  the  great,  till  it  ceased  to  be  a  city,  has 
already  been  briefly  detailed.  About  the  beginning  of  the  Chris- 
tian era.  a  small  portion  of  it  was  inhabited,  and  the  far  greater 
part  was  cultivated.  It  diminished  as  Seleucia  increased,  and 
the  latter  became  the  greater  city.  In  the  second  century  nothing 
but  the  walls  remained.  It  became  gradually  a  great  desert ; 
and,  in  the  fourth  century,  its  walls,  repaired  for  that  purpose, 
formed  an  enclosure  for  wi'd  beasts,  and  Babylon  was  converted 
into  a  field  for  the  chase — a  hunting-place  for  the  pastime  of  the 
Persian  monarchs.  The  name  and  the  remnant  were  cut  off  from 
Babylon  :  and  there  is  a  blank,  during  the  interval  of  many  ages, 
in  the  history  of  its  mutilated  remains  and  of  its  mouldering 
dcca3^  It  remained  long  in  the  possession  of  the  Saracens  ;  and 
abundant  evidence  has  since  been  given,  that  every  feature  of 
its  prophesied  desolation  is  now  distinctly  visible — for  the  most 
ancient  historians  bore  not  a  clearer  testimonv  to  facts  confirma- 
tory of  the  prophecies  relative  to  its  first  siege  and  capture  by 
Cyrus,  than  the  latest  travellers  bear  to  the  fulfilment  of  those 
which  refer  to  its  final  and  permanent  ruin.  The  identity  of  its 
site  has  been  completely  established.  And  the  truth  of  every 
general  and  of  every  particular  prediction  is  now  so  clearly 
demonstrated,  that  a  simple  exhibition  of  the  facts  precludes  the 
possibility  of  any  cavil,  and  supersedes  the  necessity  of  any  reason- 
ing on  tiie  subject.  It  is  not  merely  the  general  desolation  of 
Babylon, — however  much  that  alone  would  have  suriiassed  all 
human  foresight, — which  the  Lord  declared  by  the  mouth  of  His 
Prophets.  In  their  vision,  they  saw  not  more  clearly,  nor  defined 
more  precisely,  the  future  history  of  Babylon,  from  the  height  of 
its  glory  to  the  oblivion  of  its  name,  than  they  saw  and  depicted 
faUeu  iiabylon  as  now  it  lies,  and  as,  in  the  nineteenth  century 


troops  went  lika 
the  sea  u])cii 
Bliurtpcre ;  tlia 
foits  Ijave  beeu 
carried  away.' " 
— Roberts. 

"The  noblest 
mind  tlio  lest 
contentment 
has." — mpenser. 

e  Keilh. 


a  "The  first  ru- 
mour of  war  de- 
nounced apainst 
tlae  liead  cf  that 
empire  sliall  be 
tlie  year  before 
the  siege,  when 
Cyruo  and  Ka- 
bonnidus  (or  Eel- 
shazzar)  shall 
engage  iii  a 
battle,  and  the 
latter  shall  be 
overcome,  iijjca 
which  defeat  the 
conqueror  should 
in  the  following 
year  lay  sit  ge  to 
the  city  itself." — • 
Lowth. 

b  Henderson. 

"  What  an  object 
of  wonder  and 
awe  is  an  old 
castle  to  a  boyish 
imagination! 
Its  height,  how 
dreadful !  up  to 
whose  moulder- 
ing edges  his 
fear  carries  him, 
and  hangs  hira 
over  the  battle- 
men  ts.  What 
beauty  in  those 
u  n  a  pproaohable 
wallflowers,  that 
cast  a  brightness 
on  the  old  brown 
stones  of  the  eili- 
fice,  and  make 
the  horror  pleas* 
ing." — Wilson. 


Good  men,  like 
St.  Gregory  and 
Luther,  have 
feared  lest  they 
should  have  their 
portion,  like 
Dives,  in  this 
life  ;  bad  men, 
that  they  should 
not  have  it. 


198 


JEHEifUn. 


[Cap.  IL  50-53. 


"  Content  can  '  of  the  Christian  era,  it  has,  for  the  first  time,  been  fully  described. 
Bootlip,  where'er  And  now  when  an  end  has  come  upon  Babj^lon,  after  a  lonj,''  suc- 
\\  A  °  ^In  "  "  cession  of  ag-es  has  wrought  out  lis  utter  desolation,  both  the  pen 
a  R-W'len  in  tlie  ^^'^  'he  pencil  of  travellers  who  have  traversed  and  inspected  its 
des  >rt  waste." — 
While. 

c  Kfith. 

a  "  AVe  leail  here 
a  life  of  sliame. 
Daily  the  re- 
proacli  is  cast  in 
our  teeth  tliat 
Bel  has  proveil 
more  mighty 
tlian  Jeliovah ; 
anfl.  as  tlie  pos- 
session of  tlie 
sacred  vessels 
seems  to  prove 
tills,  we  are  nn- 
alile  to  answer 
the  taunt,  ami 
shame  covers  our 
f aces ; for  it  is  true 
that  strangers 
}iave  gone  into 
the  sanctuaries 
of  the  house  of 
Jehovah,  which 
only  our  high 
priests  were  per- 
mitted to  enter." 
— Spk.  Com. 


b  "  On  the  cylin- 
der of  Xebuchad- 
nezzar,  still  ex- 
tant, are  these 
words:  'In Baby- 
lon is  the  tower 
of  my  abode. .  . 
To  make  more 
dillicult  the  at- 
tack of  an  enemy 
against  Imgour- 
Bel,  the  inde- 
structible wall 
of  Babylon  I 
constructed,  a 
bulwark    like    a 

mountain I 

built  my  palace 
for  the  wonder 
of  the  people, . .  . 
it  is  proof  against 
all  attack.'  " — 
Wordsioort/i. 

"■Worllly  riches 
are  like  nuts: 
many  clothes  are 
torn  in  getting 
them,  many  a 
tooth  broke  in 
cracking  them  ; 
but  never  a  belly 
Idled  with  eating 
them."  -Venning. 

c  KeitA. 


ruins,  must  be  combined,  in  order  to  delineate  what  the  Word  of 
God.  by  the  Prophets,  told  from  the  beginning  that  that  end 
would  be.' 

50 — 53.  (50)  go  away,  further  away  out  of  dansrer.  Pre- 
pare even  to  return  to  Jerusalem  by  cherishing  thoughts  of  that 
sacred  city,  (ol)  confounded,  reproached.  Tlie  exiles  inti- 
mate their  prostrate  condition  in  JJabylon,  and  the  way  in  wh. 
they,  and  their  God,  were  contemned."  (52)  do  judgment,  by 
proving  the  powerlessness  of  Bel  in  the  day  of  calamity.  (53) 
mount  .  .  heaven,  in  her  pride  and  boasting,  height  .  . 
strength,  with  allusion  to  her  high  and  immense  walls. 
350  ft.  high,  according  to  Herodotus.* 

Predictions  conorrnitifj  JJahi/Jon. — Truth  ever  ecoms  the  dis- 
cordant and  encumbering  aid  of  error  :  but  to  diverge  in  the 
least  from  the  most  precise  facts  would  here  weaken  and  destroy 
the  argument :  for  the  predictions  correspond  not  closely  with 
anything,  except  alone  with  the  express  and  literal  reality.  To 
swerve  from  it  is,  in  the  same  degree,  to  vary  from  them  ;  and 
any  misrepresentation  would  be  no  less  hurtful  than  iniquitous. 
But  the  actual  fact  renders  any  exaggeration  impossible,  and 
any  fiction  poor.  Fancy  could  not  have  feigned  a  contrast  more 
complete,  nor  a  destruction  greater,  than  that  which  has  come 
from  the  Almighty  upon  Babylon.  And  though  the  greatest  city 
on  which  the  sun  ever  shone  be  now  a  desolate  wilderness,  there 
is  scarcely  any  spot  on  earth  more  clearly  defined,  and  none  could 
be  more  accurately  delineated  by  the  hands  of  a  draftsman,  than 
the  scene  of  Babylon's  desolation  is  set  before  us  in  the  very 
words  of  the  Prophets  ;  and  no  words  could  now  be  chosen  like 
unto  these,  which,  for  two  thousand  five  hundred  j'ears,  have 
been  its  "  burden  " — the  burden  which  now  it  beai's.  Such  is  the 
multiplicity  of  prophecies  and  the  accumulation  of  facts,  that 
the  very  abundance  of  evidence  increases  the  difficulty  of 
arranging  in  a  condensed  form,  and  thus  appropriating  its 
specific  fulfilment  to  each  precise  and  separate  prediction,  and 
many  of  them  may  be  viewed  connectedly.  All  who  have  visited 
Babylon  concur  in  acknowledging  or  testifying  that  the  desola- 
tion is  exactly  such  as  was  foretold.  They,  in  general,  apply  the 
more  prominent  predictions  ;  and,  in  minute  details,  they  some- 
times unconsciously  adopt,  without  any  allusion  or  reference,  tha 
very  words  of  inspiration.  Babj'lon  is  wholly  desolate.  It  has 
become  heaps — it  is  cut  down  to  the  ground — brought  down  to 
the  grave — trodden  on — uninhabited — its  foundations  fallen — its 
walls  thrown  down,  and  utterly  broken — its  loftiest  edifices  rolled 
down  from  the  rocks — the  golden  city  has  ceased— the  worms  are 
spread  under  it,  and  the  worms  cover  it,  etc.  There  the  Arabian 
])itches  not  his  tent ;  there  the  shejiherds  make  not  their  folds  ; 
but  wild  beasts  of  the  desert  lie  there,  and  their  houses  are  full 
of  doleful  creatures  and  owls  dwell  there,  etc.  It  is  a  jios-sessiou 
for  the  bittern,  and  a  dwelling-place  for  dragons  ;  a  wilderness, 
a  dry  land,  and  a  desert ;  a  burnt  mountain  ;  pools  of  water ; 
spoiled,  empty,  nothing  left,  utterly  destroyed  ;  every  one  that 
goeth  by  is  astonished,  etc." 


Cap.  li.  54-64.] 


JEREMIATT. 


199 


54 — 58.  (54)  cry,  the  war  ciy  ;  ch.  1.  22.  (55)  waves,  the 
masses  of  her  iuvadiug'  enemy  pouring-  through  her  streets.  (5G; 
mislity  men,  v.  oO.  recompenses,  etc.,  ch.  \.  2.K  (57)  drunk, 
60  incapable  of  defence."  wise  men.  Da.  ii.  2.  (58)  broad 
walls,  Ih'ivilutus  saj's,  85  Eng-.  feet  wide  :  Stralo  says,  32  feet.'' 
in  the  fire,  in  striving-  to  put  out  the  hre. 

Walls  of  BahijloiL. — They  were  so  broad  that,  as  ancient  his- 
torians relate,  six  chariots  could  be  driven  on  them  abreast  ;  or  a 
chariot  and  four  horses  might  pass  and  turn.  They  existed  as 
walls  for  more  than  a  thousand  years  after  the  prophecy  was  de- 
livered ;  and  long  after  the  sentence  of  utter  destruction  had  gone 
forth  against  them,  they  were  numbered  among  "  the  8  jveu  wonders 
of  the  world."  And  what  can  be  more  wonderful  now,  or  what 
could  have  been  more  inconceivable  by  man.  when  Babylon  was 
in  its  strength  and  glory,  that  the  broad  walls  of  Babylon  should 
be  so  utterly  broken  that  it  cannot  be  determined  with  certainty 
that  even  the  slightest  vestige  of  them  exists.  "  All  accounts 
agree,"  says  Mr.  Rich,  "  in  the  height  of  the  walls,  which  was 
fifty  cubits,  having  been  reduced  to  these  dimensions  from  the 
prodigious  height  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  feet "  (formerly 
stated,  by  the  lowest  computation  of  the  length  of  the  cubit,  at 
thi-ee  hundred  feet)  '•  by  Darius  Hystaspes,  after  the  rebellion  of 
the  town,  in  order  to  render  it  less  defensible.  I  have  not  been 
fortunate  enough  to  discover  the  least  trace  of  them  in  any  part 
of  the  ruins  at  Hillah  ;  which  is  rather  an  unaccountable  cir- 
cumstance, considering  that  they  survived  the  final  ruin  of  the 
town,  long  after  which  they  served  as  an  enclosure  for  a  park  ; 
in  which  comparatively  perfect  state  St.  Jerome  informs  us  they 
remained  in  his  time."  In  the  sixteenth  century  they  were  seen 
for  the  last  time  by  any  European  traveller  (so  far  as  the  author 
has-been  able  to  trace),  before  they  were  finally  so  utterly  broken 
as  totally  to  disappear.  And  it  is  interesting  to  mark  both  the 
time  and  the  manner  in  which  the  walls  of  Babylon,  like  the  city 
of  which  they  were  the  impregnable  yet  unavailing  defence,  were 
brought  down  to  the  grave,  to  be  seen  no  more.  '•  The  mean- 
while,"' as  Rauwolf  describes  them,  "  when  we  were  lodged  there, 
I  considered  and  viewed  this  ascent,  and  found  that  there  were 
two  behind  one  another  "  (Herodotus  states  that  there  was  both 
an  inner,  or  infei-ior,  and  outer  wall),  "'distinguished  by  a  ditch, 
and  extending  themselves  like  unto  two  parallel  walls  a  great 
waj^  about.  ai»d  that  they  were  open  in  some  places,  where  one 
might  go  through  like  gates  ;  wherefore  I  believe  that  they  were 
the  wall  of  the  old  town  that  went  about  them  ;  and  that  the 
places  where  they  were  open  have  been  anciently  the  gates 
(whereof  there  were  one  hundred)  of  that  town.  And  this  the 
rather  because  I  saw  in  some  places  under  the  sand  (wherewith 
the  two  ascents  were  almost  covered)  the  old  wall  plainly 
appear.'''' 

59—64.  (50)  with  Zedekiah,  marq.  in  behalf  of."  Seraiah 
was  entrusted  with  a  special  copy  of  the  prophecy  to  console  the 
Jews  in  the  Babylonian  exile.  Jjeraiah  was  the  brother  of 
Baruch,  ch.  xxxii.  12.  quiet  prince,  //'/.,  prince  of  Menucha  : 
or  prince  of  the  resting-place,  ^  i.e.  of  those  who  waited  upon  the 
king  in  his  bed-chamber.  (GO^  evil,  or  calamity.  (Gl)  read, 
to  some  assembly  of  the  captives.  "  Then  see  that  thou  read." 
(G3;  cast  .  .  Euplirates,  a  symbolical  act.    We  need  not  sup- 


a  Comp.  the  pro- 
verb,  "They 
whom  the  gods 
would  destfoii, 
they  first  de- 
munl." 

b  "  The  walls 
were  from  41  to 
CO  miles  in  cir- 
cumference, and 
from  75  to  335 
feet  in  hpifrlit,  at 
different  parts. 
They  formed  a 
square,  in  each 
side  of  which 
were  25  gates 
leading  into 
the  city.  Be- 
tween these  gates 
were  250  towers, 
so  that  it  was 
considered  to  be 
iiiip7-egnable."  — 
Partly      JJeuder- 


"  Can  any  man 
s.ay  that  the 
wild  fowl  in  his 
grounds  are  liis, 
which  suddenly 
take  their  wings 
and  fly  away, 
and  for  awhile 
make  a  stay  in 
another  man's 
field,  and  tliereby 
give  a  like  pro- 
perty to  the 
second  as  they 
did  to  the  first  ? 
No  more  can 
any  man  call 
riches  truly  his, 
wh.,  like  winged 
birds,  shift  their 
owners,  and  haste 
from  one  to 
another."— »S>ur- 
sloice. 

"  Happy  the  man 
who,  void  of 
care  and  strife, 
in  silken  or  in 
leather  purse  re- 
tains a  good  old 
shilling." —  Gold- 
smilh. 

c  Keith. 

a  "That  is  sent 
by  Zedekiah  to 
appease  Nebu- 
chadnezzar's an- 
ger at  his  revolt." 
—  Calf  ill. 
b  "It  was  his 
business  to  ride 
forward  each 
day,   ani    seleot 


200 


■JEHFMIAtt. 


[Cap.lii.l-S. 


tl'e  place  where 
the  king  would 
halt  nnd  pass  the 
High  t."  —  Hjik. 
Com. 

"The  utility  cf 
riches  consists 
not  in  the  wel- 
fare of  the  indi- 
vidual, but  in  the 
general  good  cf 
society.  "What- 
ever tends  to  loss 
of  health,  or  com- 
fort, or  deteriora- 
tion of  morals,  in 
the  main  body  of 
the  nation,  is  not 
•wealth  but  po- 
verty, notwith- 
standing any 
superficial  splen- 
dour of  tilings 
wherewith  it  may 
be  combined." — 
Quaiiei-ly  Review. 

"  Riches  do  not 
consist  in  having 
more  gold  an.i 
silver,  but  in 
Laving  more  in 
proportion  than 
our  neighbours ; 
whereby  we  are 
enabled  to  pro- 
cure to  ourselves 
a  greater  plenty 
of  the  conveni- 
ences of  life  tlian 
comes  w  i  t  h  i  n 
their  reach,  who, 
sharing  the  golil 
and  silver  of  the 
world  in  a  less 
proportion,  want 
the  means  of 
plenty  and 
power,  and  so 
are  poorer."  — 
Locke. 

C  Keith. 


"  The  heathen 
mother  takes  her 
babe  to  tlie  idol 
temple,  and 
teaches  it  to  clasp 
its  little  liands 
before  its  fore- 
head, in  tlie  atti- 
tude of  prayer, 
long  before  it 
can  utter  a  word. 
As  soon  as  it  can 
Walk,  it  is  taught 


pose  the  roll  to  have  been  lost.     Seraiah  -would  draw  it  up  again. 
((M)  thus  far,  intimating  that  the  next  ch.  is  an  appendix. 

I'll/'  cities  (if  Uahij'dn. — The  cour.^e  of  the  ligris  through 
Babylonia,  instead  of  being  adorned,  as  of  old,  with  cities  and 
towns,  is  marked  with  the  sites  of  '•  ancient  ruins."  Sitace, 
^abata,  Narisa,  Fuchera,  Sendia  "no  longer  exist."  A  succes- 
sion of  longitudinal  mounds,  crossed  at  right  angles  by  others, 
mark  the  supposed  site  of  Arteniita,  or  JJestagered.  Its  once 
luxuriant  gardens  arc  covered  with  grass  ;  and  a  higher  mound 
distinguishes  '•  the  royal  residence "  from  the  ancient  streets. 
Extensive  ridges  and  mounds  (near  to  Houmania).  varying  in 
height  and  extent,  are  seen  branching  in  every  direction.  A  wall 
with  sixteen  bastions  is  the  only  memorial  of  Apollonia.  The 
once  magnificent  Seleucia  is  now  a  scene  of  desolation.  There  is 
not  a  single  entire  building,  but  the  country  is  strewed  for  miles 
with  fragments  of  decayed  buildings.  "  As  far,'  says  JJajor 
Iveppet,  '■  as  the  eye  could  reach,  the  horizon  presented  a  bi^oken 
line  of  mounds  ;  the  whole  of  this  place  was  a  desert  fiat."  On 
the  opposite  bank  of  the  Tigris,  where  Ctesiphon  its  rival  stood, 
besides  fragments  of  walls  and  broken  masses  of  brick\\ork.  and 
remains  of  vast  structures  encumbered  with  heaps  of  earth,  there 
is  one  magnificent  monument  of  antiquity,  •■  in  a  remarkably 
perfect  state  of  preservation,"  "  a  large  and  noble  tile  of  building, 
the  front  of  which  presents  to  view  a  wall  three  hundred  feet  in 
length,  adorned  with  four  rows  of  arched  recesses,  with  a  central 
arch,  in  span  eighty-six  feet,  and  above  a  hundred  feet  high,  sup- 
ported by  walls  sixteen  feet  thick,  and  leading  to  a  hall  which 
extends  to  the  depth  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-six  feet,"  the 
width  of  the  building.  A  great  part  of  the  back  wall,  and  of 
the  roof,  is  broken  down  ;  but  that  which  remains  ••  still  appears 
much  larger  than  Westminster  Abbey."  It  is  supposed  to  have 
been  the  lofty  palace  of  Chosrocs  ;  but  there  desolation  now 
reigns.  "  On  the  site  of  Ctesiphon,  the  smallest  insect  under 
heaven  would  not  find  a  single  blade  of  grass  wherein  to  hide 
itself,  nor  one  drop  of  water  to  allay  its  thirst."  In  the  rear  of 
the  palace,  and  attached  to  it,  are  mounds  two  miles  in  circum- 
ference, indicating  the  utter  desolation  of  buildings  formed  to 
minister  to  luxury.  But,  in  the  words  of  Captain  Blignan, 
"  such  is  the  extent  of  the  irregular  mounds  and  hillocks  that 
overspread  the  site  of  these  renowned  cities,  that  it  would  occupy 
some  mouths  to  take  the  bearings  and  dimensions  of  each  with 
accuracy."' 


CHAPTER  TEE  FIFTY-SECOND. 

1—3.  (])  Zedekiah,  ctc.,2'K\.  xxiv.  18—20.  (2)  Jehoiakim, 
2  Ki.  xxiii.  ;54— 37.     (8)  anger  .  .  Lord,  2  Ki.  xxiv.  3.  4. 

Advice  to  a  moflier. — The  first  book  read,  and  the  last  book  laid 
aside  by  every  child  is  the  conduct  of  its  motlier.  1.  First  give 
yourself,  then  your  child,  to  God.  It  is  but  giving  Ilim  His  own. 
Not  to  do  it  is  robbing-  God.  2.  Alw.ays  prefer  virtue  to  wealth 
— the  honour  that  comes  from  God  to  the  honour  that  comes 
from  men.  Do  this  for  yourself,  do  it  for  your  child.  3.  Let  your 
whole  course  be  to  raise  your  child  to  a  high  standard.  Do  not 
sink  into  childishness  yourself.    4.  Give  not  heedless  commandSt 


Cap.  lii.  4-16.] 


JEREMIAB. 


201 


but  when  you  command  require  prompt  obedience.  5.  Never 
indulge  a  child  in  cruelty,  even  to  an  insect.  6.  Cultivate 
sympathy  with  your  child  in  all  lawful  joj's  and  sorrows.  7.  Be 
sure  that  you  never  correct  a  child  until  you  know  it  deserves 
correction.  Hear  its  story  first  and  fully.  8.  Never  allow  your 
child  to  whine  or  fret,  or  to  bear  grudges.  9.  Early  inculcate 
frankness,  candour,  generosity,  magnanimity,  patriotism,  and 
selt-denial.  10.  The  knowledge  and  fear  of  the  Lord  are  the  be- 
ginning of  wisdom.  11.  Never  mortify  the  feelings  of  your 
child  by  upbraiding  it  with  dulness  ;  but  do  not  inspire  it  with 
self-conceit.  12.  Pray  with  and  for  your  child,  often  and 
hcartil}'.  13.  Encourage  all  attempts  at  self-improvement.  14. 
Never  deceive  nor  break  a  promise  to  a  child.  15.  Reprove 
not  a  child  severely  in  the  presence  of  strangers.  16.  Remember 
that  life  is  a  vapour,  and  that  you  and  your  child  may  be  called 
out  of  time  into  eternity  any  day. 

4—11.  (4)  forts,  or  watch  towers."  (5,  6)  iDCSieged,  invested 
BO  closely  that  no  provisions  from  outside  could  reach  the  inha- 
bitants. (7)  fled,  com}).  2  Ki.  xxv.  4.  (8)  pursued,  etc.,  2 
Ki.  xxv.  5.  ('J)  land  of  Hamath,  omitted  in  2  Kings  :  comp. 
Je.  xxxix.  .5.  (10)  slew  .  .  princes,  ch.  xxxix.  6.  (11)  put 
him  in  prison,  this  information  is  additional  to  that  given  us 
in  2  Kings. 

^l  ivord  ahout  rye.t. — Large  eyes  were  admired  in  Greece,  where 
they  still  prevail.  They  are  the  finest  of  all,  when  they  have  the 
interna]  look  :  which  is  not  common.  The  stag  or  antelope  eye 
of  the  Orientals  is  beautiful  and  lamping,  but  is  accused  of  look- 
ing skittish  and  indifferent.  "  The  epithet  of  stag-eyed,"  says 
Lady  Wortley  Montagu,  speaking  of  alurki.sh  love-song,  "pleases 
me  extremely  ;  and  I  think  it  a  very  lively  image  of  the  fire  and 
indifference  in  his  mistress's  eyes.  "  We  lose  in  depth  of  expres- 
sion, when  we  go  to  inferior  animals  for  comparisons  with 
human  beauty.  Homer  calls  Juno  ox-eyed  ;  and  the  epithet 
suits  well  with  the  eyes  of  that  goddess,  because  she  may  be  sup- 
posed, with  all  her  beauty,  to  want  a  certain  humanity.  Her 
large  eyes  look  at  you  with  a  royal  indifference.  Shakespeare 
has  kissed  them,  and  made  them  human.  Speaking  of  violets, 
he  describes  them  as  being — 

"  Sweeter  than  the  lids  of  Juno's  eyes." 
This  is  shutting  up  their  pride,  and  subjecting  them  to  the  lips 
of  love.  Large  ej'es  may  become  moi-e  touching  under  the  cir- 
cumstance than  any  others,  because  of  the  field  which  the  large 
lids  give  for  the  veins  to  wander  in,  and  the  trembling  amplitude 
of  the  ball  beneath.  Little  eyes  must  be  good-tempered,  or  they 
are  ruined.  They  have  no  other  resource.  But  this  will  beautify 
them  enough.  They  are  made  for  laughing,  and  should  do  their 
duty.* 

12 — 16.  (12)  tenth,  comp.  serenih  of  2  Ki.  xxv.  8."  served 
the  king,  or  stood  before  him  :  implying  that  he  was  a  courtier, 
or  high  officer.  (13)  burned,  etc.,  2  Ki.  xxv.  9.  Probably  only 
the  larger  houses  were  burnt.  (14)  all  the  "walls,  to  ensure 
that  it  could  not  again  be  made  a  centre  of  rebellion.  (15,  16) 
Comp.  2  Ki.  xxv.  11,  12.     multitude,  or  of  the  n-orlnnenJ> 

Fire  a  good  .tervnnt. — Fire  is,  in  some  degree,  the  universal 
instrument  of  all  the  arts  and  all.  the  necessaries  of  life.    In 


to  gather  a  few 
flowers  or  fruits, 
or  put  a  little  rice 
upon  a  banaiia- 
itaf.andlay  tlienx 
upon  the  altar 
before  the  idol 
god.  As  soon  as 
it  can  utter  the 
names  of  its  pa- 
rents, so  Eoon  it 
is  taught  to  ofl'er 
up  its  petitions 
before  the 
images.  Whoever 
saw  a  lieatlien 
child  that  could 
speak,  and  not 
pray  ?  Christian 
mothers,  why  is 
it  that  so  many 
children  grow  up 
in  this  enlight- 
ened land  with- 
out learning  to 
pray?"  —  Vt. 
Cliroiiicle, 

a  "  Erected  by 
the  besieging 
party  for  the 
double  purpose  of 
observing  what 
was  done  by 
those  defending 
the  city,  and  of 
amoying  them 
by  discharging 
missiles  upon 
them  from  the 
elevation  which 
was  thus  afford- 
ed."— IJcnderion. 

"  Those  eyes, 
those  ej-es,  how 
full  of  hcavea 
they  are !  Whea 
the  calm  twilight 
leaves  the  heaveu 
most  holy  :  tell 
me,  sweet  eyes, 
from  what  di- 
vinest  star  did 
ye  drink  in  your 
liquid  melan- 
choly ?  Tell  me, 
beloved  ej'es."— 
Uuiici'/: 

b  Lcifjh  Hunt. 


a  In  Heb.  letters 
are  used  for  nu- 
merals, and  some 
of  them  are  so 
much  alike  that 
confusion  is 
easily  made  by 
copyists. 

6  "  The  object  oj 


202 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  lii.  17-27, 


N  e  buchadnezzar 
was  to  peoplo 
B;iliyl<in,  not, 

with  p;iupers  but 
with  ineu  of  a 
better  class,  arti- 
sans aiitl  work- 
men, who  woulil 
enrich  it.  The 
expense  of  takin.!:; 
them  to  Babylon 
must  have  been 
cousiilorable." — 
Spk.  Cum. 

"  He  which  med- 
dleth  with  that 
he  hath  not  to 
do  is  compareil 
to  one  that 
catclieth  a  do^ 
by  the  ears,  and 
dare  neither  hold 
him  still  nor  let 
him  go ;  so  ho 
can  nMther  go 
forward  for  want 
of  skill,  nor  back- 
ward for  shame." 
— Henry  Smith. 

e  Slurm. 


a  Lowlh. 

"To  gire  pain  is 
the  tyranny,  to 
make  liajipy  the 
true  empire,  ot 
beauty. ' ' — Steele. 

b  Roberts. 


A.  prison  is  a 
house  of  care,  a 
place  where  none 
can  thrive,  a 
touchstone  true 
to  try  a  friend,  a 
grave  for  one 
alive ;  sometimes 
a  place  of  right, 
B  0  m  e  t  i  m  e  s  a 
place  of  wrong, 
sometimes  a 
place  of  rogne>; 
and  thieves,  and 
honest  men 
among. 

Mr.  JIartroos,  a 
respectable  Ar- 
menian gentle- 
man, who  dieil  at 
Calcutta  in  the 
year  1816.  di- 
sjected    by     his 


order  that  man  should  make  continual  use  of  this  element,  the 
Creator  has  caused  it  to  mix  in  the  air.  the  water,  and  all  fat  an  I 
oily  substances.  How  very  useful  is  all  the  combustible  matter 
which  supplies  us  with  fuel.  AVithout  a  suflicieut  provision  of 
it,  we  should  not  only  lose  the  greatest  advantai^es,  but  we  should 
be  exposed  to  the  greatest  inconvenience.  In  winter,  were  it  not 
for  the  fire  which  lights  us,  a  great  part  of  our  time  would  pass 
in  the  most  insupportable  darkness.  Deprived  of  that  artificial 
light,  our  most  agreeable  amusements  would  cease  at  sunset. 
We  should  be  obliged  to  remain  motionless,  or  else  to  wander  in 
darkness,  with  horror,  in  the  midst  of  a  thousand  dangers.  How 
melancholy  our  state  would  be,  if  in  these  long  evenings  we 
could  neither  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  society,  nor  make  use  of  the 
resources  of  reading,  writing,  and  working.  Consider  how  un- 
wholesome, and  how  little  nourishment  there  would  be  in  the 
greatest  part  of  the  food  which  the  earth  produces,  if  by  means 
of  fire  they  were  not  dissolved,  softened,  and  prepared  to  a  certain 
degree.  And  how  should  we  be  able  to  provide  so  many  other 
necessaries  and  conveniences  of  life,  if  the  workmen  and  artists 
did  not  procure  them  for  us  with  the  help  of  fire  .'  "Without  that 
element,  we  should  not  be  able  to  melt  metals,  to  make  them 
malleable,  to  refine  them  ;  to  change  sand  into  glass  ;  or  to  give 
to  lime  the  consistence  of  stone.  Without  tire  nature  and  all  its 
treasures  would  become  useless,  and  would  lose  in  our  eyes  the 
most  of  their  cliarms.' 

17—23.  (17—19)  pillars,  etc.,  2  Ki.  xxv.  13—1.5.  (20)  under 
the  feasss,  "the  bases  were  under  the  ten  lavers;"  so  this 
would  better  read,  "  The  t'n^elve  brazen  bulls  which  were  instead 
of  bases.""  to  support  the  brazen  sea.  (21 — 2.3)  pillars,  etc.,  2 
Ki.  XXV.  16,  17.     (22)  five  cubits,  1  Ki.  vii.  16. 

The  finger  as  a  mea-fHrc. — In  the  same  way  do  the  people  of 
the  East  speak  of  anjiihing  which  is  less  in  measure  than  a.  span. 
"  What  height  are  your  pepper  vines  ? "  "  About  two  fingers." 
"  "Wlien  the  rice  becomes  five  fingers  in  height  we  shall  want 
more  rain."  That  which  is  less  than  a  finger  is  spoken  of  as  a 
grain  of  rice  ;  the  next  gradation  is  an  ellit,  i.e.  gingelly  seed  ; 
the  next  is  a  mustard  seed  ;  and  the  last  an  ajiu,  i.e.  an  atom.* 

.  24—27.  (24)  Seraiah,  2  Ki.  xxv.  18.  (25)  seven  men, 
comp.  "  five  men  "  of  2  Ki.  xxv.  19.  (26.  27)  so  .  .  land,  2  Ki. 
XXV.  20,  21. 

Prhon  di.fcijjJ/nr. — A  gentleman  who  visited  the  county  gaol 
of  Norfolk  in  1818,  gives  the  following  interesting  particulars 
of  the  advantages  of  inculcating  habits  of  industry  among  the 
prisoners.  He  says  : "  On  the  ground  floor  of  the  felons'  yard 
there  are  two  work-rooms  :  in  one  were  two  shoemakers,  and  a 
lad  who  had  been  in  a  manner  apprenticed  to  them.  He  had 
been  more  than  once  detected  in  crime,  and  bore  a  very  bad 
character  ;  from  this,  and  from  the  character  of  his  associates, 
his  was  considered  almost  a  hopeless  case.  Upon  his  last  con- 
viction, the  governor  requested  the  magistrates  to  allow  him  to 
try  the  experiment  of  reformation  by  labour.  At  first  he  was 
unruly  :  but  he  has  much  improved,  has  learned  to  make  shoes, 
and  will,  in  the  opinion  of  his  instructor,  be  able  to  earn  his 
livelihood  at  the  time  of  his  liberation.  The  governor  and  the 
turnkey  remarked  how  much  the  lad  had  amended  his  behaviour 


Cap.  lii.  28-34.] 


JEREMIAn. 


203 


and  conversation  since  he  liad  been  fully  employed.  In  the  other 
room,  one  weaver  and  two  carpenters  were  employed,  and  were 
thankful  for  the  opportunity  of  being  so  ;  and  indeed  it  is  a  rule, 
to  which  my  experieace  has  not  furnished  an  exception,  that 
prisoners  are  always  glad  to  work  ;  and  are  more  orderly  and 
manageable — are  less  exposed  to  contamination  :  in  short,  in 
prison,  and  when  they  leave  it,  are  less  vicious  when  em^jloyed 
than  when  idle.  In  these  ojainions  the  gaoler  fully  coincided. 
He  said,  •  Work  is  the  best  governor  of  a  prison  :  it  prevents  dis- 
sension and  attempts  to  escape,  it  takes  away  half  the  trouble 
and  half  the  danger  ; '  and  he  would  wish  to  employ  his  prisoners, 
and  iiay  them  accordingly,  though  the  labour  produced  nothing. 
They  are  allowed  one-third  of  their  earnings — half  at  the  time  if 
they  require  it,  and  half  at  the  expiration  of  the  sentence.  An 
account  is  kept  with  each  of  them.  I  obsei'ved  that  the  boy 
described  above  had  already  a  credit  of  IDs.  ;  another  man  had 
received  nearly  £7,  and  had  instructed  two  others  to  make 
shoes."' " 

28—30.  (28)  three  .  .  twenty,  comp.  2  Ki.  xxiv.  H,  16. 
(29)  eighteenth,  year,  when  Nebuc.  raised  the  siege  of  Jems., 
to  march  against  the  king  of  Egypt.  He  then  sent  all  the 
captive  Jews  in  his  camp  away  to  Babylon.  (.50)  three  and 
twentieth  year,  when  Nebuc.  laid  siege  to  Tyre. 

Count  UfjnUfiQ  and  his  children. — Ugolino,  a  Florentine  count, 
with  his  four  children,  was   thrown  into  a  dungeon   by  Arch- 
bishop Ruggieri.     The   horrors  which  he    was   here   doomed  to 
encounter  have  given  a  melancholy  celebrity  to  his  name.     "  The 
hour."  says  he,  ''  approached,  when  we  expected  to  have  some- 
thing brought  us  to  eat :  but  instead  of  seeing  any  food  appear, 
I  heard  the  door  of  that  horrible  dungeon  more  closely  barred.     I 
beheld  my  little  children  in  silence,  and  could  not  weep  ;   vaj 
heart  was  petrified.     The  little  wretches   wept  ;   and  my  dear 
Anselmo  said,  '  Father,  j'ou  look  on  us  !  What  ails  you  .' '  I  could 
neither  weep  nor  answer,  and  continued  swallowed  up  in  silent 
agony  aU.  that  day.  and  the  following  night,  even  till  the  dawn 
of  day.     As  soon  as  a  glimmering  ray  darted  through  the  doleful 
prison,  that  I  could  view  again  those  four  faces  in  which  my 
own  image  was  impressed.  I  gnawed  both  my  hands  with  grief 
and  rage.   My  child'-en,  believing  I  did  this  through  eagerness  to  j 
eat,  raising  themselves  suddenly  up.  said  to  me,  '  My  father,  our  j 
torments   would  be    less  if  you  would   allay  the  rage  of  you^  j 
hunger  upon  us.'     I  restrained  mvself,  that  I  might  not  increase  ■. 
their  misery.     We  were  all  mute  that  day,  and  the  following.  I 
The  fourth  day  being  come,  Gouldo,  falling  extended  at  my  feet,  j 
cried,  '  Bly  father  !  why  do  you  not  help  me  ? '  and  died.     The  j 
other  three  expired  one  after  another,  between  the  fifth  and  sixth  ; 
day,  famished,  as  thou  seest  me  now  !  and  I.  being  seized  with 
blindness,  began  to  go  groping  upon  them  with  my  hands  and 
feet ;  and  continued  calling  them  by  their  names  three  days  after 
they  were  dead  ;  theu  hunger  vanoLuished  my  g-rief.''" 

31 — 34.  (31)  Evil-merodach,  son  and  successor  of  Nebu- 
chadnezzar, lifted  .  .  head,  fig.  for  cheered  and  encouraged 
him,  by  giving  him  liberty,  and  some  kindly  notice."  (B2) 
kings,  i.e.  the  other  captive  kings  kejit  to  grace  the  court.  (33) 
cat  bread,  i.e.  take  his  place  as  an  official  of  the  palace.  (Comp. 


will  that  a  con- 
siilerable  sum 
sliould  be  applied 
by  liis  e.xecutors 
to  the  relief  of 
poor  prisoners 
coufinprl  in  gaol 
for  sm.all  debts. 
One  twelfth  part 
of  the  entire  sunx 
left,  amounting 
to  2,106  rupees, 
was  immediately 
appropriated  to 
the  payment  of 
the  debts  of 
unfortunate  per- 
sons confined  ia 
prison ;  in  con- 
sequence of  wh., 
one  hundred  and 
eight  persons  ob- 
t  a  i  n  e  d  their 
liberation. 
a  fercy  Anec. 

"  It  was  a  shrewd 
saying  of  the  old 
monk,  that  two 
kinds  of  prisons 
woull  serve  for 
all  offenders  in 
the  world  —  an 
Inquisition  and 
a  Bedlam.  If  any 
man  should  deny 
the  being  of  a 
God,  and  the  im-| 
mortaUty  of  the 
soul,  such  a  one 
should  be  put 
into  the  first  of 
these — the  Inqui- 
sition— as  being 
a  desperate 
heretic ;  but  if 
any  man  should 
profess  to  believe 
these  things,  and 
yet  allow  himself 
in  any  known 
wile  ness,  such 
a  o  niuhould  be 
put  to  Bed- 
lam."— TJk  men 

"  Satiety  comes 
of  riches,  and 
con  tumacious- 
ness  of  satiety." 
— Holon. 

a  Percg  Anec. 


rt"Evil-Merodacl' 
is  s:iid  in  Jewish 
tradition  to  have 
foi-ined  an  ac- 
quaintance witti 
J  c  Uoiachia 


204 


JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  lii.  31-34. 


wliile  they  were 
companions  in 
prison ;  Nfbu- 
cliadnezzar  hav- 
ing put  his  son 
in  prison  tor  a 
tvna."—Faussct. 

b  "  This  change 
of  condition, 
vouchsafed  at 
Babylon  by  God's 
mercy,  even  to 
Jelioiachin,  after 
the  terrible  male- 
dictions de- 
nounced against 
him,  and  aftt'r  a 
long  exile  and 
captivity  of  37 
yrs.,  was  like  a 
presage  of  com- 
fort and  mercy 
from  God  Him- 
self, and  was  a 
prelude  and  a 
pledge  of  the 
liberation  and 
exaltation  of  the 
Jewisli  nation, 
when  it  had  been 
humbled  and 
purified  by  the 
discipline  of  suf- 
fering, and  of  its 
return  to  its 
own  land." — 
Woi-dsxootih. 
•  terey  Aaec 


2  Sa.  ix.  7,  11.)      (34)  continual  diet,  or  daily  provision  for 
the  maintenance  of  himself  and  his  attendants.* 

Francis  I. — When  Francis,  after  having-  performed  prodigies  of 
valour  and  of  personal  courage,  and  after  having  two  horses 
killed  under  him,  was  taken  prisoner  at  the  battle  of  Pavia,  he 
was  conducted  captive  to  the  celebrated  convent  of  Carthusian 
friars  at  Pavia.  He  sent  to  his  mother,  Louisa  of  Savoy,  Regent 
of  France  in  his  absence,  the  melancholy  news  of  liis  captivity, 
conceived  in  these  dignified  and  exjn-essive  terms,  '•  Tout  est 
l^erdu,  madame,  hormis  I'honneur."  From  Pavia,  Francis  was 
conducted  to  Madrid,  where  he  was  closely  confined,  and  treated 
with  great  indignity,  contraiy  to  the  advice  given  to  Charles  the 
Fifth  by  one  of  his  counsellors,  the  Bishop  of  Osma,  who  advised 
his  sovereign  to  present  Francis  with  his  liberty,  with  no  other 
condition  annexed  to  it  than  that  of  becoming  his  ally,  urging 
that  it  would  be  an  act  of  generosity  worthy  of  so  great  a 
monarch.  Francis  suffered  extremely  from  his  imprisonment,  and 
would  most  probably  have  died  from  it  had  not  his  sister,  the 
Queen  of  Navarre,  visited  him  in  his  wretched  and  solitary  state. 
So  much  did  this  behaviour  endear  his  sister  to  him,  that  he 
alwaj's  called  her  "  son  time,"  "  sa  mignon  ;  "  and  notwithstanding 
his  over-strict  and  bigoted  attachment  to  the  Church  of  Rome, 
he  permitted  her  to  become  a  Prostestant,  without  interfering 
with  her  religious  opinions.  AVlien  Francis  was  at  length  re- 
leased from  his  imprisonment,  and  after  he  had  crossed  in  a  boat 
the  small  rivei  Fontarabia,  which  divides  Spain  from  France,  he 
mounted  a  fleet  Arabian  courser  that  was  brought  him,  and 
drawing  his  sword,  cried  out  in  a  tone  of  transport  and  exulta- 
tion, "  I  am  still  a  king  1 "  « 


LAMENTATIONS  OF  JEREMIAR 


Introbittfiom 


(^Fbr  General  Introduction  see  commencement  of  Prophecies  of  Jeremrali!) 

This  Book  is  a  kind  of  appendix  to  tlie  Prophecies  of  Jeremiah,  of  which, 
in  the  original  Scriptures,  it  formed  a  part.  It  expresses  with  pathetio 
tenderness  the  Prophet's  grief  for  the  desolation  of  the  city  and  temple  of 
Jerusalem,  the  captivity  of  tlie  people,  the  miseries  of  tamiue,  the  cessation  of 
public  worship,  and  the  other  calamities  with  which  his  countrymen  had  been 
vi-sited  for  their  sins.  The  leading  object  was  to  teach  the  suffering  Jews 
neither  to  despise  the  chastening  of  the  Lord,  nor  to  faint  when  i-ebuked  of 
Him,  but  to  turn  to  God  with  deep  repentance,  to  confess  their  sins,  and 
humbly  look  to  Him  alone  for  pardon  and  deliverance.  No  Book  in  Scripture 
is  more  rich  in  expressions  of  patriotic  feeling,  or  of  the  penitence  and  tru.st 
which  become  an  afflicted  Christian.  The  form  of  these  poems  is  strictly 
regular,  with  the  exception  of  the  last.  They  are  in  the  original  Hebrew 
alphabetical  acrostics,  in  which  every  stanza  begins  with  a  new  letter.  The 
third  has  this  further  peculiarity,  that  all  the  three  lines  in  each  stanza  have 
the  same  letter  at  the  commencement.  As  a  composition  this  Book  is  remark- 
able for  the  great  variety  of  pathetic  images  it  contains  :  expressive  of  the 
deepest  sorrow,  and  worthy  of  the  subject  which  they  are  desiiined  to  illustrate 
^Angus). 


Snn0|3sis. 


{Afcnrding  to  Home.) 
This  Book,  ■wliicli   iu  our  Bible  is  divided 
into  five  chapters,  consists  of  five  distinct 
Elegies. 

Elegy  I.— A  Lamentation  of  the  sad  reverse 
of  fortune  which  the  country  had  expe- 
rienced, and  a  confession  that  the  miseries 
were  well  deserved. 

Elegy  II.— A  mclanclioly  detail  of  the  dire 
effects  of  the  Divine  anger  in  the  sub- 
version of  the  civil  and  religious  constitu- 
tion of  the  Jews, 


Elegy  III. — The  inexhaustible  mercies  of 
God  are  set  forth  as  the  never-failing 
source  of  consolation,  and  an  exhortation 
to  patience. 

Elegy  IV. — A  contrast  between  the  present 
deplorable  condition  of  the  nation  and 
their  former  flourishing  affairs. 

Elegy  v.— An  epilogue  to  the  previoua 
Klegies.  This  chapter  is  in  some  versiaaj 
entitled  "  The  Prayer  of  Jeremiah." 


Cap.  1. 1-6.] 


LAMENTATIONS  OF  JFREM7AB. 


207 


CHAPTER  TEH  FIRST. 

1 — 3.  (1)  solitary,  alone  ;  without  her  inhabitants."  as  a 
widow,  "  cities  are  often  described  as  the  mothers  of  their  in- 
habitants, aud  their  kings  and  princes  as  their  husbands." 
nations  .  .  provinces,  the  surrounding  kingdoms,  e.ff. 
Philistines,  Edomites,  etc.  tributary,  the  word  here  means 
bond-servants.  "  Her  only  function  now  is  to  be  a  vassal  unto 
others."  (2)  weepetli  sore,  Je.  xiii.  17.*  lovers,  or  allied 
states,  dealt  treacherously,  utterly  failing  her  in  the  hour 
of  her  need.'"  (3)  Judah.,  etc.,  Je.  lii.  27.  affliction  .  . 
servitude,  their  breaking  the  Mosaic  law  in  relation  to  setting 
at  liberty  the  slaves,  was  one  great  sign  and  proof  of  their 
rebelliousness,  straits,  a  metaphor  taken  from  hunting  : 
driven  into  a  corner.'^ 

T/te  fire  at  Chicago. — IMr.  Banchor  relates  that  when  the 
Chicago  iire  had  so  far  died  out  as  to  admit  of  investigation 
amongst  the  heaps  of  ruins,  a  search  was  made  on  the  spot  where 
stood  the  Western  News  Company's  establishment.  An  enor- 
mous stock  of  periodicals,  Bibles,  and  various  books  had  been 
consumed,  and  in  turning  over  the  debris,  a  leaf  of  a  quarto 
Bible  was  found  charred  and  tinder,  and  upon  it  was  the  first 
chapter  of  Jeremiah,  which  opens  with  the  above  words.  This, 
he  adds,  '■  was  all  the  literatm-e  saved  from  the  great  depot." 
Become  as  a  ividotr. — Jerusalem  had  been  sacked  by  a  ruthless 
foe,  and  her  sons  had  been  carried  off  to  Babylon.  "  As  a  widow.'' 
"When  a  husband  dies,  the  solitary  widow  takes  off  her  marriage 
jewels,  and  other  ornaments  ;  her  head  is  shaved  ;  and  she  sits 
down  in  the  dust  to  bewail  her  lamentable  condition.  In  the 
book  Scanda  P^trdna,  it  is  said,  after  the  splendid  city  of  Kupera 
had  been  plundered  by  the  cruel  Assurs,  "  the  city  deprived  of  its 
riches  by  the  pillage  of  the  Assurs,  resembled  the  widow  1" 
Jerusalem  became  as  a  widow  in  her  loneliness  bemoaning  her 
departed  lord." 

4 — 6  (4)  ways,  i.e.  highways  leading  from  the  country  dis- 
tricts to  Jeru.salem.  mourn,  bee.  none  journey  on  them  to  the 
solemn  feasts."  Gra.ss-grown  roads  and  streets  may,  ilguratively, 
be  said  to  be  in  mourning,  her  gates,  those  of  Zion.  virgins, 
'•  v.'ho  took  a  prominent  part  in  all  religious  festivals.''*  (.5) 
chief,  masters  over  her."  prosper,  lit.  •'  are  at  rest,"  so 
crushed  is  Zion.  that  they  have  no  fear  of  her  renewing  her  re- 
bellion, children  .  .  enemy,  driven  before  them  like  a  flock 
of  slaves.'^  (6)  beauty,  that  of  her  temple,  palaces,  aud  walls, 
liarts,  or  deer. 

An  old  man's  sorrow. — 

Careful,  sorrowing, 

He  seeth  in  his  son's  bower 

The  v/ine-hall  deserted, 

The  resort  of  the  wine  noiseless, 

The  knight  sleepeth  ; 

The  warrior,  in  darkness. 

There  is  not  there 

Koise  of  the  harp, 


n  Jerusalem  la 
described  as  a 
widow  woman, 
sitting  sad  and 
pensive,  on  the 
ground,  tlie  posi- 
tion often  taken 
bj'  mom-ners. 

b  "The  dartness 
or  solitude  of  the 
night  dot)i  natu- 
rally promote 
melancholy  re- 
flection  s." — • 
Lowth. 


c    Comp. 
x.\iv.  2. 


2    KL 


d  "Image  from 
robbers,  who,  in 
the  E.,  intercept 
travellers  at  the 
narrow  passes  in 
hilly  regious." — 
Fausset. 

V.3.  J.  C.  Dieterie, 
C35. 


a  For  the  ioy  o( 
these  journeys 
coni]i.  the  Psalui3 
of  Degrees,  cxx. 
— cxxxiii. 

b  Ex.  XV.  20 ;  Ps. 
Ixviii.  25;  Je. 
xxxi.  13. 

c  De.  xxviii.  -4. 

d  "  In  ancient 
sculptures  such 
mournful  proces- 
sions of  •women 
and  tender  chil- 
dren are  often 
engraved." — Spi: 
Com. 

"  The  sorrowa 
which  the  soul 
endures,  not  self- 
inflicted,  are  but 
hooded  joys,  that 


208 


LAMENTATWyrS  OF  JEREMIAB. 


[Cap.  i.  7-11. 


when  she  touches 
the  wlrrte  stnuul 
of  he;rven,  tlicy 
chister  rouml  lier 
and  slip  otr  their 
robes,  anil  laugh 
out  aiigiMri  in  tiie 
■world  of  lifjiit."— 
J.  SIniii/iin  liiijij. 
e  John  M.  Kemble. 


a  "The  bitterest 
ingredient  in  the 
cup  of  adversity 
is  the  remeni- 
branca  of  lost 
possessions  and 
e  njoy  me  nts." 
— Henderson. 

h  "  None  could 
stain  our  glory  if 
we  did  not  stain 
It  ourselves. " — 
Mat.  Henry. 

e  U.  R.  Thomas. 

"  Let  never  day 
nor  night  uu- 
hallow'il  pass,  but 
still  re  in  em  ber 
what  the  Lord 
bath  done."  — 
Shakespeare. 


d    Dr.      W. 
Sprague. 


B. 


3  Chr.  xxxvi. 


•10. 


"■What      man 

should  learn  is, 
to  reject  all  that 
is  useless  iu  re- 
membrance, aud 
to  retain  with 
cheerfulness  all 
that  can  profit 
and  amend.  For- 
get not  thy  sins, 
that  thou  niaycst 
B(  iTow  and  re- 
pent ;  remember 
death,  that  thou 
ni:iyest  sin  no 
n:urc  ;  remember 
the  judgment  of 
God,  that  thou 
maycot  justly 
fear  ;  and  never 
torget  His  mercy, 


Joy  in  the  dwellings, 

As  there  was  before. 

Then  departeth  he  into  songs, 

Singeth  a  lay  of  sorrow, 

One  after  one  ; — 

All  seemed  to  him  too  wiie, 

The  plains  and  the  dwelling-place.* 

7  —  9.  (7)  remembered,  better,  remember.=<.  In  her 
afflicted  state  she  thinks  over  the  past,  with  the  bitterness  of 
regret.'^  when,  better,  after  which,  mock  .  .  sabbatlis,  wh. 
seemed  to  the  heathen  a  mere  excuse  for  idleness.  (<S)  removed, 
or  she  is  as  a  thing  which  men  remove  from  their  sight.  She  is 
become  an  abomination,  sigheth.,  "  over  the  infamy  of  her 
deeds  thus  brought  to  open  shame."'  backward,  as  if  she 
would  hide  herself.  (9 J  Skirts,  wh.  were  as  if  rolled  in  the 
mire.*  last  end,  comp.  De.  xxxii.  2'J.  down  wonderfully, 
Is.  xlvii.  1  ;  Je.  xlviii.  18. 

Till'  action  of  the  memory  in  pahi  (v.  7). — A  word  or  two  on 
the  place  of  memory.  I.  It  generally  refers  to  the  pleasant 
things  of  the  past ;  this  by  a  law  of  its  nature,  the  law  of  contrast. 

I.  Life  has  its  pleasant  things  ;    2.  Life  has  its  painful  things. 

II.  That  its  reference  to  the  pleasant  things  of  the  past  always 
intensifies  the  sufferings  of  the  sufferer.    Two  things  tend  to  this. 

1.  The  cousciousness  that  the  pleasant  things  are  irrevocably  lost ; 

2.  That  they  have  been  morally  abused  ;  memory  involves  recep- 
tivity, retention,  reproduction.'' — TlieivlcJwd  surprl.wd  hij  their  own 
desfniefion  (r.  10). — It  will  at  once  be  unexpectedly  dreaJful.  and 
dreadfully  unexpected.  1.  This  will  appear  from  the  fact  that 
God's  wrath  against  the  wicked  is  constantly  accumulating  ;  2. 
Because  in  the  present  life  God's  wrath,  for  the  most  part,  seems 
to  slumber  ;  at  least  they  perceive  no  direct  expression  of  it ;  3. 
Because  they  have  been  in  this  life  receiving  so  many  expres- 
sions of  Divine  goodness  ;  4.  Because  the  wicked  are  often  dis- 
tinguished for  worldly  prosperity  ;  5.  Because  they  have  in  some 
way  or  other  made  a  confident  calculation  of  escaping  it."* 

10,  11.  (10)  pleasant  things,  prob.  with  special  reference 
to  the  sacred  vessels  of  the  temple."  not  enter,  De.  xxiii.  3. 
(11)  pleasant  things,  here,  their  jewels  and  treasures,  re- 
lieve the  soul,  or  "  cause  the  breath  to  return  ; "'  i.e.  refresh  a 
fainting  person  with  food,  vile,  i.e.  treated  as  vile.  There  is 
no  penitence  in  the  expression. 

Pleasant  things  for  food. — What  a  melancholy  picture  have  we 
here  1  The  captives,  it  appears,  had  been  allowed,  or  they  had 
concealed,  some  of  their  '•  pleasant  things,"  their  jewels,  and 
were  now  obliged  to  part  with  them  for  food.  "What  a  view  we 
also  have  here  of  the  cruelty  of  the  vile  Babylonians  1  The 
people  of  the  East  retain  their  little  valuables,  such  as  jewels, 
and  rich  robes,  to  the  last  extremity.  To  part  with  that  w'hich 
has,  perhaps,  been  a  kind  of  heirloom  in  the  family,  is  like 
parting  with  life.  Have  they  sold  the  last  A\T:eck  of  their  olher 
property  ;  are  they  on  the  verge  of  death  ;  the  emaciated  mem- 
Ijers  of  the  family  are  called  together,  and  some  one  undertakes 
the  heartrending  task  of  proposing  such  a  bracelet,  or  armlet  or 
anklet,  or  car-ring,  or  the  pendant  of  the  forehead,  to  be  sold. 
For    a   moment  all  are  silent,  till   the    mother   or   daughters 


Cap.  1. 12-14.] 


LAMENTATIONS  OF  JEREMIAS, 


209 


burst  into  tears,  and  then  the  contending  feelings  of  hunger, 
and  love  for  their  "  pleasant  things,"  alternately  prevail.  In 
general  the  conclusion  is,  to  pledge,  and  not  to  sell,  their  much- 
loved  ornaments  ;  but  such  is  the  rapacity  of  those  who  have 
money,  and  such  the  extreme  penury  of  those  who  have  once 
fallen,  they  seldom  regain  them.  Numbers  give  their  jewels  to 
others  to  keep  for  them,  and  never  see  them  more.  I  recollect  a 
person  came  to  the  mission-house,  and  brought  a  large  casket  of 
jewels  for  me  to  keep  in  our  iron  chest.  The  valuable  gems 
M'ere  shown  to  me  one  by  one  :  but  I  declined  receiving  them, 
because  I  had  heard  that  the  person  was  greatly  indebted  to  the 
Government,  and  was  led  to  suspect  the  object  was  to  defraud  the 
creditors.  They  were  then  taken  to  another  person,  who  received 
them,  decamped  to  a  distant  part  of  the  country,  and  the  whole 
of  the  property  was  lost,  both  to  the  individual  and  the 
creditors.* 

12—14.  (12)  nothing  .  .  by,"  as  Zion  sits  in  her  desolate- 
ness  and  sorrow,  she  appeals  to  all  who  pass  by  to  pity  her  woes. 
"  As  if  the  Prophet  had  said,  Let  any  indifferent  person  judge, 
whether  any  calamity  is  like  to  mine."''  (\'.\)  fire,  or  inflamma- 
tion, net,  image  taken  from  hunting  wild  beasts,  turned,  me 
back,  to  drive  me  into  the  nets.  (14)  yoke,  an  agricultural 
figure,  his  hand,  as  if  He  were  the  ploughman,  who 
fastened  firmly'  on  the  yoke,  wreathed,  i.e.  the  cords  fastening 
the  yoke  are  knotted  together,  strength  to  fall,  under  so 
heavy  a  yoke. 

To  those  n-lio  pans  lij  (v.  12). — We  learn — 1.  That  sin  produces 
sorrow  ;  2.  Sin  deserves  punishment ;  3.  The  punishment  due  to 
our  sins  have  been  visited  on  Christ ;  4.  Christ  being  punished 
for  our  sins,  sorrowed  on  account  of  sin  :  5.  It  was  the  sorrow  of 
innocence  under  the  imputation  of  guilt ;  G.  Under  the  imputa- 
tion of  the  sin  of  the  whole  world  :  7.  At  the  hands  of  one  whom 
He  termed  His  righteoits  Father  ;  8.  It  was  voluntarily  under- 
taken ;  !).  It  was  willingly  endured  ;  10.  It  was  patientlj'  en- 
dured ;  11.  All  this  sorrow  is  now  a  part  of  history  ;  12.  It  is 
equally  a  matter  of  history  that  men  are  so  much  engrossed  by 
the  concerns  of  life  that  they  are  turned  aside  ;  13.  These  are 
the  passers  by, — note  them.  Mr.  Worldly  Wiseman, — the  votary  of 
fashion,  the  sensualist.  Is  it  nothing  ?  It  is  something  even  now, 
it  is  something  forever. —  Chri.st'fi  sufferings  unpnraUded  (c.  12). 
— 1.  No  other  could  have  had  the  same  intensified  sense  of  suffei'- 
ing  :  2.  Or  the  same  cause  of  suffering  ;  3.  Or  the  same  absolute 
isolation  in  sufTering  :  4.  Or  ever  encountered  the  same  base  in- 
gratitude or  malevolence  ;  .5.  No  other  sufferings  ever  attained 
the  .■  ame  glorious  rrr^ults  ;  6.  Or  will  ever  be  followed  by  such 
dignity  and  joy  to  the  illustrious  sufferer. "^ 

A  pope's  srrniori. — At  the  Council  of  Lyons  in  A.D.  1245,  Pope 
Innocent  IV.  one  day  mounted  the  pulpit  in  full  attire,  and 
gave  out  for  his  text,  "  See  ye,  who  pass  this  way,  was  ever  sor- 
row like  unto  my  .sorrow.'"  And  compared  his  five  afflictions — 
the  desolations  of  tne  ]\Iongols,  the  revolt  of  the  Greek  Church, 
the  iirogivss  of  heresy,  the  devastation  of  the  Holy  Land,  and  the 
persecutions  of  tlie  emperor,  to  depose  Mhom  and  to  award  the 
empire  that,  council  had  been  summoned — to  tlie  five  wounds  of 
Jesus.  He  wept  himself  ;  and  the  tears  of  others  interrupted  the 
Holy  Father's  discourse,"* 

VOL.  IX,     O.X,  O 


that  thou  mayest 
never  be  .eel  to 
lies  pair."— /V- 
tmic/i. 

"  Great  abun- 
dance of  riches 
cannot  of  any 
man  be  both 
gathered  and 
kept  without 
sin." — Erasmus. 

b  Robert!. 


a  "This  sorrow- 
ful exclamation 
may,  in  a  secoml- 
ary  ami  spiritual 
sense,  be  regard- 
ed as  coming 
from  the  lips  of 
Olirist  on  the 
cross,  bewailing 
the  sins  and 
miseries  of  the 
world,  which 
caused  Him  that 
bitter  anguish, 
of  which  alone  it 
could  be  properly 
said,  that'  no  sor- 
row was  like  unto 
His  sorrow.'  "— 
WordsiL'urlh. 


V.  12.  Bp.  An- 
drem,ii.  iSS;  H. 
Sravgall,  194 ;  R. 
n'armford,i.319; 
Dr.  J.  Toulmin, 
.375  ;  /.  Neirloit, 
iv.  20O;  Up.  AJiiril, 
i.  137;  C.  Haic- 
trnj,  133 ;  //. 
/l/((''no«.  iv.  371; 
/.  ^/cZ/tv,  ii.  202; 
F.  Close,  i.  50; 
Dr.  W.  Wilson, 
157;  Dr.  A. 
AkCfiul,  351;  E. 
/Heiicoice,  ii.  205 ; 
A.  Gatty,  ii.  258. 


c  Dr.  J.  Burnt, 


d  F.  Jacox. 


210 


LAMENTATIONS  OF  JEREMlAn. 


[Cap,  i.  15-23. 


a  "  They  fell  not 
on  tlio  battle- 
field but  iu  the 
heart  of  the 
city." — Otlrin. 
I  lOx.  ix.  29,  33 ; 
Je.  iv.  31. 
V.  17.  "  What  a 
grapliic  view  we 
liave  here  of  a 
person  in  dis- 
tress! See  that 
pnur  willow  Iook- 
iuK  at  the  dead 
body  of  her  hus- 
band, as  the 
people  take  it 
from  the  house  : 
she  spreads  forth 
her  hands  to 
their  utmost  ex- 
tent, and  pite- 
ously  bewails  her 
condition.  The 
last  allusion  iu 
the  verse  is  very 
commou."  —  Jio- 
berls. 
c  H.  Giles. 

a  Spk.  Com. 
"  The  forms  of 
expression  used 
in  this  r.  are 
strongly  indica- 
tive of  that  vio- 
lently excited 
state  of  the  in- 
testines which  is 
occasioned  by  ex- 
cessive grief.  The 
whole  verse  is 
the  most  affect- 
ing imaginable." 

V.  20.  Ah/:  Drum- 

tnoiid,  149. 

b  C/irislopher 

Love. 

a  Je.  1. 1,  2,  etc. 

h  Dr.  II.  Bonar. 

"  For  his  was  not 
that  open,  artless 
soul,  that  feels 
relief  by  bidding 
Borrow  flow;  nor 
souglit  he  friend 
to  counsel  or  con- 
dole, whate'cr 
his  grief  mote  be, 
•whic)!  he  could 
not  control." — 
Uyron. 

Content  is  tlio 
gift  of  heaven, 
Bnd  not  the 
certain  effect  of 
anything  uiion 
earth;  and  it  is 


15—17.  (l.o)  trodden,  etc..  hy  the  nii,?ht  t)f  the  conquerors, 
the  very  soldiers  were  trainpled  down  in  the  streetp."  assembly, 
of  armies  ;  of  eneini(;s.  young  men,  who  arc  the  i«tren.Lfth  and 
hope  of  ana  tion.  as . .  "winepress,  Is.  Ixiii  ;i.  (Id)  mine  eye, 
etc.,  Je.  xiii.  17,  xiv.  17  ;  La.  ii.  IS.  Thi.s  is  the  plaintive  lamen- 
tation of  Ziou.  the  widow,  as  she  sits  solitary.*  relieve,  or  re- 
vive. (17)  spreadeth  .  .  hands,  in  usual  attitude  of  prayer, 
but  of  prayer  under  pressure  of  g'rcat  distress. 

Uisc'qjiine  of  .wrruw. — Sorrow  is  the  noblest  of  all  discipline. 
Our  nature  shrinks  from  it,  but  it  is  not  the  less  for  the  greatness 
of  our  nature.  It  is  a  scourge,  but  there  is  healing-  in  its  stripes. 
It  is  a  chalice,  and  the  drink  is  bitter,  but  strength  proceeds 
from  the  bitterness.  It  is  a  crown  of  thorns,  but  it  becomes  a 
wreath  of  light  on  the  brow  which  it  has  lacerated.  It  is  a  cross 
on  which  the  spirit  groans,  but  every  Calvary  has  an  Olivet.  To 
every  place  of  crucifixion  there  is  likewise  a  jilace  of  ascension. 
The  sun  1  hat  was  shrouded  is  unveiled,  and  heaven  opens  with 
hopes  eternal  to  the  soul,  which  was  nigh  unto  despair."^ 

18—20.  (18)  righteous.  Da.  ix.  7,  14.  commandment, 
lit.  mouth,  I.e.  message  by  His  prophets.  This  is  the  expression 
of  penitence,  (lit)  lovers,  v.  2.  elders  .  .  city,  i.e.  died  of 
famine,  while  vainly  seeking  for  food.  (20)  bowels,  etc.,  Is', 
xvi.  11  ;  Je.  xlviii.  3(5.  turned,  or  violently  agitated,  as 
death,  "  pale  pining  forms,  slowl.y  wasting  with  hunger,  and 
presenting  the  very  image  and  api^earance  of  death.''" 

False  rented ij  for  sorrow.^. — You  th.it  in  your  sorrows  give  your- 
selves to  mirth  and  pastime,  and  merry  meetings,  thinking  there- 
by to  drive  them  away,  you  do  rather  increase  and  augment 
them.  Just  like  the  pelican,  of  whom  it  is  reported  that,  being 
naturally  afraid  of  fire,  the  shei^herds  are  wont  to  carry  some 
coals  and  lay  them  by  ner  nest,  and  the  poor  silly  creature  keeps 
fluttering  with  her  wings,  thinking  thereby  to  extingui.sh  and  put 
them  out,  but  does  but  inflame  and  kindle  them  ;  and  by  this 
means  the  fire  burns  both  her  nest  and  self  too.  So,  for  us  to  go 
to  worldly  joys  and  pastimes  to  quench  the  sorrows  and  troubles 
of  our  minds,  is  the  ready  way  rather  to  increase  than  remove 
them.* 

21,  22.  (21)  called,  or  proclaimed.  The  day  of  judgments 
on  the  Babylonians  ; "  the  day  of  the  capture  of  Babylon.  (22) 
do  .  .  me,  some  read,  "  Glean  them  as  Thou  hast  gleaned  me." 

Tlie  da II  that  will  r'u/ht  all  n-ron/js  (r.  21). — In  that  day — 1. 
God  shall  no  longer  be  shut  out  of  His  own  world  ;  2.  Christ 
shall  no  longer  be  denied  and  blasphemed  :  3.  Evil  shall  no 
longer  prevail ;  4.  Error  shall  give  place  to  truth ;  5.  The  saints 
shall  no  longer  be  maligned.* 

Comfort  in  sorrnw. — I  say  there  is  comfort,  real  and  deep,  in 

thinking  that  the  path  of  sorrow  we  tread  has  been  beaten  smooth 

and  ^^■icle  by  the  feet  of  the  best  that  ever  trod  this  world  :  that 

our  blessed  Saviour  was  a  Man  of  Sorrows  :  and  that  the  best  of 

Ilis  Church  have  been  suffered  to  journey  by  no  other  path  than 

that  their  ]Master  went.     It  is  not  alone  that  the  mourner  travels 

^  through  this  vale  of  tears  :  Apostles  and  Prophets  aie  of  the 

company  ;  saints  and  martyrs  go  with  him  :  and  the  sorrowful 

i  face  of  the  Great  Hedeemer,  though  sorrowful  now  no  more,  re- 

I  mains  for  ever  with  the  old  look  of  brotherly  sympathy  to  Ilia 


Cap.  ii.  1— S.] 


LAMEyTATIOm  OF  JEREMIAff. 


211 


servants'  eyes  and  hearts.  Nothing  hath  come  to  us,  nothing 
will  come  to  us,  but  has  been  shared  by  better  men.  Search  out 
the  human  being  sult'ering  the  sharpest  sorrow,  and  we  can  match 
it  in  the  best  of  the  Church  of  God.'= 


CHAPTER  THE  SECOND. 

1 — 4.  (1)  witll  a  cloud,  a  dark  threatening  thunder-cloud." 
beauty  of  Israel,  Solomon's  temple,  footstool,  i.e.  the 
ark.*  (2)  habitations,  homesteads,  with  pastures.  These  are 
rejDresented  as  destroyed  by  earthquake,  strongholds,  fortified 
towns,  polluted,  made  the  sacred  land  common  or  unclean, 
free  to  the  invader.  (3)  horn,  the  symbol  of  i)Ower.  God  took 
away  all  power  of  defence,  drawn  .  .  enemy,  better,  "  He  set 
Himself — His  right  hand — as  an  adversary,"  comp.  r.  4.  (4) 
pleasant  to  the  eye,  all  the  ehiefest  in  worth  and  dignity. 

Tlu;  footstool. — Those  who  are  in  favour  with  the  king,  or 
those  who  obey  him,  are  called  his  footstool.  Eut  the  figure  is 
also  used  in  a  degrading  sense.  Thus,  do  two  men  quarrel,  one 
Bays  to  the  other,  "I  will  make  thee  my  footstool."  "Ah!  my 
lord,  be  not  angry  with  me,  how  long  have  I  been  your  foot- 
Btool/"  "I  be  that  fellow's  footstool]  never  1  Was  he  not 
footstool  to  my  father  .'  '  <^ 

5 — 8.  (5)  swallowed,  comp.  Jer.'s  likening  Nebuchadnezzar 
to  a  lion,  increased,  or  heaped  it  up.  (6)  a  garden,  i.e.  no 
better  than  a  mere  garden,  feasts,  etc.,  ch.  i.  1.  despised  .  . 
priest,  /.('.  shown  no  regard  for  even  the  most  honourable  offices. 
He  made  all  to  share  in  His  judgments."  (7;  cast  oft',  C(*w^;. 
Ps.  Ixxxix.  38,  3'J.  made  a  noise,  their  triumphant  shouting 
on  getting  possession  of  the  temple.  (8;  stretched  ,  .  line, 
Is.  x.xxiv.  11. 

Deijrccs  of  sorrow. — 

First  learn  my  grief,  how  fearful  and  how  deep. 
Starting.  I  woke  from  my  childhood's  rosy  sleep. 
The  bud  burst  forth  !  a  secret  chill  came  o'er  me, 
The  breath  of  love  drew  forth  each  hue  so  bright ; 
A  hero  raised  me  to  his  own  proud  height. 
And  life  and  all  its  charms  lay  spread  before  me. 

*'  Already  with  the  bridal  myrtle  crown'd 
For  him  in  whom  my  very  being  was  bound, 
I  watch'd,  with  mingled  fear  and  rapture  glowing  ; 
The  marriage-torches  cast  their  ruddy  glare  ; 
They  brought  me  in  his  corpse  and  laid  it  there, 
From  seven  deep  wounds  his  crimson  heart's  blood  flowing." 

The  second  took  the  word  with  trembling  tone  : 
"  Oh,  not  of  shame  !  of  blood  the  form  alone 
That  sleeping  still  or  waking  meets  her  view  ; 
My  heart  too  opened  to  that  breath  divine. 
Anguish  and  rapture — th;y  have  both  been  mine  ; 
For  me  the  cup  of  love  has  mantled  too. 

*'  The  glory  vanish "d  from  the  lov'd  one's  head  ; 
I  saw  him  selfish,  mean,  his  brightness  fled, 
0  2 


as  eafy  for  Pro* 
viileuce  to  con- 
voy it  without 
wealth  as  with 
it. 

c  Boyd. 


a  "The  Lord 
hath  poured  out 
His  fury  upoa 
Zion,  as  in  a 
teuipest,  and  has 
dashed  down  lier 
beauty  as  with 
lightning,  and 
has  not  fpared 
tlie  ark  of  His 
sanctuary." — 
Wordsicurth. 

b  1  Chr.  xxviii.  2 ; 
Ps.  l.\.x.x.  i.,  xcix. 
1,  5,  c.xxxii.  8. 


a  "  "With  the  de- 
struction of  the 
city  the  royal 
autliority  fell ; 
with  the  ruined 
temple  and  the 
cessation  of  the 
festivals  the 
functions  of  the 
priest  ceased." — 
Upk.  Com. 

"  nie  night  of 
sorrow  now  is 
turn'd  to  day : 
her  two  blue 
windows  faintly 
she  uplieaveth, 
like  the  fair  sun, 
when  in  his  fresii 
array  he  cheers 
tlie  morn,  and 
all  the  world  re- 
lieveth  :  and  as 
the  bright  suu 
g'.orilies  tlie  sky, 
so  is  her  face  illu- 
mined wiih  lier 
e  y  e."  —  HJtake- 
■V  eare. 

"  .My  tree  was 
thick  witll  sliade. 
O's  blast!  thine 
office  do,  and 
strip  the  foliage 
otf.  to  let  the 
lieavens  s  li  i  n  e 
through."  — 
liuckert. 


212 


LAMENTATIONS  OF  JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  ii.  9-13 


"The  first  sliarp 
Borrow, — ay,  the 
breaking  up  of 
tliat  de?p  loim- 
tniil,  never  to  be 
seal'il  till  we  with 
Time  close  up  the 
great  account." 
—Caroline  liuwles. 

h  Madame  de 
Pontes. 


a  "  The  scene 
here  depicted  is 
presented  in  the 
most  touch  i  ngr  co- 
lours. The  lirer, 
denoting  the  bile, 
wh.  is  formed  on 
the  inferior  sur- 
face of  the  liver, 
is  copiously  dis- 
charged when 
the  passions  are 
violently  agi- 
tated.' ' — Haider- 
ton. 

In  prosperity 
prepare  for  a 
change  ;  in  di- 
versity hope  for 
one. 

h  Bishop  Hall. 


a  "  Wliat  can  I 
bring  forward  as 
a  witness  or  in- 
stance, to  prove 
that  others  have 
sustained  as 
grievous  ills  as 
thou  ?  I  cannot 
console  tbee  as 
mourners  are 
often  consoled  by 
showing  tliat  thy 
lot  is  only  what 
others  too  suf- 
fer."— Fausset. 

b  Comp.  Jo.  ii.  8. 
V.  31,  xiv.  14, 
xxiii.  IG. 

c  "  The  false  pro- 
phets, in  their 
attempts  to  ac- 
count for  the 
captivity,  in- 
vented any  cause 
but  the  true  one, 
the    apostasy   of 


And  yet,  alas,  I  lov'd  him  ! — him  alone  ! 
He  went  ;  if  shame  still  chain  him  to  her  side, 
Or  niving  madness  drive  him  far  and  wide, 
I  know  not  ;  but  the  grief  is  all  my  own." 

She  ceased  ;  the  third  then  gadly  took  the  word  : 

"  In  one  brief  sentence  all  my  sorrows  dwell, 
Till  thou  hast  heard  it.  pause  !  consider  well, 
Ere  yet  the  final  judgment  thou  assign, 
And  learn  my  better  right,  too  cleurly  proved. 
Four  words  suffice  me  :  I  was  never  loved  ! 
The  palm  of  grief  thou  wilt  allow  is  mine."  ' 

9 — 12.  (9)  sunk,  covered  up  with  ruins  and  rubbish,  "bars, 
or  defences.  among  the  Gentiles,  carried  away  captive, 
law  no  more,  bee.  there  are  none  on  whom  to  press  its  com- 
mands. '■  The  civil  and  religious  laws  were  one  under  the  theo- 
cracy." (10)  elders,  setting  the  example  of  extreme  grief, 
virgins,  usually  so  regardful  of  iwrsonal  adornment.  (11) 
swoon,  or  faint."  (12)  to  their  mothers,  who  could  give 
them  nothing,  as  wounded,  dying  a  lingering,  miserable 
death. 

Treatment  of  sorrows  and  2>Jca'''vre. — That  which  the  French 
proverb  hath  of  sickness,  is  true  of  all  evils,  that  they  come  on 
horseback,  and  go  away  on  foot :  we  have  often  seen  a  sudden 
fall,  or  one  meal's  surfeit  hath  stuck  by  many  to  their  graves ; 
whereas  pleasures  come  like  oxen,  slow  and  heavily,  and  go  away 
like  post-horses,  upon  the  spur.  Sorrows,  because  they  are  linger- 
ing guests,  I  will  entertain  but  moderately  :  knowing  that  the 
more  they  are  made  of,  the  longer  they  will  continue  :  and  for 
pleasures,  because  they  stay  not,  and  do  but  call  to  drink  at  my 
door,  I  will  use  them  as  passengers  with  slight  respect.  He  is 
his  own  best  friend,  that  makes  least  of  both  of  them.* 

13—16.  (13)  take  to  witness,"  or,  ^^^^at  prophetic  testimony 
I  can  I  give  thee  ?  The  Prophet  had  no  consoling  or  comforting 
message  to  deliver,  equal  to  thee,  what  instance  of  national 
calamity  can  compare  with  thine  ?  breach  .  .  sea,  measureless, 
like  the  sea.  (H)  foolish  things,  delusions,  Jer.  xxiii.  26.* 
discovered,  or  declared  to  thee  :  not  sought  to  bring  thee  to  a 
true  sense  of  thy  sins,  false  burdens,  or  prophetic  me.s.«ages. 
causes,  false  reasons  to  account  for  your  banishment;'^  or 
"  drivings  out." ''  (15)  clap  their  hands.  Job  xxvii.  23,  sxxiv. 
37.  wag  .  .  head,  2  Ki.  xix.  21  :  Ps.  xliv.  14.  perfection  of 
beauty,  Ps.  xlviii,  2.    (IG)  opened  .  .  mouth,  as  wildbeasis. 

Claj/pinfj  hands  (v.  IB). — Oriental  females  express  their  respect 
for  persons  of  high  rank  by  gently  applying  one  of  their  hands 
to  their  mouths  :  a  custom  which  seems  to  have  existed  from  time 
inimemoi'ial.  In  some  of  the  towns  of  P>arbary.  the  leaders  of 
the  sacred  caravans  are  received  with  loud  acclamations,  and 
every  expression  of  the  warmest  regard.  The  women  view  the 
parade  from  the  tops  of  the  houses,  and  testify  their  satisfaction 
by  striking  their  four  tingers  on  their  lips  as  fast  as  they  can.  all 
the  while  making  a  joyful  noise.  The  sacred  writers  perhaps 
allude  to  this  custom  in  those  passages  where  clapping  the  hand 
in  the  singular  number  is  mentioned.   Striking  one  hand  smartly 


Cap.  ii.  17—22.] 


LAMENTATIONS,  OF  JEREUIAff. 


213 


upon  the  other,  which  we  call  clapping  the  hands,  was  also  used 
to  express  joy,  in  the  same  manner  as  among  ourselves  :  but  in 
the  East  it  appears  to  have  been  g-euerally  employed  to  denote  a 
malignant  satisfaction,  a  trium^jhant  or  insulting  joy.  In  this 
way  the  enemies  of  Jerusalem  ex^iressed  their  satisfaction  at 
the  fall  of  that  great  and  powerful  city.* 

17 — 19.  (17)  devised,  purposed,  and  previously  intimated." 
(18)  wall,  appealing  to  the  very  wall,  which  was  broken  down, 
to  join  in  weeping  over  the  sorrows  of  the  city.*  river,  or 
torrent,  apple,  /(7.  daughter,  comp.  Ps.  xvii.  8.  (19)  cry  out, 
in  prayer,  beginning  .  .  watches,  i.e.  cry  all  the  night 
through,  young  children,  nothing  could  be  more  pitiable 
than  to  see  these  dying  of  hunger,     top  .  .  street,  Is.  li.  20. 

llungtr — The  last  of  a  creie. — The  brig  Tijrrel,  Captain  Coghlan, 
in  a  voyage  from  Sandy  Hook  to  Antigua,  was  wrecked  on  the 
3rd  of  July,  Iv.Jit.  The  crew,  consisting  of  seventeen  persons, 
embarked  in  the  boat,  which  was  only  nineteen  feet  long  and  six 
broad.  On  the  IGlh.  their  whole  stock  of  provisions  and  water 
being  exhausted,  only  three  persons  of  the  seventeen  now  survived, 
the  others  had  all  perished  by  famine  ;  and  these  were 

"  With  hunger  pinch'd, 
Waiting  the  slow  approach  of  death." 

To  them  no  hope,  no  prosjiects  now  remained,  since 

"  All  actual  nourishment  but  air  was  wanting." 

The  mate,  Purnell,  the  captain  and  the  boatswain,  the  only 
persons  remaining,  attempted  to  eat  part  of  a  boy  who  had  last 
died  ;  but  they  could  not  swallow  it,  and  the  body  was  therefore 
thrown  overboard.  Early  on  the  succeeding  morning,  the  18th 
of  July,  Pcrnell  found  both  his  companions  dead  and  cold.  Their 
melancholy  fate  taught  him  to  anticipate  his  own  dissolution ; 
but  though  his  body  was  feeble,  yet  his  understanding  was  un- 
impaired, and  his  spirits  as  good  as  his  deploi-able  situation  would 
admit ;  and  he  never  lost  hopes  of  making  land.  On  the  25th, 
having,  in  the  meantime,  been  relieved  by  some  barnacles  on  the 
rudder,  he  discovered  a  sail,  which  proved  to  be  a  schooner,  com- 
manded by  Captain  Castleman.  Purnell  was  taken  on  board,  and 
had  a  draught  of  water,  the  first  he  had  tasted  for  twenty-three 
days.  He  was  so  weak  that  his  life  was  despaired  of,  but  by  kind 
treatment  and  medical  advice  he  recovered." 

20—22.  (20)  to  whom,  even  to  Thine  own  chosen  and 
covenant  people."  fruit,  i.e.  their  own  children,  span  long, 
or  rend,  "swaddled  with  their  hands  : ''*  r .  22.  (21)  young., 
old,  the  slaughter  was  indiscriminate ;  a  mere  massacre  of  the 
population.  (22)  solemn  day,  or  feast-day.  Terrors  come 
crowding  round  Zion,  as  people  used  to  do  at  her  festivals.  The 
phrase,  Jlfjtjor-ni/.^.sahil/.  fear  on  every  side,  is  found  Je.  vl.  25. 
swaddled,"^  bound  or  swathed  ;  referred  to  the  early  dressing  of 
infants. 

JJii/if/er — Faithful  companion. — A  Mr.  Eogers  and  a  Mr.  Carr, 
both  natives  of  Kentucky,  were  on  their  return  from  the  Council 
Bluffs,  on  the  margin  of  the  Missouri,  when  tlie  cold  v.'eather  set 
in,  accomj^auied  with  a  deep  fall  of  snow.  IMr.  Piogers  being  in 
a  weaJi  state  of  health,  it  v>'as  thought  fittest  to  attempt  to 


the  Jews." — Uen- 
di'isou. 

d   Je.  xsvli.  1(^ 
15. 

e  Paxton. 


a  Lev.  xxvi.  14— 
o9 ;  De.  xxviu. 
15—68. 

6  For  the  bold 
figure  coii)p.  Is. 
xiv.  31 ;  Je.  xxii. 
29;  Hab.  ii.  11; 
Lu.  xix.  40. 

"Violent  fires 
soon  burn  out 
t  h  e  m  s  e  Ives." — 
5  /;  a  k  e  s  p  e  a  r  e. 
"  The  misfortune 
is,  that,  -when 
man  has  found 
honey,  he  enters 
upon  the  feast 
with  an  appetite 
so  voracious,  that 
he  usually  de- 
stroys liis  own 
dehght  by  excess 
and  satiety." — 
Knnx.  "  Every 
inordinate  cup  is 
uu  blest,  and  the 
ingredient  is  a 
devil."  —  Shake- 
spea  ve.  '•  Too 
much  is  stark 
nought."-  ^YeUh. 
"Cue  may  be 
surfeited  with 
eating  tarts." 
"Gentleness  does 
more  than  vio- 
lence." —  French. 
"  Soon  fire,  soon 
ashes."  —  Dutch. 

c  Percy  Ance. 


ri  "  This  is  a  con- 
tinuation of  the 
pathetic  appeal 
from  tlie  wall 
wliich  surround- 
ed Jerusalem.and 
which  now  lay 
in  riii'is  on  the 
ground."- II  ordi- 


h  Comp.  Le.  xxvl. 
29 ;  De.  xxviii. 
56,  57 ;  Je.  xix.  &. 

c  A.-?,  sica-dhil, 
.<:ire(l/iil,n  liundih, 
from  sicedhian,  to 


214 


LAMEXTATIOyS  OF  JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.iii.l-Q, 


bind.  Swadtiling- 
clothes  are 
clothes  bmuiil 
tight  round  the 
body. 


"A  bow  overbent 
will  weaken." 
"Extremes 
meet."  "Too  far 
east  is  west."  "A 
baited  cat  may 
prow  as  fierce  as 
a  lion." — Emjlislt. 

"  True  contout- 
ment  depends 
not  upon  wliat 
we  have  ;  a  tub 
was  lai-ge  enough 
for  Diogenes,  but 
a  world  was  too 
little  for  Alex- 
ander."—Co//o«. 

d  Percy  Artec, 


a  Is.  lijc,  9;  Je. 
xiii.  16;  Am.  v. 

20. 

b  "  The  anguish 
I  feel  in  my  mind 
is  as  painful  as  if 
all  my  bones  were 
broken." — Loicl/i. 


"  Very  prob.  the 
Prophet  draws 
nuich  of  what  he 
says  from  his 
own  experience, 
but  the  whole 
that  he  sets  fortli 
is  more  tlian  his 
own  personality ; 
it  is  the  type  and 
pattern  of  every 
individual." — 
Eicald. 

V.  1.  Dr.  J.  Donne, 
V.  303. 

V.  5.  J.  Foslo;  i. 
30G. 

c  /.  Foster. 

"  The  excesses  of 
our  youtli  are 
drafts  upon 
our  old  aire,  jiay- 
ablo  witli  in- 
terest,     about 


descend  the  stream,  instead  of  traversing  the  forests.  When  one 
himdi-ed  and  fifty  miles  from  any  settlement,  tlic  ice  on  the  river 
prevented  their  descent :  and  no  other  alternative  was  left  thaa 
to  land,  and  lei've  Mr.  Rogers  in  the  woods,  with  some  iieee.'isaries, 
till  the  return  of  his  friend,  who  went  in  quest  of  relief.  Carr. 
with  difficulty,  reached  the  settlement,  and  immediately  returned 
to  his  helpless  friend.  After  a  toilsome  search,  and  an  absence 
of  twenty-one  days,  Carr  at  length  discovered  the  apparently  life- 
less body  of  Rogers.  On  apjiroaching  it,  the  narrative  states, 
this  faithful  fellow  traveller  first  observed  a  rise  of  snow,  and 
many  tracks  of  a  wolf  leading  to  it.  With  a  jmlpitating  heart 
he  went  up  to  it,  and  saw  a  piece  of  bulfalo-robe  sticking  out  ; 
stooping  down,  he  discovered  the  glistening  eyes  of  his  friend  I 
He  was  still  alive  ;  but  his  feet  much  frozen.  His  fire  had  gone 
out,  and  in  attempting  to  make  more,  his  powder  blew  up.  He 
was  afraid  his  friend  had  been  frozen,  and,  despairing  of  life,  had 
rolled  himself  up  in  his  buffalo  robe,  and  lain  down.  He  was 
eight  days  without  any  kind  of  food,  and  was  so  exhausted  that, 
when  the  wolf  stared  him  in  the  face,  he  was  not  able  to  make 
any  exertion  or  noise  to  drive  him  away.  Rogers  was  then  con- 
veyed to  Hempstead,  where  he  not  only  recovered  his  general 
health,  but,  strange  to  tell,  the  complete  use  of  his  limbs.'* 


CHAPTER  THE  THIED. 

1 — 6.  (1)  seen  affliction,  in  the  sense  of  suffering  or  ex- 
periencing it.  Reference  is  rather  to  the  suffering  of  the  people, 
wh.  he  hatl  personally  shared,  rod,  etc.,  Pr.  xxii.  8.  (2)  dark- 
ness, the  fig.  for  calamities."  (3)  turnetli  his  hand,  in  order 
to  give  a  repetition  of  strokes.  Lifts  up  his  baud  to  .strike  again 
and  again.  (4)  made  old,  worn  out  as  with  constant  rubbing 
and  chafing,  broken  my  hones,  Is.  xxxviii.  13.'  (5)  huilded, 
as  besiegers  build  mounds,  gall,  or  bitterness,  travel,  or 
travail,  weariness.  ((>)  dead  of  old,  or  for  ever  dead:  '-se- 
questered from  human  society,  as  if  I  were  out  of  the  world." 

Aegro  slarcvij  (r.  ">). — 1.  In  judging  of  this  system  of  slavery 
we  are  to  remember  that  we  stand  on  the  Christian  ground  :  2. 
So  regarding  it,  we  need  not  to  hesitate  to  assert  unconditionally 
that  it  is  wrong,  essentially  so,  for  men  to  arrogate  a  property  in 
fellow  men  ;  that  there  can  be  no  such  property  ;  3.  This  assumed 
property  is  a  total  violation  of  the  natural  equality  of  mankind  ; 
4.  What  an  odious  sjstem  that  must  be  in  any  ca.se  which 
renders  religion,  whether  in  practice  or  sentiment,  a  thing  of 
aggravated  difficulty  ;  5.  Slaveiy  necessarily  causes  a  wretched 
moral  degradation."^ 

I'itt  li/iiifj  in  solitiifJe. — Pitt  died  at  a  solitary  house  on  Wim- 
bledon Common.  Not  far  off,  by  the  roadside,  stood  a  small 
country  inn.  where  the  various  parties  interested  in  the  great 
statesman's  life  were  accustomed  to  apply  for  iuformation.  aud 
leave  their  horses  and  carriages.  On  the  morning  of  the  23rd  of 
January.  ISiiG,  an  individual  having  called  at  the  inn,  and  nob 
being  able  to  obtain  a  satisfactory  reply  to  his  inquiries,  ho 
proceeded  to  the  house  of  Pitt.  He  knocked,  but  no  servant  ap- 
peared—he opened  the  door  and  entered — he  found  no  one  in 
attendance — lie  proceeded  from  room  to  room,  and  afc  lengtli 


Cap.  iil.  7-16.] 


LAMENTATIONS  OF  JEREMIAH. 


215 


entered  the  sick  chamber,  where,  on  a  bed,  in  silence  and  in 
perfect  solitude,  he  found,  to  his  unspeakable  surprise,  the  dead 
body  of  that  great  statesman  Avho  had  so  lately  wielded  the  power 
of  England,  and  influenced,  if  he  did  not  control,  the  destinies  of 
the  world.  We  doubt  whetHer  any  much  more  awful  example  of 
the  lot  of  mortality  has  ever  been  witnessed."* 

7—12.  (7)  hedged,  Job  iii.  2.3,  xix.  8  ;  IIo.  ii.  6.  chains, 
lit.  chain  of  brass.  (8j  sliutteth  out,  Job  xxx.  20  ;  Ps.  xxii.  2. 
(9)  hewn  stone,  comj).  r.  5.  paths  crooked,  comi^elling  me 
to  turn  aside  from  the  ordinary  road."  (10)  bear  .  ,  lion,  the 
peril  of  those  who  take  by-paths  and  forest-paths.  (11)  pulled 
,  .  pieces,  as  by  these  wild  beasts.  (12)  me  as  a  mark,  Job 
vii.  20.     Made  me  the  mark  or  object  of  His  indignation. 

'I'/w  s/n/icr's  hednrn  (r.  22). — I.  There  is  the  hedge  of  moral 
sense.  II.  Of  social  life.  1.  Of  social  relationship  ;  2.  Of  social 
sentiment.  III.  Of  personal  incapacity.  1.  The  lack  of  physical 
health  :  2.  The  lack  of  intellectual  ability ;  3.  The  lack  of  se- 
cular means.* 

A  Jicavif  chain  (i:  7). — This  figure  is  taken  from  a  prisoner 
having  a  heavy  chain  to  drag  as  he  goes  along.  Hu.sbands  some- 
times speak  of  their  wives  as  a  chain.  Thus,  is  a  man  invited  to 
a  distant  country  ;  he  asks  in  reply,  "  How  can  I  come  ?  my  wife 
has  made  my  chain  heavy."  "  My  husband,  my  husband,  you 
shall  not  go ;  my  weeping  shall  make  your  chain  heavy."'  A 
man  in  great  trouble  asks,  "  WTio  will  break  this  sangale?"  i.e. 
chain.  '•  My  chain,  my  chain,  who  will  break  this  chain '/ "  "  Have 
you  heard  Varavar's  chain  is  broken  ?  He  is  dead  I  Who  will 
make  another  chain  for  him.''« 

13—16.  (1.3)  arrows  .  .  quiver,  lit.  "  sons  of  his  quiver  ;  "  an 
Hebraic  figure."  (l-t)  derision,  Je.  xx.  7.  their  song,  Job 
xxx.  1).  (15)  bitterness,  better  pi.,  bitternesses,  wormwood, 
De.  xxix.  18.  (IG)  broken  my  teeth,  Pr.  xx.  17.*  covered 
me,  mavg.,  "  rolled  me  in ;  "  better,  ••  fed  me  with  ashes.' ' 

(■rvief  of  ilii,  (Jhvi.^tian. — Beautiful  is  the  spectacle  of  Christian 
grief,  and  strikingly  observable  is  the  d-iiierence  between  the 
blessedness  of  religion  and  the  feeble  consolations  of  philosophy. 
It  is  the  pride  and  object  of  philosophy  to  render  the  human 
heart  insensible  to  suffering.  In  this,  however,  happily  for  man. 
it  seldom  succeeds  ;  and  when  it  does,  the  character  is  brutalised, 
and  more  than  half  the  benefit  of  life's  discipline  is  lost.,  while, 
at  the  same  time,  the  heart  that  has  foolishly  endeavoured  to 
harden  itself  against  suffering,  becomes  also  insensible  to  jo3%  and 
Icscs  those  fine  transitions  from  darkness  to  light,  and  from  light 
to  dai-kuess,  which,  like  the  beauties  of  opening  and  closing  day, 
constitute  the  great  part  of  the  glory  and  brightness  of  the  moral 
landscape.  Christianity,  on  the  other  hand,  which  is  addressed 
to  us  as  creatures  liable  to  sorrow,  and  which  is  offered  to  man  as 
a  means  of  alleviation,  and  as  a  remedy  of  woe,  seeks  not  to 
harden  the  mind  against  feeling,  but  rather  permits  the  full  feel- 
ing of  sorrow,  in  order  that  the  heart  may  receive  the  benefit  of 
this  essential  part  of  the  discipline  wherewith  heaven  in  its  wis- 
dom sees  fit  to  exercise  the  children  of  men.  Herein  is  seen  the 
excellence  of  Christian  principles,  in  that  they  recognise  the  use 
of  afflictions,  and  render  them  subservient  to  the  purposes  of 
good. 


Dirty  years  aftef 
date."^C'o/?on. 


d  Cheever. 


n  "  He  coHceives 
of  himself  as  a 
traveller  whose 
way  is  blocked 
up  by  a  solia 
wall,  and  who, 
being  compelled 
to  turn  aside  into 
the  devious  path- 
ways of  the 
forest,  is  exposed 
to  the  rapacity 
of  wild  beasts.'* 
— Henderson. 
V.  8.  J.  Sieve- 
%1-rirjht,  275. 
b  I  r.  Tlwinas. 
"  Small  causes 
are  sufficient  to 
make  a  man  un- 
easy, when  great 
ones  are  not  in 
the  way  ;  for 
want  of  a  block, 
he  will  stumble 
at  a  straw."  — 
Sicift. 
c  Roberts. 

a  Com  p.  Job  v.  7, 

.\U.  28. 

b  "  Keeping  up 
the  metaphor  of 
V.  15,  Jer.  com- 
plains that  his 
bread  was  so 
filled  with  grit 
that  in  eating  it 
his  teeth  were 
b  r  0  k  e  D."— ^/t. 
Com. 

c  "  We  fare  as 
hard  as  those 
who  feed  upon 
bread  baked  in 
ashes,  whose 

teeth  are  in 
danger  of  being 
broke  with  gri'.a 
and  stones."^ 
Louth. 

"  He  is  li.nppy 
wliose  circum- 
stances suit  his 
temper ;  but  he 
is  more  e.xcellent 
who  can  suit  his 
temjier  to  any 
circumstances. "~ 
Humr. 

il  Rrrords  of  9 
Village  licctoi  y. 


216 


LAifE.VTATIOXS  OF  JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  iii.  17-25. 


"  No  roses  blonin 
upon  my  f:uliiig 
cheek,  nor  laujrli- 
iiig  graces  wan- 
ton in  my  eyes ; 
b  n  t  b  a  g  g  a  r  d 
(Irief,  lean-look- 
ing, sallow  Care, 
anil  i)ining  dis- 
content—a  rue- 
ful train— dwell 
on  my  brow,  all 
hideous  and  for- 
lorn."— Rotce. 

"  What  a  rich 
feast  the  canker 
grief  has  made ; 
how  has  it  suck'd 
the  roses  of  thy 
cheeks  I  and 
drunk  the  liquid 
crystal  of  thy 
eyes  V — Sewell. 

a  Sewell. 


a  Mai.  iii.  6. 

t>.  22.  Bp.  An- 
drews, Iv.  261 ;  D. 
Wikr<x.i.iiS;  U. 
Alford,  160. 

V.  24.  Dr.  DaU 
gleish,  3;  .S.  Lnv- 
ingtnn,  1.  105  ;  U. 
C.  Denies,  1U5. 

(  Dr.  Parker. 

"  Consider  tliis. 
Christians,  tliat 
of  all  men  in  the 
■world  you  have 
least  cause,  yea, 
no  cause,  to  be 
murmuring  and 
muttering  under 
any  dispensations 
that  you  meet 
with  in  tliis 
world  (Lam.  iii. 
24;  Eph.  iii.  8; 
IPet.  i.  3,4).  Is 
not  God  thy  por- 
tion ?  Chrysos- 
tom  pi-ojjounds 
this  question, 
'  Was  Job  miser- 
able when  ho  luid 
lost  all  tliat  God 
had  given  him  'I ' 
and  gives  tliis 
answer,  '  No,  he 
had      bUU     that 


17—21.  (17)  removed,  etc..  P.s.  Ixxxviii.  14.  prosperity,  or 
g-ood.  (IS)  said,  or  thought  iu  my  heart,  strengtll  .  .  Lord, 
Is.  xl.  27.  (19)  remembering,  bciLtcr  rend.,  remember,  misery, 
or  homelessnes.?.  (20)  humbled,  or  bowed ;  sinks  down  as  in  a 
swoon.  (21)  tliis,  which  he  is  about  to  express  in  vc.  22 — 2(j;  the 
unfailing-  quality  of  God's  mercy. 

The  Jirat  grief. — It  is  a  bitter  consciousness  (none  can  tell  how 
bitter  but  those  to  whom  it  has  been  given)  ^'hen  we  a. 
wakened  from  our  youthful  dream  of  happines.'^  by  some  ster^ 
reality,  and  know  that  from  henceforth  it  may  never  be  indulged 
again — when  an  all-powerful,  though  all-merciful  hand  has 
passed  over  the  beautiful  vision  we  so  fondly  cherished,  and  its 
dazzling  colours  have  faded  beneath  the  touch,  and  we  see  that 
the  form  is  the  same,  but  the  lustre  can  never  be  recalled.  We 
may  have  thought  that  our  minds  are  ready  for  the  change, — we 
may  have  pictured  it  to  ourselves,  and  sorrowed  for  the  inevitable 
hour,  and  even  prayed  for  strength  to  bear  it, — but  the  experience 
of  one  real  grief  will  teach  us  wliat  no  preparation  will  impart.  It 
will  show  us  our  own  weakness,  and  the  vastness  of  that  mercy 
which  stooped  to  share  a  nature  endowed  with  such  capacities 
for  suffering.  It  will  force  us  to  look  uj^on  the  unknown  future 
with  a  chastened  and  a  thoughtful  eye  ;  and  whilst  it  bids  us 
bear  thankfully  in  our  hearts  the  remembrance  of '  our  early  joy, 
as  the  tyije  granted  us  by  God  of  the  blessings  reserved  for  us  in 
heaven,  it  will  tell  us  that  from  henceforth  the  warfare  of 
human  life  must  be  ours  ;  and  that,  till  the  grave  has  closed  upon 
our  heads,  we  may  hope  but  for  few  intervals  of  rest." 

22 — 25.  (22)  we  .  .  consumed,"  the  Prophet  speaks  as  repre- 
sentative of  the  people,  compassions,  Ps.  Ixxxvi.  l.j.  (23, 
21)  portion,  Ps.  xvi.  5,  Ixxiii.  2(5,  cxix.  57  ;  Je.  x.  16.  (25) 
wait  for  Him,  and  so  wait  His  time. 

Mail  lirinij  Inj  mercy  (ri\  22,  23). — 1.  It  is  of  the  Lord's  mercy 
that  we  are  not  consumed  bodily  ;  2.  It  is  of  the  Lords  mercy 
that  we  are  not  consumed  intellectually  ;  3.  It  is  of  the  Lord's 
mercy  that  we  are  not  consumed  morally  :  dwell  on  the  words 
consumption,  mercy,  morning.* 

Jeremiah  and  the  dulte,  a  contrast. — Imagine  the  Prophet  in 
his  solitariness.  All  around  him  is  widespread  desolation  :  the 
once  gorgeous  palace  is  in  ruins  ;  the  temple,  adorned  with  go'd 
and  silver,  and  the  richest  tapestry,  no  longer  graces  the  heights 
of  Moriah,  but  is  reduced  to  ashes  ;  the  favoured  people  are  in. 
exile  ;  the  Prophet  is  sorrowful  and  sad  ;  yet,  while  the  tear  still 
glistens  in  his  eye,  and  his  bosom  heaves  with  intense  emotion, 
he  exclaims,  "  The  Lord  is  my  portion,  saith  my  soul  ;  therefore 
will  I  hope."  How  different  is  it  with  the  man  whose  portion  is 
earthly  I  It  is  said  of  a  certain  duke  that  he  has  a  passion  for 
costly  diamonds ;  and  what  is  the  consequence .'  His  house 
resembles  a  castle  rather  than  a  mansion,  and  is  surrounded  with 
a  loftj'^  wall,  over  which  no  one  can  climb  without  giving  alarm. 
His  treasure  is  kept  in  a  safe,  let  in  the  wall  of  his  bedroom,  so 
that  it  cannot  be  reached  without  first  waking  or  murdering  the 
owner  ;  the  safe  is  so  constructed  that  it  cannot  bo  forced  with- 
out di  charging  four  gixns,  and  setting  an  alarm-bell  a-ringing 
in  every  room.  His  bedroom,  like  a  prisoners  cell,  has  but  one 
small  window,  and  the  bolt  and  lock  of  the  massive  door  are  of 
the  stoutest  iron.     In  addition  to  these  precautions,  a  case,  coa» 


nap.  lii.  26-36.] 


LAMENTATIONS  OF  JEREMIAH. 


217 


taining  twelve  loaded  revolvers,  stands  by  the  side  of  his  bed. 
Might  we  uot  inscribe  over  it,  "  Piamonds  are  my  portion  ;  there- 
lore  do  I  i'ear  r^' 

26—30.  (20)  good,  '-the  repetition  of  the  word  at  the 
beginning  of  this  and  tlie  connected  verses  heightens  the  effect." 
quietly  wait,  or  wait  in  silence  ; "  abstaining  from  all  com- 
plaining, salvation,  including  all  God's  gracious  ways  of 
helping.  (27)  yoke,  symbol  of  suffering  :  Divine  disciplinary 
dealings,  youth,  early  in  life,  when  all  lessons  are  more  easily 
learned.  (28)  keep  silence,  comp.  '-quietly  wait,"  of  r.  27. 
(29)  month.  .  .  dust,  the  attitude  of  deep  humiliation.'  (30) 
cheek,  etc.,  Is.  i.  (5  ;  Mat.  v.  3a. 

The  f/ocnt  of  early  obedience  (v.  27). — There  is  a  threefold  yoke 
which  it  is  good  for  a  man  to  bear  in  his  youth.  I.  The  yoke  of 
afiliction.  1.  Good  for  all  kinds  of  men;  2.  Enlightening;  3. 
Preparatory  to  grace  and  conversion  ;  4.  Strengthens  spiritual 
convictions  ;  5.  Stirs  up  the  heart  to  prayer  ;  G.  Teaches  the 
emptiness  of  the  creature.  II.  The  yoke  of  conviction  of  sin. 
1.  The  sooner  it  is  borne  the  easier  it  is  borne  ;  2.  Those  who  are 
subjects  of  early  convictions  grow  rich  in  grace.  III.  The  yoke 
of  subjection  and  obedience  to  Christ,  1.  He  has  his  yoke  ;  2.  It 
Lb  the  concern  of  every  one  to  take  his  yoke  in  youth,  because  of 
the  call  of  God,  the  claims  of  Christ,  the  invitation  of  the  Spirit ; 
sia  gets  advantage  by  continuance  ;  the  earlier  the  easier  ;  it  has 
the  "kindest  acceptance  with  God  ;  it  is  the  fittest  season  for 
religion  :  the  danger  of  delay." 

llerhcrt  Palmer.— The  Rev.  Herbert  Palmer,  B.D.,  Master  of 
Queen's  College.  Cambridge,  who  died  in  lC-17,  and  who  was  "a 
burning  and  a  shining  light"  in  his  day,  wns  remarkable  for  his 
dutiful  affection  to  his  parents,  not  only  when  he  was  a  child, 
but  during  his  whole  life.  He  was  peculiarly  attentive  to  his 
pious,  aged  mother  :  promoting  to  the  utmost  of  his  power  both 
her  temporal  and  spiritual  comfort,  even  to  the  day  of  her  death, 
which  happened  not  long  before  his  own.  He  used  frequently 
to  enforce  this  duty  in  his  ministry,  observing  the  emphasis 
which  God  puts  upon  it  through  the  whole  of  the  Scriptures.  He 
used  to  say  that  he  had  noticed  the  effects  of  disobedience  to  parents 
EO  that  he  scarcely  ever  knew  undutiful  children  escape  some 
visible  judgment  of  God  in  the  present  life  :  he  also  thought  that 
the  mischiefs  ^vhieh  occur  in  society  frequently  take  their  rise  in 
the  contempt  of  parental  authority.'' 

31 — 36.  (31)  cast  off.  He  puts  away  in  cliastisnnrtr.,,  but  not 
in  foraaliinij.  Divine  punishments  are  only  temporary.  (32) 
cause  grief,  by  His  judgments.  (33)  willingly,  lit.  "from 
his  heart.""  (31)  crush,  etc.,  prob.  referring  to  the  excess  of 
cruelty  with  which  the  Chalda;ans  had  executed  the  Divine  com- 
mission. (3.5)  turn  .  .  right,  so  as  to  procure  an  unjust  judg- 
ment, most  High,  here  only  a  superior,  a  judge.  (3(3) 
approveth  not,  or  seeth  not  with  approval.* 

Comfort  for  the  sorronfiil  (vv.  31— 3G).— We  have— I.  A  cheer- 
ing a-^surance  given — 1,  That  God"s  abandonment  of  His  people 
is  only  temporary  ;  2.  That  the  favour  with  which  He  will  visit 
them  will  be  signal  and  abundant.  II.  An  important  reason 
adduced.  This  may  be  inferred— 1.  From  His  character  ;  2.  The 
relation.  J./^)  lie  sukaius  to  His  people ;   3.  Their  sufferings  are 


God    who    gave 

li  i  m     a  1 1.'  " — 

UriJije. 

c  liec.  li.  Gray. 

a  Ps,  xxxvii.  7. 

6  Ps,  cxi.x.  25. 

)'.  26.  G.  J.  Zol- 
likvffer,  ii.  277; 
Dr.  A.  liee.^,  iii. 
oGU;  //.  Melvill, 
i.  281. 

I'.    27.     Dr.     A. 

Siuipf,  ii.  223 ; 
Siid.Smil/i.i.oGi; 
Up.  Wordswoi't/i, 
C2  ;  l:.  Soutlujate, 
ii.  77;  II.  iicou- 
yall,  119. 

c  Matthew  Mead. 

The    teacher    Is 
lilte   tlie  switch- 
man, who   holds 
j  tlie    key   to    the 
switches   on  the 
railroad.      If    he 
does     his     duty 
faithfully,       the 
train  will   reach 
its      destination 
I  safely  :      if      he 
I  neglects    it,  dis- 
!  aster    and    ruin 
I  follow.     A    mis- 
placed switch  or 
a    wrong    signal 
may    scud    liun- 
I  dreds   into   eter- 
nity unprepared. 

d  R.  T.  S. 


a  Nil.  xvi.  28  { 
He.  xii.  10. 

h  "  As  God  takes 
no  plcasvu-e  in 
oppressing  the 
poor  and  lielp- 
less,  so  neither 
will  He  suU-'er 
any  men  to  go 
unpunislied  that 
arc  guilty  of  sucU 
acts  of  injustiue 
and  cruelty,  who 
never  think  that 
all  the  wrongs 
they  do  are  com- 
mitted    in     the 


218 


lAMEXTATIONS  OF  JEUF.MIAn. 


[Cap.  iii.  37— 45, 


sight  of  the  su- 
preme Juil^'e  of 
the  world." — 
Luwlh. 

V.  33.  /.  Fiiircell, 
I  G3  ;  Dr.  llai,i,-r, 
a.  272;  r.  Black- 
ley,  iii.  179. 

"  His  sad  com- 
plexion wears 
griefs  niouruing 
livery  —  ho  is 
clothed  ill  tear:;." 
—John  Day. 

e  Henry  Smith, 
1570. 


a  Spl:  Com, 

b  "  The  prep,  in 
the  Heb.  is  very 
forcible,  imply- 
ing, '  Let  us  go 
back,  not  half- 
way but  the 
■wh  ole.'  "  —  Nd- 
geUbach. 

e  "  The  action  of 
confession  was 
not  to  lie  the 
mere  outward  ex- 
ten  s-ion  of  the 
hands  towards 
God.  Such  out- 
ward expression, 
to  be  sincere,  was 
to  be  accom- 
panied with  the 
inward  f<>elings 
of  the  heart." — 
Jlendcrson. 

d    Beta    in    400 

Sks. 

e  lii'rijamin  Reach, 
IGoU. 


a  Our  sins  be- 
come the  hiding 
cloud. 

"  I  have  seen  a 
fatlicr  hold  out 
at  a  distance 
from  the  child,  a 
promised  go<  d. 
The  cliild,assoon 
us  he  s,aw  it, 
Ktretelu'd  out  liis 
hands  to  take  it, 
but  found  that  it 


attended  with  many  alleviations  ;  4.  The  object  He  has  in  view 
iu  their  afflictions  :  5.  His  readiness  to  remove  His  chastoningf 
hand.  ]II.  A  gracious  limilatiou  s>il)joined  whenever  He  afliicts. 
It  is — 1.  Within  the  bounds  of  moderation  ;  2.  I^cvcr  in  viola- 
tion of  the  principles  of  e(|uity. 

jDirine  clui-ftisciiicntii. — This  is  the  manner  of  God's  proceed- 
ings— to  send  good  after  evil,  as  He  made  light  after  darkness  ; 
to  turn  justice  into  mercy,  as  He  turned  water  into  wine.  For 
as  the  beasts  nuist  be  killed  before  they  could  be  sacrificed,  so 
men  must  be  killed  before  the}'  can  be  sacrificed  ;  that  is,  the 
knife  of  correction  must  prune  and  dress  them,  before  they 
can  bring  forth  fruit.  These  are  the  cords  which  bind  the  ram. 
unto  the  altar,  lest  when  he  is  brought  thither  he  should  run 
from  thence  again  ;  this  is  the  chariot  which  carrieth  our 
thoughts  to  heaven.  This  is  the  hammer  which  squaroth  the 
rough  stones,  till  they  be  plain  and  smooth,  and  fit  for  the 
temple." 

37—41.  (37)  who  . .  not,  Ps.  xxxiii.  9.  (.")S~)  evil  and 
good,  Am.  iii.  C.  (SO)  living,  the  word  is  emphatic  in  the 
sentence.  "As  long  as  God  spares  a  man's  life,  why  does  he 
murmur  1  The  chastisement  is  really  for  his  good  ;  only  let  him 
use  it  aright,  and  he  will  be  thankful  for  it  in  the  end.""  (40) 
try  our  ways,  our  conduct,  for  in  them  we  shall  find  the 
reason  of  our  chastisement,  turn  again,  or  return.'  (41) 
heart  .  .  hands,  the  bauds  in  the  attitude  of  prayer  :  the  heart 
with  them,  making  the  praj^er  both  sincere  and  earnest."^ 

Linnrj  men  ought  7iot  to  complain  (r.  39). — I.  State  the  most 
common  causes  of  complaint.  1.  Our  circumstances  in  the 
world  ;  2.  The  sufferings  to  which  we  are  doomed ;  3.  Our  con- 
dition as  moral  agents.  II.  Show  the  impropriety  of  such  con- 
duct. 1.  It  is  unreasonable  ;  2.  Useless;  3.  Impious  and  profane  ; 
4.  Endangers  his  immortal  interests.  III.  Point  out  its  most 
effectual  remedy.  1.  Seek  the  regeneration  of  our  natures  ;  2. 
Consider  what  pain  and  punishment  we  deserve  :  3.  Think  of 
the  sufferings  of  others  ;  4.  Ilemember  the  design  of  God  in 
afflicting  us  ;   5.  Pray  that  our  day  of  .strength  may  be  as  our  day."* 

The  hdicrcr's  portion. — 'Tis  a  j)art  and  portion  which  can  never 
be  spent.  You  may  live  upon  God  :  there  is  enough  iu  Him  for 
millions  and  millions  and  millions.  God  is  better  than  heaven, 
better  than  grace,  better  than  glory,  better  than  things  present, 
or  things  to  come.  The  promises  are  like  a  rich  ring  of  gold, — but 
this  is  the  rare  diamond  in  that  ring  ;  it  is  the  crowit.  the  top, 
excellency  of  all  promises.  His  wisdom  is  the  soul's  for  direction. 
Ills  power  for  protection.  His  grace  for  its  acceptation.  His 
Spirit  for  its  consolation,  His  creatures  on  eartli  to  serve  us.  His 
angels  to  guard  us.  His  ordinances  to  feed  and  strengthen  us.  His 
grace  to  adorn  us,  His  riches  to  advance  and  crown  us  to  eternity.* 

42 — 45.  (42)  not  pardoned,  or  overlooked  our  iniquity,  but 
rather,  has  visited  it  upon  us.  (43)  covered  .  .  anger,  i.e. 
covered  Thy  face  in  anger,  persecuted  US,  better,  jnir.siied  us. 
(44)  covered  .  .  cloud,  to  hide  'i'hy  face  from  the  observation 
of  our  distresses."     (4.j)  offscouring,  1  Gor.  iv.  13. 

Importunate  prayer.— 'Yo  present  a  petition  is  ozie  thing  ;  to 
prosecute  a  suit  is  another.  IMost  prayers  answer  to  the  former. 
But  successful  prayer  corresponds  to  the  latter.    The  children  of 


Cap.  m.  46-54.] 


LAMENTATIONS  OF  JEREMIAH. 


219 


this  world  are  in  this  respect  wise  in  their  generation.  "When 
they  have  a  petition  to  carry,  they  go  with  it  to  the  seat  of 
government,  and  having  convej'^ed  it  by  the  i>roper  channel  to 
tlie  power  which  is  to  decide  upon  it,  they  anxiously  await  the 
decision,  iii  the  meantime  securing  all  the  influence  they  can, 
and  doiug  everything  possible  to  ensure  a  favourable  result.  So 
should  the  children  of  light  do.  But  frequently  they  just  lodge 
their  petition  in  the  court  of  heaven,  and  there  they  let  it  lie. 
They  do  not  press  the  suit.  They  do  not  employ  other  means  in 
furthering  it,  beyond  the  simpjle  j^resenting  of  it.  They  do  not 
await  the  decision  of  it.  The  whole  of  prayer  docs  not  consist  in 
taking  hold  of  God.  The  main  matter  is  holding  on.  How 
many  are  induced  by  the  slightest  ajipearance  of  repulse  to  let 
go,  as  Jacob  did  not !  I  have  been  struck  with  the  manner  in 
■which  jjetitions  are  usually  concluded:  '"And  your  petitioners 
will  ever  pray."  So  "  men  ought  always  to  pray  (to  God)  and 
never  faint.'  Payson  saj's,  "Ihe  ijromise  of  God  is  not  to  the 
act,  but  to  the  habit  of  prayer."* 

46—50.  (4G)  opened  their  mouths,  ch.  ii.  16.  (47)  fear, 
etc.,  Is.  xxiv.  17  :  Je.  xlviii.  43.  (48)  mine  ej^e,  etc.,  Je.  iv.  19. 
(4'.))  without  .  .  intermission,  or  because  there  is  no  inter- 
mission of  my  miseries.  (50)  till  the  Lord,  intimating  that 
in  his  seeming  hopelessness  he  yet  held  fast  his  hope  in  God. 

Tears  of  Hod's  iicoplc. — They  are  the  tears  wliich  burst  from 
our  hearts  when  we  look  upon  Him  whom  we  have  pierced,  and 
weep  as  a  mother  that  weepeth  for  an  only  son  ;  the  tears  Avhich 
Christ  wept  over  Jerusalem,  fallen  and  impenitent,  foreseeing  its 
relentless  doom  ;  the  tears  of  compassion  which  He  wept  over 
the  sorrows  of  the  house  of  Lazarus  :  the  tears  which  Paul  shed 
when  in  the  city  of  Ephesus  he  weui:,  by  night  and  by  day,  from 
house  to  house,  entreating  the  jieoi^le  to  be  reconciled  unto  God. 
Not  the  bitter  and  disappointed  mood  of  Jonah  when  he  was  ex- 
ceedingly displeased  and  very  angry  becau'se  the  Lord  had  re- 
lented of  His  threatenings  against  Nineveh,  and  entreated  God, 
saying.  "  Take,  I  beseech  Thee,  my  life  away  from  me,  for  it  is 
lietter  for  me  to  die  than  to  live  :  "  but  the  mood  of  Jeremiah  the 
Prophet,  when  He  exclaimed.  "Is  there  no  balm  in  Gilead.-'  Is 
there  no  physician  there  ?  Why  then  is  not  the  health  of  the 
daughter  of  my  jjeople  recovered  ? "  "  O  that  my  head  were 
waters,  and  mine  eyes  a  fountain  of  tears,  thnt  I  might  weep  day 
and  night  for  the  daughters  of  my  people  ! "  Not  the  tears  of 
pride,  v/hich  come  reluctant  from  the  steeled  head,  like  water 
dropping  from  the  flinty  rock,  but  the  tears  of  pride  humbled 
and  convinced  liy  the  power  of  God,  which  flov/  copiously  like 
the  streain  which  issued  from  the  rock,  when  it  had  been  smitten 
by  the  wand  of  ]\Ioses,  the  messenger  of  God.  Not  the  tears  of 
natural  desire  after  a  worldly  good,  nor  the  tears  of  natural  sor- 
row for  a  worldly  good  removed,  but  the  tears  of  spiritual  desire 
after  spiritual  good,  or  the  tears  of  sorrow  when  God  hath  hidden 
His  countenance  or  removed  our  candlestick  out  of  its  former 
place." 

51 — 54.  (.51)  afiecteth  .  .  heart,  or  maketh  my  soul  ache, 
because  of,  or  '•  more  than  all."  daughters,  F.n-ald  refers  to 
the  daughter,  or  dejiendent  towns  around.  Vnlrin  thinks  that 
iJnT.  exceeded  even  the  eoftness  of  women  in  his  abundant  weep- 


was  too  far  away 
for  Ijini  to 
reach,  lie  thea 
came  nearer,  and 
stretcheil  forth 
liis  bauds  with 
greater  effort. 
Still  the  object 
was  too  far  for 
his  grasp.  Agaia 
the  child  came 
nearer  and  jiiade 
another  mighty 
effort.  The  fa- 
ther seeing  the 
child  so  mvicli  in 
earnest  to  s(  ize 
the  object,  drew 
his  hand  towards 
the  cliild,  and 
smilingly  allowed 
him  to  seize  the 
promised  bless- 
in  g. "— ^o/i  n  i^ate. 
b  A'eciiis. 


m.  49,  50.  T.  Bof 
ion,  iv.  60. 

"  Hide  not  thy 
tears ;  weep  bold- 
Ij-,  and  be  prond 
to  give  the  flow- 
ing virtue  manly 
^^■ay :  'tis  na- 
ture's mark  to 
know  an  lionest 
heart  by.  Shame 
on  tliose  breasts 
of  stone  that  can- 
not melt  in  soft 
adoption  of 
another's  sor- 
row."—  Aaron 
Hill. 

"E  emembrance 
is  the  only  para- 
dise out  of  which 
we  cannot  be 
driven  away.  In- 
deed, our  first 
parents  were  not 
to  be  deprived  of 
it." — lllclila: 


a  E.  Irving, 


"Sufferiyg  la 
sweet  when  ho- 
nour doth  adorn 
it.  Who  slighU 
revenge  ?  "ot  lt« 


220 


LAMENTATIONS  OF  JEREMIAB. 


[Cap.  lil.  55—59, 


that    fears,    but 

scorns  it.  "  —  ' 
liuckiiiriluun. 

a  C.Simeon,  U.A. 

"  For  sorrow  is 
the  messenger 
between  the  jioet 
ami  men's  bo- 
soms. Genius 
can  fill  with 
unsympatliising 
goils  tlie  scene, 
but  grief  alone 
can  teach  us 
what  is  man." — 
Jiidtcer  Lijilon. 

b  Cheever. 

He  who  lays  out 
most  for  Christ, 
provides  best  for 
himself.  He  who 
Serves  not  him- 
self, but  Christ, 
is  most  truly  free. 
He  who  belongs 
not  to  himself, 
bat  to  Christ, 
possesses  all 
tUiugs. 


V.  57.  W.  Fenner, 
1.  '.^65. 

"  Praying  in  the 

Holy  Gliost ; " 
"  U'he  Spirit 

mnketh  interces- 
sion within  you," 
is  the  language 
of  Scripture.  As 
a  winil  musical 
insti'ument  in 
the  h.anils  of  the 
musician,  so 

should  Christians 
in  ))rayer  be  in 
tlie  hands  of  the 
Liivine  Spirit; 
they  shoulcl  pre- 
sent such  jiraycrs 
as  He  imiites 
within  them. 
The  harmony, 
melody,  sweet- 
ness, power,  ami 
effect  of  their 
prayers  .should  be 
produced  by  the 
agency  of  the 
Spirit  dwelling 
in  them. 

h  Dr.  Edmond. 


ing'.  (r)2)  like  a  bird,  as  hunters  do  a  bird  :  tiring  it  down 
with  prolonged  pursuit.  (5:!)  dungeon,  Je.  x.\xvii.  l(i.  stone, 
usually  put  at  the  mouth  of  a  dungeon  to  secure  the  prisoner.  ( 54) 
waters  .  .  head,  a  figurative  expn-ssion  of  his  great  trouble. 
Comp.  Ps.  Ixix.  2.  cut  off,  Ps.  Ixxxviii.  5  ;  Is.  liii.  8.  I  am 
as  good  as  dead. 

The  vfficacij  of  lyrayrr  {rr.  54—07). — I.  To  -what  a  state  God's 
most  favoured  saints  may  be  reduced.  In  the  Pi'ophet's  experience, 
however,  we  see — II.  What  remedy  is  open  to  them.  The 
answer  he  received  will  lead  us  to  contemplate — III.  The 
efficacy  of  that  remedy  whenever  applied." 

Fothcnj ill's  gencrus'itij. — A  worthy  clergyman,  a  friend  of  Dr. 
Fothcrgiil,  was,  in  the  early  part  of  his  life,  settled  in  London 
upon  a  curacy  of  £50  per  auuuni.  An  epidemical  disease  .'^eizsd 
upon  his  wife  and  five  of  his  children.  In  this  state  of  distress 
he  earnestly  desired  the  doctor's  advice,  but  dared  not  apply  for 
it,  from  a  consciousness  of  being  unable  to  reward  him  lor  his 
attendance.  A  friend  kindly  offered  to  accompany  him  to  the 
doctor's,  and  give  him  his  fee.  They  took  advantage  of  his 
hour  of  audience  ;  and,  after  a  description  of  the  several  cases, 
the  fee  was  offered  and  rejected,  but  a  note  was  taken  of 
his  place  of  residence.  The  doctor  assiduously  called  from 
day  to  day,  till  his  attendance  was  no  longer  necessary.  The 
curate,  anxious  to  return  some  grateful  mark  of  the  sense  he 
entertained  of  his  services,  strained  every  nerve  to  accomplish 
it  ;  but  his  astonishment  was  great  Avhen  the  doctor,  instead 
of  receiving  the  money  he  offered,  put  ten  guineas  into  his 
hand,  desiring  him  to  aj^ply  to  him  without  hesitation  in  futtu-e 
difficulties.' 

55—59.  (5.^)  low  dungeon,  or  very  deep  pit."  (.56) 
breathing,  poss.  intended  to  indicate  how  exhausted  and  feeble 
his  prayer  was.  (57)  thoii  drewest  near,  in  past  time  of 
trouble.  (58)  hast  pleaded,  as  my  Gael  or  arcnrjcr.  (59) 
judge  .  .  cause,  at  this  present  time  also. 

]\'utch'i)uj  vnto  2>T(ty''i'- — When  an  archer  shoots  his  arrow  at 
a  mark,  he  likes  to  go  and  see  whether  he  has  hit  it,  or  how  near 
he  has  come  to  it.  When  you  have  written  and  sent  oil  a  letter 
to  a  friend,  you  expect  some  day  that  the  postman  will  be  knock- 
ing trt  the  door  with  an  answer.  Wltcn  a  child  asks  his  father 
for  something  he  looks  in  his  face,  even  before  he  speaks,  to  see 
if  he  is  pleased,  and  read  acceptance  in  his  eyes.  But  it  is  to  be 
greatly  feared  that  many  people  feel  when  their  prayers  are  over 
as  if  they  had  quite  done  with  them.  Their  only  concern  was  to 
get  them  said.  An  old  heathen  poet  speaks  of  Jupiter  throwing 
certain  i^rayers  to  the  winds — dispersing  them  "  in  empty  air." 
It  is  sad  to  think  that  wc  so  often  do  that  for  ourselves.  What 
Avould  you  think  of  a  man  who  had  written,  and  folded,  and 
sealed,  and  addressed  a  letter,  flinging  it  out  info  the  stre.et,  Mid 
thinking  no  more  about  it  ?  Sailors  in  foundering  ships  some- 
times commit  notes  in  scaled  bottles  to  the  waves,  lor  tlie  chance 
of  their  being  some  day  washed  on  some  shore.  Sir  John 
Franklin's  companions  among  the  snows,  and  Captain  Alien 
Gardiner,  dying  of  hunger  in  his  cave,  wrote  words  they  c<mld 
not  be  sure  any  one  would  ever  read.  But  we  do  not  need  to 
think  of  our  prayeis  as  random  messages.  We  should,  therefore, 
look  for  reply  to  them,  and  watch  to  get  it.* 


Cap.  Iv.  1—4.] 


LAMENTATIONS  OF  JEREMIAH. 


221 


60—63.  ("GO,  Gl)  imaginations,  or  devices."  The  word 
carries  the  idea  of  plav.s  funned  by  men  in  mere  wilfulness.  (02) 
tlie  lips,'  or  the  talk  ;  the  foolish  and  malicious  speeches.  (G3) 
music,''  the  subject  of  their  merriment  ami  their  song-. 

Tmiling  rejii-oiiclws. — Pericles,  as  he  was  sitting  before  others 
in  a  meeting',  a  foul-mouthed  fellow  railed  upon  him  all  the  day 
long  ;  at  night,  when  it  was  dark,  and  the  meeting  broke  up,  the 
fellow  followed  him  and  railed  at  him,  even  to  his  door,  and 
he  took  no  notice  of  what  he  said  ;  but  when  he  came  home, 
this  is  all  he  said  to  him,  "  It  is  dark,  I  i^ray  let  my  man  light 
you  home."''' 

64—66.  (64)  render,  etc.,  comp.  Ps.  Ixix.  22—28  :  the  words 
are  taken  fr.  Ps.  xxviii.  4.  (G5)  sorrow  of  heart,  or  judicial 
blindness."  (G6)  destroy,  etc.,  comp.  Je.  x.  11.  heavens  .  . 
Lord,  Ps.  viii.  3,*  cxv.  16. 

Unceasing  prayer. — In  this  precept— to  pray  always — there  is 
nothing  of  exaggeration,  nothing  commanded  which  may  not  be 
fulfilled,  when  we  understand  of  prayer  as  the  continual  desire 
of  the  soul  after  God  ;  having,  indeed,  its  times  of  intensity, 
seasons  of  an  intenser  concentration  of  the  i^piritual  life,  but  not 
being  confined  to  those  times  ;  since  the  whole  life  of  the  faith- 
ful should  be,  in  Origen's  beautiful  words,  one  great  connected 
prayer  ;  or,  as  St.  Basil  expresses  it,  prayer  should  be  the  salt, 
•which  is  to  salt  everji:hing  besides.  "  That  soul,"  says  Donne, 
"  that  is  accustomed  to  direct  herself  to  God  upon  every  occasion  : 
that,  as  a  flower  at  sunrising,  conceives  a  sense  of  God  in  every 
beam  of  His,  and  spreads  and  dilates  itself  towards  Him,  in  a 
thankfulness,  in  every  small  blessing  that  He  sheds  ui^on  her — 
that  soul  who,  whatsoever  string  be  stricken  in  her,  bass  or  treble, 
h^r  high  or  her  low  estate,  is  ever  turned  toward  God  : — that 
Boul  prays  sometimes  when  it  does  not  know  that  it  prays."" 


CHAPTER  THE  FOURTH. 

1 — 4.  (1)  gold  .  .  dim,  gold  is  used  metaphorically  for  the 
illustrious  portion  of  the  Jewish  people."  Calrin  refers  it  to  the 
splendid  adornment  of  the  temple,  stones  .  .  sanctuary, 
meta]ihorical,  referring  to  the  priests  and  Levites.  The  fig.  may 
be  taken  from  the  gems  of  the  high  pnest's  breastplate  ;*  or 
from  the  stones  of  which  the  temple  was  built,  top  .  .  street, 
ch.  ii.  19.  (2)  earthen  pitchers,'  Je.  xix.  10,  11.  (3)  sea 
monsters,  tannin.  Dr.  Pocock  venders  Jackal.^ ;  others  render 
7vJinJe!t,  these  creatures  being  mnnnnalia.  young  ones,  lit. 
oi-helj).^.''  ostriches,  Job  xxxix.  13—17.  (4)  cleavetii .  .thirst, 
bee.  the  mothers,  in  the  famine  time,  have  no  milk. 

The  irorhr.'!  esfimnfion  of  the  righteo//.^  (r.  2). — I.  The  charac- 
ters described.  1.  Ziou  is  their  spi.itual  birth-place,  they  ac- 
knowledge their  great  and  growing  obligations  to  Zion  ;  2.  They 
are  devoted  to  the  interests  of  Zion.  II.  Tlie  excellence  of  the 
sons  of  Zion.  1.  In  respect  of  its  purity  ;  2.  Its  utility  ;  3.  Its 
value  ;  4.  Its  honour.  III.  The  estimation  in  which  the  sons  of 
Zion  are  too  often  held.  1 .  Their  ]irinciples  and  misnames  ;  2. 
Their  motives  are  suspected  ;  3.  Their  conduct  is  misrepresented.'' 

'J  he  potter  iind  the  clag — J//ipre.f.'<i//ilifg  of  ehildven. — It  was 
jny  privilege,  not  long  since,  to  visit  au  extensive  manufactory 


a  Je.  xi.  19,  xvilL 
18. 


6  Ps.  xxii.  7. 
c  Ps.  Mr.  2. 


d  Jeremiah  Bur- 
roughs. 


a  "  Lit.  a  '  cover- 
ing of  lieart,'  i.e. 
a  mental  disease, 
obstinacy,  liard- 
ness,  the  worst 
calamity  that  can 
befall  a  liumaa 
being."— iiert- 
di-rson. 

b  "  They  shall  be 
not  only  ex- 
cluiled  from  the 
happiness  of  the 
invisiblehcareus, 
bat  cut  off  from 
the  comfort  even 
of  these  visible 
ones,  \vh.  are  the 
heavens  of  the 
Lord,  and  wh. 
those  therefore 
are  unworthy  to 
be  taken  under 
the  protection  of 
wlio  rebel  ag'aiust 
H  i  m."  —  Mat, 
Ih'ii  rii. 
c  Archbp.  Trench. 


a  Grntitis,  Sen* 
di'fspn,  etc. 
h  Michaetis. 
c  "  With  solid 
gold  is  contrasted 
the  hollow 
pitcher,  easily 
bi-olcen.and  made 
of  materials  of  no 
intrinsic  value, 
but  deriving  its 
worth  from  mere 
human  labour." 
—H/i/l-.  Com. 
d  As  this  terra  is 
only  appliLcl  to 
the  young  of  dog- 
like creatures,  its 
USB  favours  the 
translation, 
Jiiciiils. 

,'  Zela  in  400  Sks, 
Dr.  Shaw  also 
says  that,  daring 
the  lonesome 
part  of  the  iiitrht, 
the         osU'ichei 


222 


LAMENTATIONS  OF  JEREmAH. 


[Cap.  Iv.  5-a, 


often     maile     a 

doleful  anil  liiiie- 
ous  iioice,  which 
wonM  sometiMies 
be  like  the  roar- 
1112  of  a  lion ;  at 
other  times  it 
■wouM  bear  re- 
semblance to  the 
lioarser  voices  of 
other  qiiailru- 
peils,  particularly 
of  the  bull  ami 
the  ox.  1  hive 
often  hearil  th  'm 
groan,  as  if  tliey 
Were  in  the 
greatest  agonies, 
— an  action  lieaii- 
tifully  alluileil  to 
by  tlie  I'rophet 
!Micali(i.  8).\vhen 
it  is  faiil,  '  I 
will  make  a  .  .  . 
mourning  as  the 
owls,'  or  rather, 
ostriches. 
/  W.  11.  Groser. 


a  Comp.  Jobxxiv. 


6  "So'lom  was 
Tint  given  up  into 
the  hands  of  an 
enemy  that  laid 
Biege  to  it,  nor 
condemned  to 
the  lingering, 
de.stnictioa  of 
famine." — Loicth. 

"  Sodom's  suffer- 
ings iu  dying 
were  brief ;  there 
were  no  starving 
infants,  no  mo- 
thers cooking 
their  offspring 
for  f  o  o  d."— 
Ndgelshach. 

r  Job  XXX.  30. 

"In  the  morning, 
When  you  awake, 
accustom  your- 
self to  think  first 
upon  CJod,  or 
Bomething  in 
order  to  His  ser- 
vice ;  and  at 
night  also  let 
Him  close  thine 
eyes,  and  let  your 
sleep  be  neces- 
sary and  health- 
ful, nut  idle  an<l 
e.\)iensive  of  time 
beyond  the  neeils 
and  conveniences 
It   nature  :   and 


of  the  finest  kind  of  j^orcelain.  in  one  of  our  midland  cities.  I 
was  first  shown  the  crude  materials  :  I  saw  them  kneaded  toge- 
ther in  great  circular  cisterns  as  if  by  an  unseen  power,  and  then 
passed  into  the  room  where  the  potters  pursued  their  craft.  I 
watched  "  the  potter  work  a  work  upon  the  wheels  ;  "  and  as  the 
white,  moist  clay,  grew  beneath  his  skilful  hand  into  forms  of 
grace  and  beauty.  I  thought  I  had  never  yet  seen  so  exquisite  a 
type  of  perfect  plasticity.  I  could  now  appreciate  the  cogent 
question  of  the  Apostle,  "  Hath  not  the  potter  power  over  the 
clay  .'  "  1  had  visited  the  city  simply  as  a  Sunday-school  teacher, 
and  here  was  indeed  a  striking  emblem  of  my  work.  Each  child, 
I  thought,  that  God  places  beneath  my  care,  has  a  nature  plastic 
and  impressible  as  yonder  clay,  and,  whether  I  will  it  or  not,  will 
bear  the  impress  of  my  moulding  hand,  whether  skilful  or 
unsteady,  whether  put  forth  in  earnest  wisdom  or  in  vague  un- 
certainty. Yonder  vessels  have  different  purposes  to  serve, — 
some  to  honour,  and  some  to  dishonour,  according  as  the  potter 
shall  determine  ;  but  this  for  a  few  years,  or  at  most  p.  few 
centuries.  And  the  vessels  which  I  am  called  to  fashion,  they 
too  have  their  destinies  ;  but  their  honour  or  their  dishonour 
shall  be  unchanging  and  eternal.  God  grant  that,  like  some  of 
these  material  things,  they  may  at  length  be  deemed  fit  for  a 
royal  Master's  use  !  ^ 

5 — 8.  (5)  delicately,  or  daintily.  "  Faring  sumptuously 
eveiy  day."  desolate,  i.e.  there  are  none  to  wait  on  them,  or 
jirovide  for  them.  Such  ^jersons  are  the  most  heljjless  in  famine 
times,  in  scarlet,  prob.  referring  to  the  luxurious  scarlet 
couches  of  the  grand  houses,  dunghills,  are  content  to  lie  on 
the  dunghills  to  secure  a  little  warmth."  (G)  is  greater,*  bee. 
her  knowledge  and  privilege  were  greater,  no  hands,  etc.,  i.e. 
no  human  hands  were  wearied  in  the  Avork  of  destroying  her. 

(7)  Nazarites,  or  separated  ones  ;  see  Nu.  vi.  rnbies,  or  coral. 

(8)  visage,  etc.,  these  indicate  the  effects  of  prolonged  famine.* 
like  a  stick,  withered  and  dry. 

O-sfrick. — This  remarkable  bird  lives  in  the  sandy  deserts  of 
Arabia  and  Africa,  subsisting  on  the  coarsest  herbage  and  grain. 
When  full-grown,  the  neck,  particularly  of  the  male,  which 
before  was  almost  naked,  is  now  very  beautifully  covered  with, 
red  feathers.  The  plumage,  likewise,  upon  the  shoulders,  the 
back,  and  some  parts  of  the  wings,  from  being  hitherto  of  a  dark 
greyish  colour,  becomes  now  as  black  as  jet,  while  the  rest  of  the 
feathers  retain  an  exquisite  whiteness.  The  females  form  their 
nests  in  the  sand,  and  cover  their  eggs,  the  same  as  the  fowl  or 
partridge.  Several  birds  lay  their  eggs  in  the  same  nest,  the 
males  sitting  on  them  at  night,  and  the  females  doing  so  alter- 
nately in  the  day.  As  many  as  sixty  eggs  have  been  found  in 
one  nest,  while  several  others  were  scattered  around,  which  are 
said  to  have  served  as  nourishment  to  the  j'oung  ones  when 
hatched,  till  capable  of  digesting  harder  food.  The  parent  birds 
take  little  care  of  their  young.  Dr.  Shaw  says  that  on  the  least 
noise,  or  trivial  occasion,  she  forsakes  her  eggs  or  her  young 
ones,  to  which,  perha])s,  she  never  returns,  or  if  she  does,  it  may 
be  too  late.  Though  the  ostrich  will  sometimes  engage  iu  fierce 
and  angry  combat,  employing  both  its  claws  and  bill,  it  never- 
theless, when  taken  young,  becomes  as  tame  as  the  domestic 
fowl.    The  same  author  observes  : — "I  had  several  opportunitiea 


Cap.  iv.  9— 12.] 


LAMENTATIONS  OF  JEREMIAH. 


223 


of  amusino;'  myself  -with  the  action  and  behaviour  of  the  ostrich. 
It  is  very  diverting"  to  observe  with  what  dexterity  and  equipoise 
of  body  it  would  play  and  frisk  about  on  all  occasions.  In  the 
beat  oi'  the  day.  particularly,  it  would  strut  along  the  sunny  side 
of  ihe  house  wiih  great  majesty.  It  would  be  perpetually  fan- 
ning and  priding  itself  with  its  quivering,  expanding  wings,  and 
at  oilier  times  it  would  continue  its  fanniug.  vibratory  move- 
ments. With  their  help,  it  will  go  faster  than  the  fleetest  horse, 
and  with  two  black  boys  on  its  back."'  With  all  their  speed, 
hovv'cver.  they  do  not  run  in  a  straight  line,  but  wheel  round  in 
circles  of  a  greater  or  less  extent,  so  that  the  Arab  huntsman  is 
able,  after  a  very  diihcult  chase,  to  approach  and  slay  them  with 
their  clubs,  preferring  that  weapon,  that  an  effusion  of  blood  may 
not  spoil  the  feathers.  These  are  chieiiy  obtained  from  the 
wings,  which  in  a  bird  of  full  plumage  contain  forty  :  the  tail 
feathers  seldom  exceed  nine  inches  in  length,  and  are  of  so  little 
value,  that  they  are  seldom  exported  from  the  Cape,  as  the  birds, 
when  killed,  are  generally  found  with  their  tails  worn  to  the 
Btumps  from  working  in  the  sand. 

9 — 12.  (9)  better,  bee.  at  once  put  out  of  their  misery,  pine 
away,  Heb.  Jiou-  out ;  as  if  the  famine  struck  them,  and  life 
slowly  ebbed  away."  (10)  hands  .  .  children,  De.  xxviii.  57  ; 
La.  ii.  20.  (11)  accomplished,  etc.,  by  this  expression  we  are 
recalled  to  the  fact  that  this  Divine  visitation  had  been 
threatened.  (12)  not  .  .  believed,  bee.  the  city  seemed  to  be 
BO  well  fortifitxi.'' 

Coohlmj  in.  the  East  (r.  5). — In  preparing  their  victuals,  the 
Orientals  are.  from  the  extreme  scarcity  of  wood  in  many  coun- 
tries, reduced  to  use  cow-dung  for  fuel.  At  Aleppo,  the  inhabi- 
tants use  wood  and  charcoal  in  their  rooms,  but  heat  their  baths 
with  cow-dung,  the  parings  of  fruit,  and  other  things  of  a  similar 
kind,  which  they  employ  people  to  gather  for  that  purpose.  In 
Eg.^^it.  according  to  Pitts,  the  scarcity  of  wood  is  so  great,  that 
at  Cairo  they  commonly  heat  their  ovens  with  horse  or  cow  dung. 
or  dirt  of  the  streets  ;  what  wood  they  have  being  brought  from 
the  shores  of  the  Black  Sea,  and  sold  by  weight.  Chardin 
attests  the  same  fact  :  "  The  Eastern  people  always  use  cow-dung 
for  baking,  boiling  a  pot.  and  dressing  all  kinds  of  victuals  that 
are  easily  cooked,  especially  in  countries  that  have  but  little 
wood  : "  and  Dr.  Russell  remarks,  in  a  note,  that  "  the  Arabs 
carefully  collect  the  dung  of  the  sheep  and  camel,  as  well  as  that 
of  the  cow  ;  and  that  the  dung,  ofcal,  and  other  matters  used  in 
the  bagnios,  after  having  been  nevr  gathered  in  the  streets,  are 
carried  out  of  the  city,  and  laid  in  great  heaps  to  diy,  where 
they  become  very  offensive.  They  are  intolerably  disagreeable, 
while  drying,  in  the  town  adjoining  to  the  bagnios  ;  and  are  so 
at  all  times  when  it  rains,  though  Ihey  be  stacked,  pressed  hard 
together,  and  thatched  at  top."  These  statements  exhibit,  in  a 
very  strong  light,  the  extreme  misery  of  the  Jews,  who  escaped 
from  the  devouring  sword  of  Nebuchadnezzar  :  "  They  that  feed 
delicately,  are  desolate  in  the  .streets  :  they  that  were  brought  up 
in  scarlet,  embrace  dunghills.''  To  embrace  dunghills  is  a 
species  of  wretchedness  perhaps  unknown  to  us  in  the  history  of 
modern  warfare  :  bitt  it  presents  a  dreadful  and  appalling  image, 
when  the  circumstances  to  which  it  alhides  are  recollected.  What 
can  be  imagined  more  dibtressiag  to  those  who  lived  delicately, 


sometimes  be 
carious  to  see  tlie 
lirepuraliou  wli. 
the  sun  makes 
wlieu  he  is  com- 
ing for  111  from 
his  chambers  of 
the  east  I  "  — 
Jtnniy  Tuijlor. 

"But  live  con- 
tent, which  13 
the  calmest  life  ; 
but  pain  is  per- 
fect misery,  the 
worst  of  evils ; 
and,  excessive, 
overturns  all  pa- 
tience." — Miltvn. 


a  "Stricken 
through,  or 
pierced  through, 
is  very  expres- 
sive of  the  sharp 
pain  occasioned 
by  severe  han- 
ger." —hcndefsoti. 

b  "  Such  was  the 
natural  strength 
of  Jerusalem,  and 
such  the  wide- 
spread belief  that 
the  God  of  the 
Jews  was  omni- 
potent, that  the 
city  was  con- 
sidered to  be 
impregnable."  — 
Henderson. 

"  There  is  a 
sacredness  ia 
tears.  They  are 
not  the  mark  of 
weakness,  but  of 
p  o  w  e  r.  They 
speak  more  elo- 
quently than 
ten  thousand 
tongues.  They 
are  the  messen- 
gers of  over- 
whelming grief, 
of  deep  conti  i- 
tion,  and  of 
unspeakable 
love." —  W'asliing- 
lun  Irving. 

"  Thy  tears  are 
no  reproach  ; 
tears  oft  look 
graceful  on  the 
manly  cheek  : 
the  cruel  cannot 
we^p.  Lo,  friend" 


224 


LAMENTATTOXS  OF  JEREMIAJt. 


rcap.iv.  is-ia 


pliip's  eye  pives 
tliee  the  drop  it 
would  refuse 
\lt>z\i."  -Tkunuon. 


"  Tears  of  joy 
jire  tlie  dew  in 
which  the  Suu  of 
]lishteoasiiess  is 
111  i  r  r  o  r  e  d."  — 
Kicbler. 


»  Eze.  xxii.  26, 
28 ;  Zep.  iii.  4. 

b  Conip.  Mat. 
xxiii.  31,  37;  Ac. 
vii.  02. 

"  Sooner  mayest 
thou  trust  tliy 
pocket  to  a  pick- 
pocket than  give 
loyal  frieudsliip 
to  the  man  who 
boasts  of  eyes  to 
which  the  heart 
never  mounts  in 
dew !  Only  when 
man  weeps  lie 
should  be  alone  ; 
not  because  tears 
are  weak,  but 
they  should  be 
secret.  Tears  are 
akin  to  prayer- 
Pharisees  parade 
prayers,  impos- 
tors parade 
tears." — Buluei: 


"  On  each  pallid 
check  a  single 
tear  hung  quiver- 
ing like  early 
dowdrojis  on  the 
sickening  lily." — 
Jiu'jh  Kelly. 


"  Shed  a  tear  of 
pity  on  their 
woes,  which,  as 
it  drops,  some 
soft-eyed  angel 
bears,  trans- 
formed to  pearl, 
and  in  her  bosum 
■wears."— (Sir  W. 
Jones. 


than  to  wander  without  food  in  the  streets  ?  What  more  dis- 
gusting and  terrible  to  those  who  had  been  clothed  in  rich  and 
splendid  garments  than  to  be  forced  hy  the  destruction  of  their 
jialaces  to  seek  shelter  among  slacks  of  dung,  the  filLh  and  stench 
of  which  it  is  almost  impossible  to  endure .'  The  dunghill,  it 
appears  from  Holy  Writ,  is  one  of  the  pommon  retreats  of  the 
mendicant,  which  imparts  an  exquisite  force  and  beauty  to  a 
passage  in  the  .song  of  Hannah  :  "  He  raiseth  up  the  poor  out  of 
the  dust,  and  liftcth  the  beggar  from  the  dunghill,  to  set  them 
among  princes,  and  to  make  them  inherit  the  throne  of  glory." 
The  change  in  the  circumstances  of  that  excellent  woman  she 
reckoned  as  great  (and  it  was  to  her  not  less  unexpected)  as  the 
elevation  of  a  poor  despised  beggar  from  a  nauseous  and  pol- 
luting dunghill,  rendered  tenfold  more  fu3tid  by  the  intense  heat 
of  an  Oriental  sun,  to  one  of  the  highest  and  most  splendid 
stations  on  earth.'' 

13—16.  (13)  for  the  sins,  etc.,  Je.  v.  31,  xxiii.  21."  shed 
.  .just,  Je.  xxvi.  7 — 24.*  (14)  with  blood,  by  coming  into 
contact  with  the  many  slain  in  the  streets,  could  not  touch, 
for  fear  of  defilement.  (15)  they  cried,  i.e.  men  generally,  even 
the  heathen,  cried  against  these  polluted  fugitives,  and  would  not 
let  them  settle  amongst  them.  (IG)  anger,  lit.  the  face,  they 
respected,  men  generally  in  the  countries  sought  as  asylums  by 
the  outlawed  priests  and  elders. 

IJjI'ect  of  Jivnger. — I  leave  it  to  physicians  and  naturalists  to 
determine,  with  minute  exactness,  what  elfect  extreme  hunger 
produces  on  the  body,  particularly  as  to  colour.  It  is  sufficient 
for  me  to  remark,  that  the  modern  inhabitants  of  the  East 
suppose  it  occasions  an  approach  to  blackness,  as  the  ancient 
Jews  also  did.  "  Her  Nazarites,"  says  the  Prophet,  coniplaiuiug 
of  the  dreadful  want  of  food,  just  before  Jerusalem  was  taken 
by  Nebuchadnezzar,  "her  Nazarites  were  purer  than  snow,  they 
were  whiter  than  milk,  they  were  more  ruddy  in  body  than  rubies, 
their  polishing  was  of  sapphire.  Their  visage  is  blacker  than  a 
coal :  they  are  not  known  in  the  streets  :  their  skin  cleaveth  to 
their  bones  ;  it  is  withered,  it  is  become  like  a  stick."  Lam.  iv. 
7,  8.  The  like  is  said,  ch.  v.  10  :  "  Our  skin  was  black  like  an 
oven,  because  of  the  terrible  famine."  The  same  representation 
of  its  effects  still  obtains  in  those  countries.  So  Sir  John  C'hardiu 
tells,  that  the  common  people  of  Persia,  to  express  the  sufferings 
of  Hossein,  a  grandson  of  their  prophet  Mohammed,  and  one  of 
their  most  illustrious  saints,  "v\iho  fled  into  the  deserts  before  hi3 
victorious  enemies,  that  pursued  him  ten  days  together,  and  at 
length  overtook  him,  ready  to  die  with  heat,  thirst,  and  fatigue, 
and  slew  him  with  a  multitude  of  wounds,  in  memory  of  which 
they  annually  observe  ten  days  with  great  solemnity  :  I  say  he 
tells  us,  that  the  common  people  then,  to  express  what  he  suf- 
fered, '•  appear  entirely  naked,  excepting  the  parts  modesty  re- 
quires to  be  covered,  and  blackened  all  over  ;  while  others  are 
stained  with  blood  ;  ot.hers  run  about  the  streets,  beating  two 
flint-stones  agamst  each  other,  their  tongues  hanging  out  of 
their  mouths  like  people  quite  exhaiisted,  and  behaving  like 
per.sons  in  des]iair,  crying  with  all  their  miuht,  Hossein.  etc. 
Those  that  coloiired  themselves  black,  intended  to  represent  the 
extremity  of  thirst  and  heat  which  Hossein  had  sufVered.  which 
was  BO  great,  they  say,  that  he  turned  black,  and  hid  ton^juQ 


Cap.  V.  1-5.1 


LAMENTATIONS  OF  JEREMIAH. 


225 


swelled  out  of  his  mouth.  Those  that  were  covered  with  blood, 
intended  to  represent  his  being  so  terribly  wounded,  as  that  all 
his  blood  had  issued  from  his  veins  before  he  died."  Here  we  see 
thirst,  want  of  food,  and  fatigue,  are  supposed  to  make  a  human 
body  look  black.  They  are  now  supposed  to  do  so  ;  as  they  were 
supposed  anciently  to  have  that  ett'ect.' 

17—20.  (17)  -watclied  .  .  nation,  even  the  Egj^rtians.'^  (18) 
they  .  .  steps,  referring-  to  the  missiles  of  the  besiegers,  whose 
engines  were  now  advanced  close  to  the  walls.''  (19)  pursued, 
any  of  the  inhabitants  who  tried  to  escape."^  (20)  hreatll  .  . 
nostrils,  Ge.  ii.  7.  anointed,  the  Jewish  term  for  the  king, 
taken  .  .  pits,  hunted  like  a  wild  beast. 

I'erseevtion. —  One  Palmer,  of  Eeading,  being  condemned  to 
die,  in  Queen  Mary's  time,  was  much  persuaded  to  recant,  and 
among  other  things  a  friend  said  to  him,  "Take  pity  on  thy 
golden  years  and  pleasant  flowers  of  youth,  before  it  be  too  late." 
His  reply  was  as  beautiful  as  it  was  conclusive,  "  Sir,  I  long  for 
those  springing  flowers  which  shall  never  fade  away."  When 
he  was  in  the  midst  of  the  flames  he  exhorted  his  companions 
to  constancy,  saying,  '•  'We  shall  not  end  our  lives  in  the  fire,  but 
make  a  change  for  a  better  life  ;  yea,  for  coals  we  shall  receive 
pearls."  Thus  do  we  clearly  see  that,  although  "if  in  this  life 
only  we  have  hope  in  Christ,  we  are  of  all  men  most  miserable," 
yet  the  prospect  of  a  better  and  enduring  substance  enables  us  to 
meet  all  the  trials  and  temptations  of  this  present  life  with  holy 
boldness  and  joy. 

21,  22.  (21)  rejoice,  this  call  to  an  enemy  of  God's  pcoj^le 
appears  to  be  konical.  "  Rejoice  while  thou  mayest.""  cup,  of 
Divine  judgment.  (22)  accomplislied,  carried  through,  and 
completed,  discover  tliy  sins,  bee.  the  evil  of  sin  is  shown 
in  God's  judgments  upon  it.* 

God's  discovery  of  mnn's  nins  (v.  22). — I.  It  is  a  vast  discovery. 
Think — 1.  Of  the  significance  of  each  separate  sin;  2.  Of  the 
number  of  each  man's  tins.  II.  It  is  a  terrible  discovery.  III. 
It  is  an  inevitable  discovery.  1.  Sometimes  made  here — Cain, 
Belshazzar,  Judas,  Felix  ;  2.  Is  certain  to  be  made  hereaf  ter.^ 

CHAPTER  THE  FIFTH. 

1 — 5.  (1)  reproach,  or  national  disgrace.  (2)  our  inherit- 
ance, Ps.  Ixxix.  l.«  aliens,  foreigners.  (13)  fatherless  .  . 
widows,  bee.  the  war  destroyed  so  many  of  the  men.  (4) 
water  for  money,  no  sign  of  scarcity  could  be  more  forcible 
than  this, — even  water  must  be  paid  for.*  wood,  necessary  for 
firing.     (5)  necks,  whereon  yokes  were  laid." 

}\'ood  for  fuel  {v.  i). — That  numbers  of  the  Israelites  had  no 
Wood  growing  on  their  own  lands,  for  their  burning,  must  be 
imagined  from  the  openness  of  their  country.  It  is  certain,  the 
Eastern  villages  now  have  oftentimes  little  or  none  on  their 
premises  :  so  Russell  says,  that  inconsiderable  as  the  stream  that 
runs  at  Aleppo .  and  the  gardens  about  it,  may  appear,  they,  how- 
ever, contain  almost  the  only  trees  that  are  to  be  met  with  for 
twenty  or  thirty  miles  round,  "  for  the  villages  are  destitute  of 
trees,"  and  most  of  them  only  supplied  with  what  rainwater  they 
can  save  in   cisterns.     D'Arvieux  gives  us  to  understand  that 

vol..  IX.     0.T,  P 


a  Je.  viii.  20, 
xxxvii.        4—10, 

xlvi.  17. 

6  "  Towards  the 
eiul  of  the  siege 
tlie  towers  erect- 
ed b.v  the  enemy 
would  comiiiaud 
the  streets,  and 
such  spots  would 
be  avoided."— 
Spk.  Com. 

c  Comp.  Je.  lii. 
8,9. 

"  Whose  hearta 
are  ready  at  liu- 
niaiiity's  soft  call 
to  drop  the  tear." 
—  U'.  Mason. 


a  Comp.  Eoc.  xL 
9. 

b  "  He  will  dis- 
cover how  great 

thine  iniquities 
are,  by  the  re- 
markable judg- 
ments wherewith 
He  punisheth 
thee." — Loicth. 

c  Dr.  Thomas. 


a  Le.  XX.  24. 

b  "  Reference  is 

most  prob.  to  the 
sojourn  in  Baby- 
lon, where  one  of 
thehardslilpswas 
the  necessity  for 
pajiiig  a  tax  on 
water,  a  tax  for 
access  to  the 
rivers  and  foua- 
tains."' — Fausset. 

c  De.  xxviii.  48. 

"  Thy  heart  I3 
big  !  Get  the® 
apart  and  we^> 


228 


LAMENTATIONS  OF  JEREMIAH. 


[Cap.  V.  6—15. 


rassion  1  see  is 
ca telling;  for 
mine  cyt^s,  seeinj; 
those  U'luls  of 
sorri)\v  stand  in 
thine,  begin  to 
water."  —  tiJia'iie- 
spm  re. 

"  Unvalued  here 
such  tears  may 
fall ;  but  know, 
caoh  tear  will 
prove  a  preciou; 
jiearl  in  lieaven 
a  lio  ve.  "  —  Tiie 
Tiiumj'h  pf  Time. 

"  Ah !  bitter  chill 
it  was;  the  owl, 
for  all  his  fea- 
thers, was  a-oolil; 
the  hare  limjj'd 
trembling 
through  the 
fro/.eu  grass,  and 
Bileut  was  the 
flock  in  woolly 
f»ld." — Keats. 

"  The  nunneries 
of  silent  nooks, 
the  murmur'd 
lon.Lring  of  the 
■wood." — Lowell. 

tL  Uai  mer. 


several  of  the  present  villages  of  the  Holy  Land  are  in  the  same 
situation  ;  lor,  observiDg  that  the  Arabs  burn  cow-duug  in  their 
encampments,  ho  adds  that  all  the  villagers  v,'\\o  live  in  places 
where  there  is  a  scarcity  of  wood  take  great  care  to  provide 
themselves  with  sullicient  quantities  of  this  kind  of  fuel.  This 
is  a  circumstauce  1  have  elsewhere  taken  notice  of.  The  Holy 
Laud  appears,  by  the  last  observations,  to  hav3  been  as  little 
wooded  anciently  as  at  present ;  nevertheless,  the  Israelites  seem 
to  have  burnt  wood  very  commonly,  and  without  buying  it  too, 
from  what  the  Prophet  says.  Lam.  v.  4.  Had  they  been  wont  to 
buy  their  fuel,  they  would  not  have  comphiincd  of  it  as  such  a 
hardsliip.  The  true  account  of  it  seems  to  be  this  :  The  woods 
of  the  laud  of  Israel  being  from  very  ancient  times  common,  the 
people  of  the  villages,  which,  like  those  about  Alep]jo,  had  no 
trees  growing  in  them,  supplied  themselves  with  fuel  out  of 
these  wooded  places,  of  which  there  were  many  anciently,  and 
several  that  still  remain.  This  liberty  of  taking  wood  in  com- 
mon, the  Jews  supposa  to  have  been  a  constitution  of  Joshua,  of 
which  they  give  us  ten  ;  the  first,  giviug  libcdy  to  an  Israelite 
to  feed  his  llock  in  the  woods  of  any  tribe  :  the  second,  that  it 
should  be  free  to  lake  wood  iu  the  fields  anywhere.  But  though 
this  was  the  ancient  custom  in  Judasa,  it  was  not  so  in  the 
country  into  which  they  were  carried  captives  ;  or  if  this  text  of 
Jeremiah  respects  those  that  continued  in  their  own  country  for 
awhile  under  Gedaliah,  as  the  ninth  verse  insinuates,  it  signifies 
that  their  conquerors  possessed  themselves  of  these  woods,  and 
would  allow  no  fuel  to  be  cut  down  without  leave,  and  that  leave 
was  not  to  be  obtained  without  money.  It  is  certain  that  pre- 
sently after  the  return  from  the  captivity  timber  was  not  to  be 
cut  without  leave,  Neh.  ii.  S."* 

6—10.  (6)  given  the  hand,  as  a  pledge  of  fidelity  ;  sub- 
mitted ourselves,  with  iDread,  i.e.  to  get  mere  food  to  keep  us 
alive.  (7)  our  .  .  not,  Je.  xxxi.  29  ;  Eze.  xviii.  2.  (8) 
servants  have  rviled,  Neh.  v.  15.  (9)  sword  . .  wilderness, 
fig.  for  the  perils  from  the  Arabs,     (10)  black,  ch.  iv.  8. 

Danger  man  ^'^  near  n-hen  ire  least  expect  it. — The  Rev.  John 
Newton  sometimes  said  he  had  received  more  damage  at  his  own 
door  than  in  all  the  countries  he  had  been  in  abroa<l  ;  for  he  had 
twice  fallen  down  the  steps  at  his  own  door,  each  time  spraining 
a  knee.  So  much  injury  he  had  never  received  abroad.  Such  a 
gull;  of  despair,  j  f  j^qJ;  shows  clearly  the  necessity  of  our  always  living  as  if  exposed 
so"ieaSary^that !  ^^  danger,  and  thus  committing  ourselves  to  the  Divine  pro- 
we  cannot  be  \  tection. — Life  full  of  da/iffn-n. — I  sometimes  think  that  life  is  like 
without  it  a  day, )  the  experience  of  a  man  that  climbs  Alpine  glaciers.  His  life  is 
perpetually  threatened  by  deep  crevices  covered  with  snow,  steep 
declivities,  uneven  ledges,  and  impending  avalanches.  He  is 
met  by  dangers  at  every  step  ;  and  A\hen  the  ascent  is  accom- 
plished, he  can  count  twenty  places  where  he  might  have  been 
dashed  in  pieces  for  one  where  he  was  absol::tely  safe." 


"  Look  upon  any 
duty  or  grace, 
and  you  will  find 
it  lie  between 
Scylla  and  Cha- 
ry bdis,  two  ex- 
tremes alike  dan- 
gerous. Faith, 
the  great  work 
of  God,  outs  its 
way  between  the 
mountain  of  pre- 
Eumption  ami  the 


except  we  would 
be  all  that  while 
beside  ourselves) 
Iteeps  us  that  we 
foil  neither  into 
the  sleepy  apo- 
plexy of  a  block- 
ish stupidity,  nor 
into  a  raging  fit 
of  discontent." — 
Gnrmill. 
a  U.  ^V.  Deecher. 

a  "  Comp.  the 
boast  of  Scnna- 
eherib,  who  says 


11 — 15.  (11.12)  hanged . .  hand,  prob.  aft.  their  death,  to  ex- 
pose them  to  public  contumely."  {\?>)  grind,  the  house  hand-mill ; 
the  work  of  female  slaves,  under  the  wood,  i.e.  under  the 
heavy  burdens  of  wood  which  they  were  compelled  to  fetch  and 
carry.  (14)  ceased  .  .  gate,  from  attending  as  magistrates. 
(15)  dance,  the  sign  of  cheerfulness. 


Cap.  V.  16-22,] 


LAMENTATIONS  OF  JEREillAH. 


227 


Hanging  hy  the  Jiand  (i\  12). — No  i^unishment  is  more  common  | 
than  this  in  the  East,  c.^pecialiy  for  slaves  and  refractory  children.  | 
Thus,  h.as  a  master  an  obstinate  slave  ;  has  he  committed  some  \ 
great  oifence  with  his  hands  ;  several  men  are  called,  who  tie  I 
tlie  offender's  hands,  and  hoist  him  to  the  roof,  till  he  beg  for  ■ 
forgiveness.  Schoolboys  who  are  in  the  habit  of  playing  truant  { 
are  also  thus  punished.  To  tell  a  man  you  will  hang  him  by  the 
hands,  is  extremely  provoking.  See,  then,  the  lamentable  con- 
dition of  the  princes  in  Babylon ;  they  were  "  hanged  up  by  their  | 
hands  "  as  common  slaves.'' 

16—18.  (IG)  crown,  fig.  for  the  glory  of  the  nation.     (17) 
this,  our  calamity  rather  than  our  sin.     (18)  foxes,  or  jackals, 
creatures  that  frequent  desolated  cities,  and  live  among  ruins." 
On  a  tea?: — 

Oh.  that  the  chemist's  magic  art 
Could  crystallise  this  sacred  treasure  I 
Long  should  it  glitter  near  my  heart, 
A  secret  source  of  pensive  pleasure. 

The  little  brilliant,  ere  it  fell. 
Its  lustre  caught  from  Chloe's  eye  ; 
Then,  trembling,  left  its  coral  cell — 
The  spring  of  sensibility  ! 

Sweet  drop  of  pure  and  pearly  light, 
In  thee  the  rays  of  ^'irtue  shine 
IMore  calmly  clear,  more  mildly  bright, 
Than  any  gem  that  gilds  the  n\ice. 

Benign  restorer  of  tlie  soul ! 
Who  ever  iliest  to  bring  relief, 
When  fii'st  we  feel  the  rude  control 
Of  love  or  pity,  joy  or  grief. 

The  sage's  and  the  poet's  theme, 
In  every  clime,  in  every  age  ; 
Thou  charm 'st  in  fancy's  idle  dream, 
In  reason's  philosophic  page. 

That  very  law  which  moulds  a  tear, 
And  bids  it  trickle  from  its  source. 
That  law  preserves  the  earth  a  sphere, 
And  guides  the  planets  in  their  course.* 
19—22.  (]9)  remainest,  etc.,  Ps.  ix.  7."     (20)  for  ever, 
ewij).  the  next  sentence, /<<?•  so  long  time.     (21)   turn  US,  Je. 
xxxi.  18.     (22)  tliou  ha'st,  better, /w  wilt  Thou?    "  Wouldst 
Thou  utterly  reject  us  ? " 

Genninc  conrcrsion  (r.  21).— The  text  teaches  that — 1.  It  is  a 
turning  of  tlie  soul  to  the  Lord,  not  to  creeds,  not  to  churches  ; 
2.  It  is  a  turaing  of  the  soul  to  the  Lord,  by  the  Lord ;  no  one 
can  turn  the  human  soal  to  God  but  Himself.* 
Various  fears. — • 

There  is  a  tear  that  spots  the  cheek. 

And  speaks  more  than  tlie  tongue  can  speak. 

In  words  without  a  name. 
That  tells  of  many  a  pang  within, 
Of  many  a  foul  aud  deadly  sin — 
It  is  the  tear  of  shame. 


of  the  people  of 
Ekron, -The  chief 
pric-sts  and  noble- 
men I  put  to 
death,  on  stakes 
■t',1  nmnd  the  city 
I  hung  their 
bodies;  thepeople 
of  the  city  with 
their  wives  I 
gave  to  slavery." 
—SpL:  Com. 
b  lioberts. 

a  "  They  were 
prob.  first  at- 
tracted thither 
by  the  bodies  of 
the  slain,  of 
which  they  are 
particularly 
fond."  —  Uender- 


p.  16.  "Has  a 
man  lost  his  pro- 
perty,  his  honour, 
his  beauty,  or  his 
happiness,  he 
says,  '  My  crowu 
has  fallen ; '  does 
a  father  or  grand- 
father reprove 
liis  sons  for  bad 
conduct,  he  asks, 
•  Has  my  crow  a 
fallen  ?'"  —  AV- 
berts. 

"  From  these 
pearly  eyes 
should  there  fall 
down  more  tears 
of  penitence  than 
the  clouds  drop  tu 
purcliase  a' new 
spring,  I  could 
not  be  forgiven." 
-Old  Play,  Mule- 
asses. 

b  Samuel  Rogers. 

a  Ps.   xxix.    10, 

cii.  12,  cxlv.  13. 
b  Dr.  Thomas.  < 
"  Our  only  hope 
is  in  the  eternity 
and  unchange- 
ableness  of  Tliy 
nature ;  and  that 
'i'hou  still  gO' 
vcrnest  the 
world,  and  order- 
est  all  the  e  rents 
of  it ;  whereby 
Thou  art  always 
able  to  help  us, 
and  art  never 
forgetful  of  the 
promises  whicU 
XUou  hast  mads 


228 


lASIEXTATIOyS  OF  JEREilTAH. 


[Cap.  V.  19— 2a 


to  Tliy  people." 
—Low  I  It. 

"  TliR  tnar  down 
cliiUlhood's  cheek 
that  tluws,  is 
like  the  dewilrop 
oil  the  rose ; 
when  next  the 
Buiniucr  breezo 
comes  by,  and 
Avaves  the  busli, 
the  flower  is 
ATy."—i>ir]Viilter 
Scott. 

A  maniac,  while 
listening  to  a 
thrilUng  recital, 
was  moved  to 
tears.  Lifting' 
her  w  i  t  li  e  r  e  d 
finger,  slie  ex- 
claimed, "Do  you 
see  tliat  tear  ? 
It  is  the  first 
tear  that  I  have 
shed  for  seven  ] 
years ;  and  it  will 
relieve  my  poor 
burning  liea'l.  I 
h  ave  often 
wislied  tliat  I 
couM  weep  ;  but 
I  could  not." 

"  Of  nature's 
tears  I  woulil  not 
rob  tliee :  they 
invigorate  vir- 
tue, soften  at 
once,  and  fortify 
the  heart ;  but 
when  tliey  rise 
to  speak  this  de- 
sperate language, 
thej'  then  grow 
tears  of  weak- 
ness."— Thomson. 

«  Qiunler, 


There  is  n,  tear  that  through  the  soul 

Causes  compassion's  tide  to  roll 
In  full  but  placid  How, 

I'hat  shows  the  holy  maxim  true 

How  man  is  bom  his  guilt  to  rue- 
It  is  tlie  tear  of  woe. 

There  is  a  tear  whose  mute  appeals 
Tell  all  the  conscious  bosom  feels, 

With  thrilling  eloquence. 
That  wrings  the  sympathetic  s^gh 
Where  ne"er  a  drop  had  dimm'd  the  eye— 

The  tear  of  penitence. 

There  is  a  tear  that  trickles  still, 

Announcing  all  the  worst  of  ill, 
Too  bitter  for  relief, 

That  when  by  some  dire  mis'ry  curst, 

Swells  the  stretch'd  heart-strings  till  they  burst- 
It  is  the  tear  of  grief. 

There  is  a  tear  that  dims  the  eye, 

When  answer'd  by  the  stifled  sigh. 
That  i<i3eaks  of  woe  within, 

Ploughing  a  channel  down  the  face 

As  if  were  there  its  resting-place- 
It  is  the  tear  of  sin. 

There  is  a  tear  that  fiercely  starts, 
And  to  the  haughty  eye  imparta 

A  glance,  by  guilt  sujaplied, 
That  falls  not  o'er  the  moisten'd  lid— • 
To  flow  by  fierce  disdain  forbid — 

It  is  the  tear  of  pride. 

But  there's  a  tear  that  gently  flowB, 
And,  like  the  dewdrop  on  the  rose, 

Refreshes  all  things  near — • 
In  which  the  sky  of  purest  blue 
Keflects  its  own  celestial  hua— 

It  is  religion's  tear.o 


THE  BOOK  OF  EZEKIEL. 


I.  Autlior.  EZEKIEL  (God  n-'dl  strengthen,  or  pjrrail)  the  son  of  Bnzi,  was, 
like  Jeremiah,  a  priest  as  well  as  a  prophet ;  "  but  with  the  priestly  character 
more  largely  developed,  and  also  oue  step  farther  removed  from  ihe  ancient 
I'rophets,  inasmuch  as  he  is  the  first  in  whom  the  author  and  the  writer 
entirely  preponderates  over  the  seer,  the  poet,  and  the  statesman  "  {Sfanhy). 
Carried  captive  with  Jehoiakim  by  Nebuchadnezzar.  B.C.  r/.)i»,  eleven  years 
before  the  destr.  of  Jerus.  11.  Time,  B.C.  5;j5 — .574.  Place.  All  his  prophecies 
were  delivered  in  Chaldiea,  on  the  river  Chebar  (Khabiu-).  which  falls  into  the 
Euphrates  at  Carchemish,  about  2U0  miles  north  of  Babylon.  Here  he  resided 
(i.  1,  viii.  1),  and  here  his  wife  died  fxxiv.  18).  Tradition  says  that  he  was  put 
to  death  by  one  of  his  fellow  exiles,  a  leader  among  them  whose  idolatries  he 
had  rebuked  :  and  in  the  middle  ages  what  was  called  his  tomb  was  shown, 
not  far  from  Bagdad.  111.  Characteristics.  His  writings  show  remarkable 
vigour,  and  he  was  evidently  well  fitted  to  oppose  ''  the  people  of  stubborn 
front  and  hard  heart "  to  whom  he  was  sent.  His  characteristic,  however,  was 
tho  subordination  of  his  whole  life  to  his  work.  He  ever  thinks  and  feels  as 
the  prophet.  In  this  respect  his  writings  contrast  remarkably  with  those  of 
his  contemporary,  Jeremiah,  whose  personal  history  and  feelings  are  frequently 
recorded.  IV.  Canonicity.  Until  recently  the  prophecies  of  Ezekiel  have 
always  been  acknowledged  as  canonical,  nor  was  it  ever  disputed  that  he  was 
their  author.  The  Jews,  indeed,  say  that  the  Sanhedrim  deliberated  for  a  long 
time  whether  his  book  should  form  pai-t  of  the  sacred  canon.  They  objected 
to  the  great  obscurity  at  the  beginning  and  end  of  his  prophecy,  and  to  what 
he  says  in  xviii.  20,  which,  they  urged,  was  contrary  to  Moses  (Exod.  xx.  n). 
But  it  is  worthy  of  remark  that  Closes  himself  says  the  same  thing  as  Ezekiel 
(Deut.  xxiv.  l(j)  {Calmct).  V.  General  subject.  The  central  point  of  his 
predictions  is  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem.  They  were  d3livered  partly  before 
and  partly  after  that  event.  Before  that  event  his  chief  object  w^as  to  Ccvll  to 
repentance  those  living  in  careless  security,  and  to  assure  them  that  the 
■destruction  of  their  city  and  temple  was  inevitably  and  fast  approaching. 
■After  this  event  his  principal  care  was  to  console  the  exiled  Jews  by  promises 
of  future  deliverance  and  restoration  to  their  own  land,  and  to  encourage 
them  by  assurances  of  future  blessings  (Angus). 


Snnnpsb. 


(^According  to  ITengstenherg.') 

The  First  Cycle  i.— vii. 

The  Second  Cycle viii.— xi.\-. 

The  Third  Cycle xx.— .-^.xiii. 

The  Fourth  Cycle x.xiv. 

Foreign  Nations   xxv.— xx.xii. 

"Words  of  Comfort    xxiii.  21— xxxix. 

The  Restoration xl.— xlviii. 

(Accorditig  to  Litton.') 

I.  Relating-    to    the    destruction    of 

Jerusalem.     Ezekiel's  call    (i.— iii.). 


Symbolical  representations  of  sie.G'e  .ind 
capture  of  Jerusnlem  Civ. — vii.).  Vision 
of  Jerus.ilem,  exliibitiiig  the  idolatry  of 
tlie  people  (viii. — xi.).  Reproofs  and 
■warnings  aildressrd  to  conlemporaries 
fxii. — xix.).  Another  series,  warning  of 
the  approaching  calamity  (xx.— xxiii.). 
Announcement  of  the  comnioncenient 
of  (he  siege  by  the  King  of  Babylon 
(xxiv.). 

II.  Relating  to  heathen  nations  (xxv. — 

xxxii.). 

III.  Relating:  to  the  rp'^toration  of  the 

Jews  (xxxiii.- xlviii.). 


The   Book   is  divided   by   Havernick   into   nine   sections,  and   it  seems 
probable  that  the  arrangement  was  made  by  Ezekiel  himself  (Angus). 


Cap.  i.  1-3.] 


EZEKIEL. 


231 


CHAPTER  THE  FIRST. 

1 — 3.  Cl)  now  it  came,  better,  "and  it  came."  A  discourse 
in  Htbrcw  is  usually  b?g'un  with  the  particle  vaa  or  a  ml. 
thirtietll  year,  this  was  the  age  at  which  Levites  were  called 
to  their  office."  Ezekiel  was  a  priest,  v.  3.  captives,  or  people 
of  the  cairtivitj'.  Chebar,''  the  same  as  Chabor,  2  Ki.  xvii.  (i  ;  1 
Chr.  V.  20.  visions  of  God,  sublime,  mysterious,  majestic 
visions.  (2)  Jehoiacliin's  captivity,  2  Ki.  xxiv.  12.  (3j 
expressly,  a  "  phrase  marking  strongly  that  it  was  in  truth  a 
heaven-sent  vision.''  Ezekiel,  Heb.  Jchrzhrl.  hand  .  .  llim, 
indicating  that  he  felt  sensible  impressions  of  Gods  joower  rest- 
ing upon  him.'' 

Tlir.  Divine  government  of  the  world  (i'.  1). — Note  the  subject, 
period,  scene,  and  purpose  of  this  vision.  I.  The  subordinate 
agencies  of  the  Divine  government.  1.  Here  is  the  intelligent : 
2.  The  uou-intelligent.  II.  The  leading  features  of  the  Divine 
government.  1.  The  idea  of  vastness  ;  2.  Of  complication  ;  3. 
Of  intelligence  ;  4.  Of  progressiveness  ;  5.  Of  harmony.  III. 
The  wonderful  Head  of  the  Divine  government.'' 

Tltc  river  llivhar  {v.  1). — '"The  Khabour  flows  through  the 
richest  pastures  and  meadows.  Its  banks  were  now  covered  with 
flowers  of  every  hue,  and  its  windings  through  the  green  plain 
were  like  the  coils  of  a  mighty  serpent.  An  uncontrollable 
emotion  of  joy  seized  all  our  party  when  they  saw  the  end  of 
their  journey  before  them.  The  horsemen  urged  their  horses  to 
full  speed  ;  the  Jebours  danced  in  a  circle,  raised  their  coloured 
kerchiefs  on  their  spears,  and  shouted  their  war-cry  :  the  Tizari 
sang  their  mountain  songs  and  fired  their  muskets  into  the  air. 
Trees  in  full  leaf  lined  the  water's  edge.  We  rode  through  a 
mass  of  flowers,  reaching  high  above  the  horses'  knees,  and  such 
r  I  had  never  before  seen,  even  in  the  most  fertile  parts  of 
the  ]\Iesopotamian  wilderness.  We  had  passed  several  tels  and 
the  double  banks  of  ancient  canals,  showing  that  we  were  still 
amidst  the  remains  of  ancient  civilisation.  Flocks  of  sheep  and 
herds  of  camels  were  spread  over  the  meadows  on  both  sides  of 
the  river.  On  the  morning  after  our  arrival  we  crossed  the 
Khabour  on  a  small  raft,  and  pitched  our  tents  on  its  northern 
bank,  near  the  ruins  of  Arban,  which  consist  of  a  large  artificial 
mound  of  irregular  shape,  washed  by  the  river.  From  the  tojj  of 
the  mound  the  eye  ranged  over  a  level  country  bright  with 
flowers,  and  spotted  with  black  tents,  and  inmimerable  flocks  of 
sheep  and  camels.  During  our  stay  at  Arban  the  colour  of  these 
great  plains  was  undergoing  a  continual  change.  After  being 
for  some  days  of  a  golden  yellow,  a  new  family  of  flowers  would 
spring  up.  and  it  would  turn  almost  in  a  night  to  a  bright  scarlet, 
which  would  again  as  suddenly  give  way  to  the  deepest  blue. 
Then  the  meadows  would  be  mottled  with  various  hues,  or  would 
put  on  the  emerald  green  of  the  most  luxuriant  of  i^astures. 
The  glowing  descriptions  I  had  so  f requentlj^  received  from  the 
Bedouins  of  the  beauty  and  fertility  of  the  banks  of  the  Khabour 
were  more  than  realised.  The  Arabs  boast  that  its  meadows 
bear  three  distinct  crops  of  grass  during  the  year,  and  the 
wandering  tribes  look  upon  its  wooded  banks  and  constant  green 


a  Nu.  iv.  23,  30. 

These  30  years 
are  ve.rifuifly 
reckoned.  They 
seem  to  refer  to 
the  Propliet's 
own  age.  Viher, 
and  other  learned 
men,reckontliein 
from  the  thne 
when  Josiah  ami 
all  the  people  of 
Juilah  entered 
into  the  solemn 
covenant,  2  Ki. 
xxii.  3.  From 
ihis  time  the  40 
years  of  Judah's 
transgres  sion 
may  be  reckoned: 
see  Eze.  iv.  6. 

6  "  It  flows  into 
the  Euphrates 
nearCarchemifh, 
or  Circesinm.  2U0 
mi'.es  N.  of  Baby- 

c  1  E.  xviii.  46. 

V.  1.  A.  Fuller, 
516;  F.  D.  Mau- 
rice, Pro.  and 
Kgs.  432. 

d  Dr.  Thomas. 

'•  While  we  view, 
amid  the  noon- 
tiile  walk,  a 
limpid  rill  giish 
tlirongh  the 

tickUiig  herbage, 
to  the  thirst  of 
summer  yielding 
the  delicious 

draught  of  cool 
refreshment:  o'er 
the  mossy  brink 
shines  not  tlie 
surface  clearer, 
and  the  waves 
with  sweeter 
music  murmur 
as  they  flow?"^ 
Akeiiside. 

"The  river  Tlhine, 
it  is  well  known, 
doth  wasli  your 
city  of  Cologr.e  ; 
but  tell  mo, 
nymphs,  what 
powers  divina 
shall  henceforth 
wash  the  river 
Rliine?"  — CWe- 
ridye. 


232 


EZEKIEL 


[Oap.  1. 4-14. 


a  Ps.  Iviii.  9; 
comp.  Is.  xxi.  1 ; 
Je.  xxiii.  19,  xx7. 
32. 

b  Spk.  Com. 

e  The  word  used 
may  also  be  trans. 
"  polished  brass." 
LXX.  and  Vahj. 
render  it  by  elec- 
trum,  a  com- 
pound of  gold 
and  silver. 

d  "  Ezekiel  was 
living  in  a 
country  on  the 
walls  of  whose 
temples  and  pa- 
laces were  those 
strange  mixed 
figures,  human 
heads  with  the 
bodies  of  lions 
and  the  feet  of 
calves,  and  the 
like,  wh.  we  see 
in  the  Babyloni- 
an and  Assyrian 
monuments.  .  .  . 
The  Prophet  is 
not  constructing 
liis  cherubim  in 
imitation  of  these 
figures;  the  Spirit 
of  God  is  reveal- 
ing forms  corre- 
sponding to  the 
general  rules  of 
Eastern  symbol- 
ism."— Spk.  Com. 
vr.  4—14.  J.  Sor- 
taiii,  292. 
V.  5.  J.  Sawin, 
Vii.  262. 

*  U.  A".  Thomas. 
/  Jtiish. 
g  Ibid. 

a  "Incessant  rest- 
Jess  motion  indi- 
cates the  pleni- 
tude of  life  in 
these  cherubim. 
Comp.  Ue.  iv.  8." 
—  Fausset. 

e>.  12.  Dr.  J.  Flet- 
cher, iii.  391. 

"One  design  of 
their  having  four 
faces  was,  that 
they  might  tro 
directly  forward 
towards  cither  of 


Bward  as  a  paradise  during  the  summer  months,  where  man  can 
enjoy  a  cool  s^hade,  and  beast  can  find  fresh  and  tender  herbs, 
whilst  all  around  is  yellow,  parched,  and  sapless." 

4—9.  (4)  ■whirlwind,"  one  of  the  mightiest  of  Eastern 
destructive  agencies,  the  north,  wh.  was  lelt  by  the  Jews  to 
be  the  peculiar  seat  of  the  power  of  Jehovah.*  infolding 
itself,  or  lying  in  wreaths  ;  moving  round  so  as  to  form  a  circle 
of  light,  colour,  or  appearance  ;  lit.  cije  of.  amber,  conq). 
the  sunset  colour  just  before  the  crimson  flush. "^  (."))  four  .  . 
creatures,  see  Re.  iv.  G.  of  a  man,  i.e..  they  were  erect.  (0) 
four  faces,  v.  10.  (7;  straight  feet,  i.e.  like  a  man's  leg, 
without  the  middle  joint  which  four-footed  beasts  have,  sole  .  . 
feet,  the  foot  proper  was  shaped  as  a  calfs,  indicating  solid, 
firm  treading.  (8)  hands  .  .  wings,  i.e.  hands  under  each  of 
the  wings.  (9)  joined,  i.e.  in  flying,  one  wing  of  one  creature 
touched  the  wing  of  the  nexf 

The  preparatory  rlnion  for  trve  in'opliets  {v.  4). — ^Note — I. 
What  is  local  and  temporary  in  this  vision.  1.  The  peculiar 
sources  of  impression  and  instruction  for  the  Prophet.  II.  The 
revelation  of  God's  dealings  with  the  Jews.  Here  we  are  taught 
— 1.  The  Divine  dealings  would  be  marked  by  majesty  of  thought, 
by  God"s  mode  of  manifesting  Himself,  by  the  agency  of  God's 
command.  Note — II.  What  is  iiniver.sal  and  permanent  in  this 
vision.  1.  That  Divine  providence  j)ossesses  .stupendous  machinery ; 
2.  That  Divine  providence  has  ever  a  moral  aim  in  the  use  of  its 
stupendous  machinery  ;  it  teaches  that  all  the  mighty  agencies  of 
God  are  against  evil,  that  with  the  Divine  majesty  of  retribution 
there  is  also  the  majesty  of  mercy.' 

A  .ttraiglit  foot  (r.  7). — Heb.  "  their  feet  was  a  straight  foot." 
By  foot  here  is  meant  the  lower  part  of  the  legs,  including  the 
ankles.  As  the  human  foot  is  formed,  motion  of  the  body  in 
any  particular  direction  requires  the  foot  to  be  turned  in  that 
direction.  The  form  here  mentioned  precludes  that  necessity, 
which  is  doubtless  the  reason  of  its  being  assigned  them.-' — • 
Wing.i  and  face.'!  {v.  9). — The  reader  must  imagine  such  a  relative 
position  of  the  living  creatures,  preserving  the  form  of  a  square, 
that  to  the  eye  of  a  spectator  the  different  faces  would  be  pre- 
sented as  here  described,  for  the  Prophet  could  not  see  the  four 
faces  of  each  at  once.  Suppose  two  of  the  living  creatures  on  a 
right  line  in  front,  and  two  on  each  side  of  the  line,  equidistant 
from  it,  and  the  faces  can  be  easily  arranged  so  as  to  conform  u) 
the  description.? 

10—14.  (10)  likeness,  or  the  things  wh.  their  faces  resem- 
bled. The  human  face  was  the  i^rominent  one.  the  lion  face  was 
on  the  right  side,  the  ox  face  on  the  left,  and  at  the  back  the 
eagle  face.  This  gives  the  four-square  figure.  (11)  stretched 
upward,  this  was  the  attitude  when  the  figure  stood,  joined, 
so  as  to  fold  over  and  shadow  the  faces.  Comp.  Is.  vi.  2.  (12) 
straight  forward,  bee.  they  never  needed  to  turn  themselves 
round,  seeing  that,  whichever  way  they  Avent,  they  had  a  face 
looking  that  way.  spirit  .  .  go,  whichever  way  the  inward 
impulse  con.straincd  them.  "One  spirit  of  one  conscious  life 
guided  all  the  motions  in  perfect  harmony."  (13)  appearance, 
was  burnished  and  bright,  like  flame.  (11)  lightning,  flashing 
suddenly  to  and  fro,<» 


Cap.  i.  15-25.] 


EZEKIEL. 


233 


The  nature  of  angels  (v.  10). — 1.  Their  origin  ;  2.  Their  appear- 
ance ;  3.  Their  spirituality  ;  4.  Their  purity  ;  5.  Their  love  ;  G. 
Their  humility  ;  7.  Their  t^iihere  of  action  ;  8.  Their  fellowship  ; 
9.  Their  subjection ;  10.  This  vision  of  celestial  glory  exhibits 
to  us  the  Son  of  man — the  Sou  of  God  as  covered  with  sur[Dassiug 
dignity,  and  as  demonstrating,  by  His  sovereign  command  of  all 
the  ministers  of  light,  what  power  and  authority  He  has  to 
clothe  whomsoever  He  pleases  with  whatsoever  commissions,  and 
to  insist  upon  there  being  surrendered  to  Him  all  accounts  of 
conduct  tliat  may  be  perfoi-med  in  any  world.'' 

15 — 18.  (15)  one  wheel,  i.e.  one  wheel  to  each  of  the  living 
creatures.  It  was  set  beneath  their  feet,  and  arranged  to  fit 
exactly  the  motion  of  the  creatures.  (10)  work,  or  make,  con- 
struction, wheel  .  .  wheel,  '•  each  wheel  was  composed  of  two 
circles,  cutting  one  anoiher  at  right  angles,  one  only  of  wh. 
appeared  to  touch  the  ground,  according  to  the  direction  the 
cherubim  desired  to  move  in." "  (17)  turned,  not,  ic.  they 
never  returned,  or  went  backward.  (18)  rings,  or  felloes,  the 
circumferences  of  the  wheels,  full  of  eyes,  symbolising  the 
*'  plenitude  of  intelligent  life." 

The  n-/iee!s. — From  all  that  we  can  gather  of  the  fonn  of  these 
•wheels,  they  appear  to  have  been  spherical,  or  each  composed  of 
two  of  equal  size,  and  inserted,  the  rim  cf  the  one  into  that  of 
the  other  at  right  angles,  and  so  consisting  of  four  equal  jiarts 
or  half  circles.  They  were  accordingly  adapted  to  run  either 
forward  or  backward,  to  the  right  hand  or  the  left,  without  any 
lateral  turuiug  ;  and  by  this  means  their  motion  corresponded 
■with  that  of  the  four  faces  of  the  living  creatures  to  which  they 
were  attached.  ""^Vhen  they  went  upon  their  four  sides,  tliey 
turned  not  as  they  went ;"  Kcb.  '■'Wiien  they  went,  they  went 
upon  the  quarter-part  of  their  fourfolduess,"  i.e.  upon,  or  in  the 
direction  of.  one  of  the  four  vertical  semicircles  into  Mhich  they 
were  divided,  and  which  looked  towards  the  four  points  of  the 
compass.  "\\  hen  it  is  said,  "  they  turned  not,"  it  is  not  to  be 
understood  that  they  had  not  a  revolving  or  rotary  motion,  but 
that  they,  like  the  faces,,  never  forsook  a  straightforward 
course.* 

19—21.  (19)  went  "by  them,  or  along  with  them.  (20) 
spirit .  .  go,  V.  12.  (21)  in  the  wheels,  or  in  each  wheel. 
"  One  and  the  same  spirit  actuated  the  living  creatures  through- 
out, wheels  and  all."" 

Vi.\ii>n.<tfroi)i  God. — Vi.sions  from  God,  generally.  It  is  true  of 
them  all  that  they  arc — 1.  Mental,  hence  most  real,  most  impres- 
sive, memorable;  2.  Symbolic  ;  3.  Conjunctive  :  the  Book  of  the 
Prophet  Ezekiel  begins  Mith  the  word  "and  :"  true  visions  are 
often  products  of  wRat  has  preceded  them,  and  causes  that  by 
impulse  and  command  affect  coming  time ;  4.  Predictive  ;  5. 
Divine.* 

Note  nn  rv.  10,  20. — These  circumstances  are  doubtless  dwelt 
upon  with  peculiar  emphasis,  in  order  to  show  the  intimacy  of 
relation  and  harmony  of  action  subsisting  between  the  living 
creatures  and  the  wheels,  or  more  properly  between  the  things 
symbolically  represented  by  them." 

22—25.  (22)  npon  the  heads,  above  the  heads,  colour  .  . 
crystal,"  a  perfectly,  oppressively  clear  sky,  in  wh.  the  Divine 


the  four  cardinal 

poiuts  without 
turuijig  tlieir 
bodies." — Bush. 

b  a.  B.  Kidd. 


n  "As  it  were  one 
wheel  piit  across 
witliiu  another, 
like  two  circles 
ill  a  sphere,  cut- 
ting one  another 
at  right  angles, 
to  signify  the 
SI  ability  and  uiil- 
forinity  of  their 
motions,  and  the 
subserviency  of 
one  part  of  pro- 
vi deuce  to 
another,  "-iou-^A. 

V.  16.  W.  Strong, 
G57;  J.  Wesley, 
vii.  409.    • 

"  The  holy  power 
tliat  clothes  the 
senseless  e  rtU 
with  woods,  with 
fruits,  with 
flowers,  and 
verdant  plains, 
whose  bounteous 
hand  feeds  •  tlie 
whole  brute  crea- 
tion, knows  uU 
our  wants,  and 
lias  enough  to 
give  \\s."—Rowe, 

b  Hush. 

a  "  All  four  crea- 
tures together 
with  their  wheels 
are  here  called 
t/ie  liiinij  crea- 
/«/'p, because  they 
formeil  a  whole, 
one  in  motion, 
and  one  in  will, 
for  one  spirit  was 
in  them." — S^k, 
Com. 

b  U.  R.  Thotnat. 

c  Bush. 


a    "Such       a  ■ 
dazzles    the    sye 


234 


BZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  i.  26-28. 


wit.h  its  lustre." 
— /.utci/i. 

b  Job  xxxvii.  4, 
6  :  Ts.  xxix.  3,  4, 
fi ;  He.  .^  3. 

f"  From  an  Arab, 
root,  nieaninjj 
'  the  impf  tuims 
rusli  of  heavy 
raiii.' " — faussii. 

d  Vulg.  renders, 
"When  there  was 

a  voice  tliey 
stood  ill  an  atten- 
tive posture." 

«  Bush. 

«.  23.  "Tlie  wings 
therefore  of  the 
wliole  four  beiiijj 
in  contact  with 
each  otlier,  form- 
ed a  kind  of  cur- 
tain beneath  the 
incumbent  pave- 
ment, and  thus 
completed  the 
resemUance  to 
tlie  temple  bases, 
and  forming  in 
fact  a  niiifrnili- 
ceiit  living 
chariot." — Ibid. 

f  Ibid. 


a  Pa.  X.  5,  6 ;  Ee. 
L  14,  15. 

h  "  This  vision 
being  an  evident 
representation  of 
the  Word  that 
was  to  be  made 
flesh,  whose  in- 
carnation is  the 
foundation  of 
God's  covenant 
of  mercy  with 
mankinil,  a  rain- 
bow, the  symbol 
and  token  of 
mercy,  was  a  very 
fit  attendant  up- 
on that  glorious 
vision." — Loifth. 


c  Dr.  If.  Bonar. 


"  There  is  a  Di- 
vine truth  in 
the  opinion  that 
these  fourfold 
chnrubiin,  or 

living  creature?, 
represent        the  i 


plory  appeared  as  upon  the  throne.  (23)  covered  .  .  bodies, 
the  upper  wings  folding  over  their  heads,  the  lowvr  ones  shtulLug 
their  limbs.  (21)  noise,  rustling,  voice  .  .  Alraig'llty,  i.e, 
like  thunder.*  voice  Of  speech,  or  tumulc  :  perhaps  refeixing 
to  the  noise  of  .'itdnn."  (2.'i)  let  .  .  wings,  to  take  the  attitude 
of  waiting,  listening  for  Divine  commands.'' 

Kofc  on  r.  22. — Heb.  "As  for  the  likeness  upon  the  heads  of 
the  living  creatures,  it  was  that  of  an  exj  ansion  Btretched  over 
their  heads  above,  like  the  aspect  of  the  terrible  crj^stal."  This 
expansion  was  a  splendid  level  pavemoit  or  flooring,  of  a  crystal 
clearness,  and  resting  upon  the  heads  of  the  living  creatures,  as 
the  temple  lavers  rested  upon  the  four  cornerstays.  or  "  uuder- 
setters,"  of  their  bases.  The  resemblance  to  the  crystal  was  not 
in  colour,  but  in  transparency,  for  the  colour  was  like  that  of  a 
sap{)hire  stone,  or  the  cerulean  azure  of  the  real  firmament  of 
heaven.  This  is  evident  from  v.  2(5,  and  also  from  Ex.  xxiv.  9, 
10,  containing  an  evident  allusion  to  this  vision,  and  perhaps  the 
germ  of  it.  "  Then  went  up  Moses  and  Aaron.  Nadab  and  Abihu, 
and  seventy  of  the  elders  of  Israel  ;  and  they  saw  the  God  of 
Israel  :  and  there  was  under  Ilis  feet,  as  it  were,  a  paved  work  of 
a  sapphire-stone,  and,  as  it  were,  the  body  of  heaven  in  its  clear- 
ness.''—  r.  2J. — Heb.  "  And  there  was  a  voice — in  their  standing 
they  let  down  their  wings."  The  design  of  the  Prophet  seems 
to  be,  to  show  the  perfect  obsequiousness  of  the  living  creatures 
to  the  word  of  command  emanating  from  the  throne  above,  and 
directing  their  movements.  AVhen  the  word  was  given  to  move, 
their  wings  were  at  once  expanded,  the  resounding  din  was 
heard,  and  the  glorious  vehicle,  instinct  with  life,  rolled  on  in 
amazing  majesty.  Again,  when  the  coiinter  mandate  was  heard, 
they  in  an  instant  stayed  themselves  in  mid  career,  and  relaxed 
their  wings.-' 

26—28.  (26)  throne,  comjf.  Ex.  xxiv.  10.  The  throne 
appeared  as  if  made  of  light,  and  resembling  the  colours  and  the 
brightness  of  sapi^hire.  appearance  of  a  man,  surely  as  a 
foreshadowing  of  God's  manifestation  of  Himself  to  us  in  the 
person  of  the  Man  Christ  Jesus.  (27)  amber  .  .  fire,  these  appear 
to  be  the  sjaubols  of  Divine  vengeance.  "  Our  GJod  is  a  con- 
suming fire."  «  (28)  of  tlie  bow,  i.e.  spanning  the  scene  with 
one  splendid  arch.* 

The  gJorij  and  the  lore  (v.  28). — Mark  the  several  words  of  the 
text,  each  of  them  full  of  meaning.  I.  The  Lord,  Jehovah,  the 
Triune  God,  the  Messiah,  is  the  manifestation  or  revelation  of 
Godhead.  II.  The  glory,  Jehovah  the  Glorious  One,  to  Him  we 
ascribe  the  glory,  that  is.  all  infinite  perfection  and  excellence. 
III.  The  likeness,  word  same  as  in  Gen.  i.  2(5,  "  Christ  the  ])erfect 
likeness  of  God,"  the  express  image  of  His  person.  IV.  The 
appenrance,  the  vision,  visible  form,  otherwise  we  cannot  see 
"the  King  eternal,  immortal,  invisible."' 

Kotr  on  r.  27. — There  is  a  studied  indistinctness  in  the  image 
here  described,  yet  it  is  plain  that  a  human  form  is  intended  to 
be  shadowed  forth,  and  that  too  in  connection  with  the  splendour 
of  fire — a  usual  accompaniment  of  the  visible  manifestations  of 
the  Deity.  There  is  little  room  to  doubt,  therefore,  that  in  the 
augu.st  occupant  of  the  throne  we  are  to  recognise  the  Son  of 
God,  the  true  God  of  Israel,  anticipating,  in  this  emblematic 
manner,  His  manifestation  in  the  iiesh,  and  His  future  exaltation 


Cap.  iL  1-5.J 


EZEKIEL. 


235 


as  King  of  Zion,  riding  forth  in  the  chariot  of  the  Gospel.  Such 
was  the  vision  prtseutcd  to  the  view  of  the  Prophet  of  the  cap- 
tivity. A  more  magnificent  conception  can  scarcely  be  framed 
by  the  mind  of  man.  Indeed,  if  we  except  the  Apocalyptic  dis- 
closures of  '•  the  ^holy  city,  the  now  Jerusalem,  coming  down 
from  God  out  of  heaven,  prepared  as  a  bride  adorned  for  her 
husband,'  we  know  of  nothing  of  this  nature  in  the  whole  com- 
pass of  revelation  to  be  compared  with  it.  Let  the  reader  bring 
before  his  mind's  ej'C  the  four  living  creatures  of  majestic  size — 
so  posited,  and  with  their  wings  so  expanded  and  in  contact,  as 
to  form  a  hollow  square — the  v/hole  four  raised  above  the  earth, 
and  resting  ujdou  an  equal  number  of  spherical  wheels  compounded 
like  the  equator  and  meridian  circles  of  the  globe — their  heads, 
•with  the  quaternion  of  faces,  made  the  supporters  of  a  broad 
lucid  pavement,  clear  as  ci-ystal,  and  having  the  hue  of  the 
ethereal  vault — and  this  splendid  firmament  surmounted  by  the 
visible  Divine  Glory,  controlling  the  movements  of  the  living 
chariot — let  him  imagine  this  rolling  throne  moving  onward 
with  the  noise  of  mighty  thuudering's.  or  of  many  waters,  even 
"as  the  voice  of  the  Almighty  God  when  He  speaketh,"  while 
fiery  si^lendours  and  a  bright  rainbow  surround  the  Majesty 
above,  and  the  light  of  lamps,  burning  coals,  and  lightnings, 
glow  amid  the  living  creatures,  and  he  cannot  but  feel  that  the 
ordinary  creations  of  human  genius,  whether  of  poets  or  painters, 
present  nothing  worthy  to  be  placed  by  the  side  of  it/ 


CHAPTER  THE  SECOND. 

1—5.  (1)  son  of  man,«  a  term  applied  to  Ezekiel  80  times  : 
only  applied  otherwise  to  Daniel;*  and  our  Lord.  It  may  be 
used  to  put  Ezekiel  in  mind  of  his  frailty,  though  he  was  honoured 
with  such  sublime  visions.''  stand,  in  the  attitude  of  one 
listening  an^  ready  to  obey.  (2)  set  .  .  feet,  Da.  x.  11.  Comp. 
Eze.  i.  28.  {?>)  nation,  ileb.  goijhii,  the  word  applied  to  heathen 
nations,  and  used  to  intimate  that  the  Jews  had  outdone  the 
wickedness  of  the  heathen.  (-1)  impudent,  Heb.  hard  of  face. 
stifQiearted,  unwilling  to  yield  to  counsel  or  chastisement. 
(5;  rebellious  house, "^  Is.  xxx.  9. 

Comniixftion  r/irt'ii  to  ministers  (r.  4). — 1.  To  declare  God's  will ; 
2.  To  assert  His  authoiity  ;  3.  To  seek,  notwithstanding  all  our 
discouragements,  the  salvation  of  their  souls.  Learn  hence — 1. 
The  importance  of  the  ministry  ;  2.  The  duty  of  those  who  are 
ministered  unto.« 

Faithfulness  to  God  and  the  lihifj. — Bishop  Latimer  having  one 
day  preached  before  King  Henry  YIII.  a  sermon  which  displeased 
his  majesty,  he  was  ordered  to  preach  again  on  the  next  Sabbath, 
and  to  make  an  apolog.y  for  the  offence  he  had  given.  After 
reading  his  text,  the  l)ishop  thus  began  his  sermon  ■.—'■^  Hugh 
Latimer,  dost  thou  know  before  whom  thou  art  this  day  to  speak.'' 
To  the  high  and  mighty  monarch,  the  king's  most  excellent 
majestj^  who  can  take  away  thy  life  if  thou  offendest :  therefore, 
take  heed  that  thou  speakest  not  a  word  that  may  displease  :  but 
then  consider  well,  Hugh,  dost  thou  not  know  from  whence  thou 
comcst .'  upon  whose  message  thou  art  .sent  ?  Even  by  the  great 
and  mighty  God  1  who  is  all-present  1  and  who  beholdeth  aU  thy 


whole  glorified 
society  of  believ- 
ers, who  show 
forth  their  faith 
in  the  Gospel, 
ami  live  for  ever 
ill  Christ." — 
Wordsworth. 

V.  26.  F.  D.  j)ff(U- 
rice,  P.-Bk.  177. 

"The  angels  have 
hail  two  great 
gala  (lays ;  the 
first  when  crea- 
tion wasfiuislied, 
the  next  whea 
Christ  was  born, ' 
They  are  to  have 
a  thirii  when  He 
s]i,all  come  agaia 
in  tlie  clonils  of 
heaven."  — Seeds 
and  S/ieaves. 

d  Bush, 


fflTTeb.  Ben  Adam, 
b  Ba.  viii.  17. 
c  2  Cor.  xii.  7. 
d  "  Whetlier  they 
will  regard  what 
is  said  by  thee  or 
not,  yet  the  event 
answering  thy 
preilictious  shaL 
render  thy  au- 
thority unques- 
tionable, and 
them  inexcusable 
for  not  hearken- 
ing to  the  warn- 
ings thou  hast 
given  them." — 
Loicth. 

e  C.  Sime  on, 

"  They  are  im- 
pudi'nt  children, 
brazen-faced ,  n  ml 
cannot  blush  ; 
they  are  stiff- 
he  a  r  t  e  J,  self- 
willed,  ard  can- 
not bend,  cnnnyt 
stoop,  neither 
asliauud  not 
afraid  to  sin  ; 
they  will  not  ba 
wrought  upon  by 
the  sense  either 
c£     honour     at 


236 

duty."  —  MatthiV 
Henry. 

ei-.  4,  5.  n.  a. 
Richards,  5:83  ;  /. 
Run  dull,  32  :i. 
When  Com. 
Smitli  received  a 
telegrnin  tl}at 
Thi>  Congress, 
■which  was  coiii- 
maiided  by  liis 
son,  had  struck 
Ler  flag,  he  re- 
marked, "  Then 
Joe  is  dead  1"  It 
T\-is  the  father's 
eulogy  over  his 
dead  son.  He 
was  indeed  dead. 

a  Comp.  2  Sa. 
xxiii.  6  ;  Sol. 
Song  ii.  2  ;  Is.  ix.. 
18. 

6  Comp.  Pte.  x.  9. 

c  "  Tlie  idea  is  to 
possess  himself 
fully  of  the  mes- 
sag',  and  digest 
it  in  the  mind  : 
not  literal  eiiling, 
but  such  an  ap- 
propriation of  its 
unsavoury  con- 
tents, that  tliey 
should  become, 
as  it  were,  part 
of  himself,  so  as 
to  impart  them 
the  more  vividly 
to  his  hearers." 
— Fausset. 

d  "  So   as  to  be 

completely  filled, 
as  the  sealed  roll 
in  the  Apoca- 
IjTise.  lie.  V.  1." — 
Wordmcurlh. 

V.  6.  R.  Warner, 
iu.  121. 

V.  7.  W.  Reading,  \ 
U.  493. 

•'As  angel  guar- 
dians."  —  /''/".'/, 
"■£m:liii."  "Vows 
as  faitliful  as  a  ' 
dying  saint's." —  I 
CenlUi-re.        "  As 
the    magnet." — 
W.      S.     Walter. 
"As    the    needle  j 
to    its     pole  " —  j 
Centli-re.       "  As  [ 
the    polestar."—  I 
Cumberland.! 
".\s     the    silent  I 
mirror  shows  in  j 
Its  true  bosom."  ' 
*-J.     O.   Cuo^er. ' 


EZEK!EL. 


[Cap.  ii.  6—10. 


way.-? !  and  who  is  able  to  cast  thy  sonl  into  hell  1  Therefore, 
take  care  tliat  thou  deliverest  thy  messaEfc  faithfully."  He  then 
proceeded  with  the  same  serraou  he  had  preached  the  preceding 
Sabbath,  but  with  considerably  more  energ-y.  The  sennon  ended, 
the  court  were  full  of  expectation  to  know  what  would  be  the 
fate  of  this  honest  and  plain-dealing'  bi.-^hop.  After  dinner,  the 
king-  called  for  Latimer,  and,  with  a  stern  countenance,  asked 
him  how  he  dared  to  be  so  bold  as  to  preach  in  such  a  manner. 
He,  falling  on  his  knees,  re])Ued,  his  duty  to  his  God  and  his 
prince  had  en  forced  him  thereto,  and  that  he  had  merely  discharfred 
his  duty  and  his  conscience  iu  what  he  had  spoken.  Upon  which 
the  king,  rising  from  his  seat,  and  taking  the  good  man  by  the 
hand,  embraced  him,  saying,  "  Blessed  be  God,  I  have  so  honest 
a  servant." 

6—10.  (6)  not  afraid,  Je.  i.  8, 18.  briers"  .  .  scorpions, 
figures  for  those  who  might  annoy,  resist  and  persecute  the  Pro- 
phet. (7)  most  rebellious,  or  rebellion  itself.  (8)  eat  .  . 
thee,''  fig.  for  receive  the  message,  commit  it  to  memory.'^  (0) 
sent,  or  stretched  forth,  roll,  ancient  bonks  were  written  on 
skins,  rolled  up.  not  folded.  (10)  T/ithin  and  witliont,'' not 
as  usually,  on  the  one  side  only,  but  on  both  sides,  because  there 
was  so  much  woe  to  recoi'd. 

The  scorpian. — To  the  northward  of  Mount  Atlas,  the  scorpion 
is  not  very  hurtful,  for  the  sting  bring  only  attended  with  a 
slight  fever,  the  application  of  a  little  Venice  treacle  quickly 
assuages  the  pain.  But  the  scorpion  of  Getiilia.  and  most  other 
parts  of  the  Sahara,  as  it  is  larger,  and  of  a  d.arker  com- 
plexion, so  its  venom  is  propnrtionably  malignant,  and  frequently 
attended  with  death.  In  Syria  it  does  not  seem  to  be  deadly, 
but  occasions  much  inconvenience  and  suffering  to  the  inhabi- 
tants- Whole  companies  are  suddenly  afi'ectcd  with  vomitings, 
which  is  supposed  to  be  jiroduced  by  the  poisonous  matter  which 
exudes  from  the  skin  of  the  scorpion,  as  it  crawls  over  thfir 
kitchen  utensils  or  provisions.  Nor  is  it  possible  almost  to  avoid 
the  danger  ;  it  is  never  at  rest  during  the  summer  months,  and 
so  malicious  is  its  disposition,  that  it  may  be  seen  continually 
flourishing  its  tail,  in  which  the  sting  is  lodged,  and  striking  at 
every  object  within  its  reach.  So  mischievous  and  hateful  is 
tliis  creature,  that  the  sacred  writers  use  it  in  a  figurative  sense 
for  wicked,  malicious,  and  crafty  men.  Such  was  the  house  of 
Israel  to  the  Pi'ophet  Ezekiel  :  "  Thou  dwellest,"  said  Jehovah  to 
His  servant,  "among  scorpions."  No  animal  in  the  creation 
seems  endued  with  a  nature  fo  irnscible.  When  taken,  they 
exert  their  utmost  rage  against  the  glass  which  contains  them  ; 
will  attempt  to  sting  a  stick,  when  jmt  near  them  ;  will  sting 
animals  confined  with  them,  without  provocation  ;  are  the 
cruellest  enemies  to  each  other.  IMaupertuis  put  a  hundred  to- 
gether in  the  same  glass  :  instantly  they  vented  their  rage  in 
mutual  destruction,  universal  carnage  !  in  a  few  days  only  four- 
teen remained,  which  had  killed  and  devoured  all  the  others.  It 
is  even  asserted  that  wlun  iu  extremity  or  des]  air,  the  scorjiiou 
will  destroy  itself  :  he  slings  himself  on  the  back  of  the  head, 
and  instantly  expires.  Surely  BIosos  with  great  propriety  men- 
tions scox'pions  amo^sr  the  dangers  of  tlie  wilderness;  and  )to 
situation  can  be  conceived  more  hazardous  thni-  that  of  Ezekiel, 
who  is  said  to  dwell  amonjj'  scorpions  ;  nor  could  a  fitter  contrast 


Cap.  iii.  1-9.5 


EZEKIEL. 


237 


be  selected  by  our  Lord  :    "  Will  a  father  give  a  scorpion  to  Ms  I  "  ^^  *!lV*";/'*^'t 
child  instead  of  an  egy:  ? "     Jesus  invested  His  disciples   with  '  ™„J|^"  ~    '     ""*' 
power   to  ti'ead  on  serpents  and  scorpions  ;  by  which  may  bo  i       ' 
denoted    power    and    authority   to  counteract  and  bafile  every 
kind  of  agent  which  the  devil  employs  to  vex  and  injure  the 
Church.      The  disciples  of  Antichrist,  who,  by  their  poisonous 
doctrines,  injure  or  destroy  the  souls  of  men,  arc  likewise  com- 
pared to  these  dangerous  animals  :  "  And  there  came  out  of  the 
smoke  locusts  upon  the  earth  :  and  unto  them  was  given  power 
a^  the  scorpions  of  the  earth  have  power. "« 


CHAPTER  THE  THIED. 

1 — 3.  (1)  eat  .  .  speak,  receive  the  truth  thyself,  then  speak 
it  to  others.  (2)  opened  my  inoutli,  in  the  attitude  of  obedi- 
ence. (3)  cause  .  .  eat,  perhaps  iutimating  that  he  should 
wait  for  a,  full  impression  of  the  message,  and  not  act  merely  on 
a  Jlrst  impression  of  it.  moutll  .  .  sweetness,"  any  message 
given  by  God  the  good  man  feels  to  be  precious,  but  he  may 
afterwards  be  oppressed  by  finding  it  to  be  a  message  of  woe.* 

Etfccfs  of  the  JcH-ish  capticity  on  the  Grccl/s. — Selden  considers 
that  Pythagoras  conversed  with  Ezekiel  at  Babylon.  Townsend 
has  given  an  interestinjT  view  of  the  efEects  of  the  dispersion  of 
the  Jews  upon  the  progress  uf  philosophy  and  liteiaturc  in 
Greece.  He  notices  the  constant  intercourse  between  Judcca  and 
Egyjit,  and  the  frequent  communication  of  the  Greeks  with  the 
latter  country,  where  the  Grecian  legislators  and  jihilo.-ophers 
acquired  their  knowledge.  Thus  the  Greeks  must  have  become 
a/^quainced  with  the  history  and  polity  of  the  Jews.  He  remarks, 
tnat  from  the  period  of  the  cnptivit;^',  when  so  many  of  the  Jews 
were  removed  to  Babylon  and  Egypt,  the  Greeks  began  to  have 
more  exalted  ideas  of  the  Deity.  He  thows  that  Thales,  as  well 
as  Pythagoras,  would  thus  converse  with  the  Jewish  captives ; 
and  that  many  of  the  opinions  taught  by  the  former,  appear  to 
have  been  learned  from  them  ;  btit  observes  that  when  com- 
pared with  Christianity,  moral  philosophy  is  little  less  than  the 
darkness  it  so  partially  illumined.  With  respect  to  Pythagoras, 
he  seems  to  have  conversed  with  Jews  at  Tyre,  and  at  Mount 
Carmel.  Also  he  visited  Egjq^t,  and  was  twelve  years  at  Babylon, 
where  he  arrived  about  two  years  before  the  death  of  Belshazzar, 
and  witnessed  many  of  the  events  recorded  in  the  book  of  Daniel, 
and  had  a  teacher  whom  Selden  considers  to  have  been  Ezekiel.'' 
4 — 9.  (4,  5)  strange  speech,  lit.  '•  deep  of  lip  and  heavy  of 
tongtre  ; "  or  a  people  speaking  an  obscure  and  unintelligible 
language.  The  idea  is  that  even  thcij  would  more  readily  listen 
to  the  Prophet  than  Israel  wotild.  (G;  many  people,  or  peoples  ; 
the  heathen  nations.  (7)  not  .  .  me,  speaking  by  providences 
and  judgments.  (8)  face  strong,"  with  prob.  reference  to 
Ezekiels  name.  wh.  means  "  One  whom  God  makes  strong."  (9) 
adamant,  Heb.  s/mw/r.  a  diamond.*  Zee.  vii.  12;  Je.  xvii.  1. 
flint,  De.  viii.  1.").  The  diamond  was  employed  to  cut  flint.'' 
Our  vntire  land. — 

There  is  a  land,  of  every  land  the  pride, 
Beloved  by  heaven  o'er  all  the  world  beside  ; 
Where  brighter  suns  dispense  serener  light, 


a  Re.  X.  9. 

6  "  The  sweetness 
in  the  moutll  de- 
noted tliat  it  was 
good  to  be  a 
messenger  of  the 
Lord,  but  the 
bitterness  wbicU 
accompanied  it 
denoted  that  the 

0  o  m  ni  i  s  s  i  o  a 
brought  witli  lb 
nnich  sorrow,  for 
the  tidings  were 
sail  and  evil,"— 
l<pk.  Com. 

"  I  have  seen 
angels  by  tlie 
1  sick  one's  pillow 
I  — theirs  was  the 
soft  tone  and  the 
soundless  tread ; 
where  smitten 
'lie  art  3     were 

1  drooping  like  the 
willow,  t  h  e  y 
stood  between 
the  living  and  tlie 
dc.iil.'' — EiiMbeth' 

WiUicralt. 

c  Visilor, 


«  "I  have  given 
thee  courage  and 
assurance  iiro- 
portionabletothe 
liarilinessandiiu- 
])udence  of  those 
thou  hast  to  deal 
with." —Louih. 

b  Formed  from 
the  Lat.  ndainas, 
it  formed  the 
pnint  of  the 
an.-'ient  pen,  or 
stylus. 

c  "Ezekiel's  firm- 
ness being  tliat 
of  a  diaiuoudj  Uc 


238 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  1 1. 10-17. 


slioulil  cut  a 
stroke  homo  to 
the  liardo  iicrl 
hearts  of  a  rt'liel- 
lious  people." — 
apk.  Com. 

m.  8,  9.  /;/•.  G. 
Crofl,  ii.  59. 

*  Statesman,  yet 
frieiul  to  truth  ; 
of  so'.il  sincere, 
in  action  f;iitlifal, 
find  in  honour 
clear  I  Wlio  broke 
11  o  promise, 
served  no  pri- 
vate end,  Miio 
gain'd  no  title, 
and  who  lost  no 
friend  ;  ennobled 
by  himself,  liy 
all  approved, 
praised,  wept. 
Olid  honour'd  by 
the  muse  he 
loved." — Pope. 

<i  J.  Montgomery. 


«  "  The  idra 
seems  to  bo  tliat 
though  God 
should  forsake 
and  destroy  His 
temple,  w  hich 
is  pre-eminently 
His  place,  yet 
His  presence 
wakes  every 
pliica  to  be  His 
temple,  and  He 
is  attendeil  there 
by  multitmles  of 
the  heavenly 
host. "  —  Words- 
irnrlh. 

Comp.  Is.  vi.  3. 
A  befjear  asking 
Br.  Suiollet  for 
alms,  he  gave 
him.through  mis- 
take, a  guinea. 
The  poor  fellow, 
on  perceiving  it, 
hobbledafterbini 
to  return  It ; 
upon  which, 

KmoUet  returned 
it  to  him.  with 
another  guinea  as 
a  reward  for  his 
honesty,  exclaim- 
ing at  the  same 
time,  "  What  a 
lodging  has 

honesty  taken 
up  with  I" 

»  Uill   of   Abib, 


And  milder  moons  em  paradise  the  night ; 

A  land  of  beauty,  virtue,  valour,  truth, 

Time-tutor'd  age,  and  love-exalted  youth. 

The  wandering  mariner,  whose  eye  explores 

The  wealthiest  isles,  the  most  enchanting  shores, 

Views  not  a  realm  so  bountiful  and  fair, 

Nor  breathes  the  spirit  of  a  purer  air  ; 

In  every  clime  the  mag^net  of  his  soul, 

Touch'd  by  remembrance,  trembles  to  that  pole  I 

For  in  this  land  of  heaven's  peculiar  grace, 

The  heritage  of  nature's  noblest  race, 

There  is  a  spot  of  earth  .'supremely  blest — 

A  dearer,  sweeter  .spot  than  all  the  rest, 

"Where  man,  creation's  tyrant,  cast:^  aside 

His  sword  and  sceptre,  pageantry  and  pride, 

While  la  his  coftend  looks  benignly  blend 

The  sire,  the  son,  the  husband,  brother,  friend. 

Here  woman  reigns  ;  the  mother,  daughter,  wife, 

Strews  with  fresh  flowers  the  narrow  way  of  life  ! 

In  the  clear  heaven  of  her  delightful  eye, 

An  angel-guard  of  loves  and  graces  lie  1 

Around  her  knees  domestic  duties  meet, 

And  fireside  pleasures  gambol  at  her  feet. 

Where  shall  that  land,  that  spot  of  earth  be  found  ? 

Art  thou  a  man  ?— a  patriot .' — look  around  ; 

Oh  thou  shalt  find,  howe'er  thy  footsteps  roam, 

That  land  thy  country,  and  that  spot  thy  home  !<* 

10—14.  (10)  receive  .  .  heart,  explanation  of  the  fig.  of 
eating  the  roll,  ch.  ii.  8.  (11)  of  thy  people,  God  does  not  say, 
i  "  of  My  people."  "  They  have  disfranchised  themselves  by  their 
I  sins."  (12)  took  me  up,  to  carry  me  to  the  place  where  the 
1  message  was  to  be  delivered,  rushing,  caused  by  the  passing 
\  away  of  the  cherubic  creature  he  had  seen,  blessed  .  .  place," 
I  i.e.  the  place  where  God  had  given  the  revelation  of  His  glory. 
i(13)  -wings,  etc.,  ch.  i.  20.  (14)  bitterness,  bee.  of  the 
1  character  of  the  message,  hand  .  .  strong,  I  could  not  resist 
the  Divine  impulses. 

Tlie  n'ldoiv'a  deht. — A  minister  of  the  Gospel,  when  preaching 
from  the  text,  '•  If  our  transgressions  and  our  sins  be  upon  us, 
I  and  we  pine  away  in  them,  how  should  we  then  live?"  said, 
!  "  I  knew  a  poor  widow  who  had  got  into  a  little  debt  that  was  a 
I  burdeir  upon  her,  which  she  could  not  remove,  just  as  sin  is  a 
I  debt  or  burden  upon  the  conscience,  which  no  man  is  able  to  cast 
:  off.  Well,  what  could  the  widow  do  ?  Her  language  to  herself 
I  was,  '  How  can  I  live  with  this  burden  ?  ]\rv  little  furniture,  my 
i  all,  will  be  sold  1  I  must  go  to  the  workhouse,  where  I  must 
mix  with  bad  people,  who  know  not  ray  Saviour,  and  who  take 
His  name  in  vain  ! '  A  benevolent  individual,  hearing  of  her 
distress,  sent  to  the  creditor,  desiring  him  to  bring  a  receipt  iu 
f tdl,  and  he  should  have  his  money.  He  took  the  receij  t.  and 
gave  it  to  the  widow.  '  Oh,'  said  she,  '  now  I  shall  live  !  I  shall 
live  ! '  "  This  litt  le  story  the  minister  ap]ilied,  in  the  most  rimple 
manner,  to  the  atonement  of  Christ,  and  His  payment  of  the  dt  bt 
of  sin. 

15—17.  (15)  Tel-ahih,"  on  the  river  Cluhar  (ch.  i.  3),  the 


Cap.  m.  18-21.] 


EZEKIEL. 


239 


either 
bill  of  corn 
( Uesenius),  or  hill 
O.'  grass  land 
(Fuersi),  and  so 
luimed  on  ac- 
count of  ita 
frultfiiliiess. 


chief  seat  of  the  Jewish  exiles  in  Babylon,  astonished, *  or  j  ny-aning^ 
astouuded  ;  having  my  spirit  utterly  cast  down  and  overwhelmed, 
seven  days,  the  usual  period  for  mourning-,  Job  ii.  lo."^  (Ki,  17) 
a  watchman,  Is.  Ivi.  lO  ;  Jc.  vi.  17.''  '•  One  to  look  out  from  a 
city's  walls,  and  see  whether  an  enemy  is  coming,  and  give  notice 
of  his  approach.'' 

Tlio  natclnnan  {i\\l).  —  l.  His  character  and  qualifications.  1.  ,  ,<p  ^ 
He  must  be  a  man  of  good  repute  ;  2.  He  must  produce  proofs  of  fu-^t  Eng.  stu- 
past  fidelity  and  good  management ;  3.  He  should  have  discern-  |  niun  ;  Ger.  cr- 
ment,  ingenuity,  and  courage  ;  4.  He  should  be  healthy  and  |  «"<«"«";  old  Fr., 
strong,  able  to  bear  exposure  and  fatigue  ;  .5.  He  must  be  pro-  {  and7c'-H);f/;S'"lhe 
perly  appointed  ;  0.  He  must  have  a  jiioper  dress  and  light.  II.  j  stuniiing  of  the 
The  watchman's  duty.  1.  One  part  is  to  tell  the  hour  ;  2.  To 
protect  the  persons  and  property  of  the  inhabitants  from  villains, 
accidents,  and  offences  ;  3.  Go  give  alarm  when  danger  is  near  ; 
4.  To  give  account  of  the  city  to  the  magistrates.' — iSo/itvde  not 
loneluirss  {v.  17j.— Why  not  talk  with  Him  in  the  city;  The 
point  is  that  busy  men  may  hear  God  in  solitude,  and  solitary 
men  may  hear  Him  in  the  city.  1.  The  speciality  of  God  s 
appointment ;  2.  The  personality  of  God's  communication  ;  3. 
The  familiarity  of  God's  condescension.  Apply  : — (1)  God  has 
ever  something  to  say  to  man,  as  a  ruler,  as  a  lather  ;  (2)  In  seek- 
ing solitude,  man  should  seek  God  :  solitude  without  God  leads  to 
madness,  with  God  to  strength  and  peace  ;  (3)  Man  himself  should 
often  propose  to  commune  with  God.  Communion  with  God 
shows  the  capacity  of  our  spiritual  nature,  the  superiority  of  the 
material  spiritual  over  the  sijiritual.-'^ 

18—21.  (18)  surely  die,  i.e.  surely,  unless  you  repent.  This 
condition  is  assumed  in  all  the  Divine  messages,  speakest  to 
warn,  implying  that  the  Prophet  ought  to  do  this  again  and 
again,  die  .  .  iniquity,  nnforgiven,  and  therefore  to  meet  the 
eternal  penalties,  'blood  .  .  hand,  counting  you  guilty  of  his 
death,  in  his  sins,  if  you  failed  to  warn  him."  (]'J)  delivered 
thy  soul,  from  the  burden  of  the  man's  death  in  sin.  (20)  lay 
a  stumblinghlock,  or  cause  his  ini(iuity  to  become  his  ruin. 
(21)  sin  not,  and  he  manifestly  ought  not  to  sin  if  he  be  a 
righteous  man. 

Procraf^ti nation — A  Pomprian  2^ri<'st- — Both  in  regard  to  the 
preservation  of  life,  and  the  salvation  of  the  soul,  there  is  too 
often  a  strange  indifference.  The  warning  voice  may  arouse 
attention  for  a  time,  but  the  opportunity  of  escape  is  deferred, 
and  destruction  follows.  A  recent  discovery  at  Pompeii  has 
brought  to  light  the  fact  of  a  priest  fleeing  from  the  temple, 
"when  the  warning  came  of  the  city's  api^roaching  doom.  I3ut 
the  treasures  of  the  temple — why  should  he  leave  them  ?  Ah  1 
why?  He  is  supposed  to  have  returned  to  obtain  them.  Again 
he  sets  out,  but  had  not  proceeded  far,  before  the  destruction 
came,  and  he  was  lost.  Had  it  not  been  for  the  treasures,  his 
life  might  have  been  spared. — Tin;  lost  capfriin. — A  ship  was  on 
its  way  homeward,  after  a  prosperous  vo3-age,  when  a  storm  1 1**^"  *"  ti  "t"^  ''°°d 
arose,  and  raged  with  such  violence  that  the  ship  sprung  a  leak.  [  s(?arce  lear  her- 
After  vainly  striving  to  save  the  ship,  it  was  resolved  to  abandon  !  self,  no  less  un- 
her.  The  boat  was  lowered,  and  all  the  crew,  except  the  captain,  j  reasonable  is  he, 
got  into  her,  though  not  without  great  difficulty,  as  the  tempest  th'^viporouf  dlya 
was  raging  fiercely.  The  captain  rushed  down  to  the  cabin  to  \  of  youth  iind 
get  his  cash-box  and  some  papers,  although  the  crew  earnestly    manhood,  defcra 


faculties  by  fear 
or  surprise  con- 
vej's  the  ordinary 
idea  of  the.  word." 
—  Wuoli-ych. 

cGe.\.  I'J;  1  Sa. 
.xxxi.  13. 
d  Ilab.  ii.  1. 

».  17.  Dr.E.Boyi, 

1U7. 

e  Benson  Bailey. 

f  Dr.  Parker. 


a  "  It  shall  be 
charged  upon 
them  in  the  day 
of  account  tliat 
it  was  owing  to 
tlieir  unfaithful- 
ness that  sucli 
and  such  precious 
souls  perished  in 
sin  ;  for  who 
knows  but  i£ 
they  had  had 
fair  warning 
given  thtm  they 
might  liave  tied 
in  time  from  the 
wrath  to  come  ?" 
— Mat.  Ueiuy, 

"  As  we  would 
judge  a  man  a 
fool,  who,  having 
a  great  choice  of 
strong  liorsfcs, 
should  let  them 
go  empty,  and 
i  lay  a  great  bur- 


240 


F.7.EKIEL. 


[Cap.  iv.  1-4. 


reforn-ation  till 
feeble  olil  age." 
— VvLUcdniy. 


a  Spi.  Com. 

6  "  The  silence  of 
prophets  is  God's 
punishment  of  a 
people."-.S.  C'/iry- 
suslam. 

V.  22.  jr.  Jay,  iT. 
303. 

The    memory  of 

good    actions  is 

the  starlight  of 
the  soul. 

"  Our  memories, 
corrupted  by  the 
fall,  are  often 
like  those  ponds 
where  frogs  live 
and  the  fish  die." 
— Cripplegate  Let- 
tii/es. 

e  J.  J.  Day,  iI.A. 


a  Fausset. 
h  "  Frotrahfrr, 
mediseval  Latin, 
whence  fr.  pro- 
Iraire.  portniire, 
to  cut  or  carre 
out ;  very  apjiro- 
priate  of  the 
ancient  delinea- 
tions carveil  in 
the  solid  lojk." — 
Woolrycli. 

e  "  Those  used  by 
the  Assyrians  ap- 
pear to  have  con- 
sisted of  a  strong 
framework  on 
wheels,  so  cover- 
ed as  to  protect 
the  soldiers 
working  it,  ami 
armed  with  one, 
Bonietiines  two, 
pointed  weapons. 
It  differed  con- 
Biderably  from 
the  more  famili- 
arly known  ram 
employed  by  the 
Jlomans." — Ayre. 

"  The  tile  was 
pr9bably  an  un- 
dcicd  one.    Lord 


entreated  him  not  to  do  so,  but  to  save  himself  "while  he  could. 
During  the  moment  he  w;.s  gone,  a  violent  gu^t  of  wind  parted 
the  rope  which  held  the  boat  to  the  ship.  When  he  returned 
with  his  money  and  papers,  lie  stood  anxiouslj'  by  the  side  of  the 
ship,  but  the  boat  was  far  away,  and  unable  to  return  to  him ; 
ami  so  he  perished, — almo.'rt  saved — altogether  lost. 

22 — 27.  (22)  plain,  lit.  "the  cleaving  that  parts  the  moun- 
tain." (2;>)  glory,  etc.,  ch.  i.  28.  "Now  he  is  to  learn  that 
there  is  a  time  to  be  silent,  as  well  as  a  time  to  speak,  and  that 
both  are  ai)pointed  by  God.""  (24)  shut  .  .  house,  so  as  for  a 
time  to  keep  silence  ;  and  also  in  this  way  he  was  to  learn  how 
the  people  would  shut  their  cars  and  hearts  against  His  message. 
{2'))  hands,  cic,  this  must  be  treated  morally,  for  we  have  no 
account  of  Ezekiel's  having  been  imprisoned.  (2{j)  he  dumh, 
no  judgment  can  be  greater  than  that  wh.  comes  by  the  silencing 
of  God  s  prophets  and  ministers.'  127)  when  I  .  .  thee,  then 
thou  shalt  be  free  to  speak. 

llenwmbering  GocVs  commandments  {v.  27). — I.  The  duty  of 
remembrance.  1.  It  is  our  duty  ;  2.  The  world  is  opposed  to  it ; 
:>.  But  it  is  important  in  a  worldly  point  of  view.  II.  The 
benefit  of  this  remembrance,  since  this  life  is  designed  to  prove 
us,  whether  we  will  serve  God  or  no.  III.  Do  these  things  seem 
hard  .'  note  the  comfort  to  be  derived  from  this  subject,  "  To  do 
thee  good  at  thy  latter  end."  Apply — 1.  To  Chx-istians  ;  2.  To 
others.' 


CHAPTER  THE  FOURTH. 

1 — 4.  (1)  a  tile,  or  brick.  "Such  are  found  in  Eabvlon, 
covered  with  cuneiform  inscriptions,  often  two  feet  long,  one 
broad.""  pourtray,''  i.e.  draw  the  picture  of.  (2)  lay  siege, 
i.e.  repi'eseut  the  laying  of  a  siege.  fort,  or  watch-tower, 
mount,  for  the  engines,  hattering  rams,  the  engine  used 
for  thrusting  down  walls.'  (3)  iron  pan,  or  plate  :  as  a  kind 
of  shield  This  was  to  be  Ezekiel's  defence  as  he  conducted  (in 
symbol)  the  siege  of  the  city.  (4)  lie  .  .  side,  to  represent  the 
prostrate  and  bound  condition  of  Jerusalem  in  the  time  of  siege. 

Catapult. — Calmet  describes  "  an  engine  used  for  throwing 
very  heavy  stones,  by  means  of  a  strong  bow,  whose  circular 
arms  are  tightly  held  by  two  vertical  beams,  nearly  upright ; 
the  cord  of  the  bow  is  drawn  back  hy  means  of  a  windlass,  placed 
between  two  beams  also,  behind  the  former,  but  uniting  with 
them  at  top  ;  in  the  centre  is  an  arm.  capable  of  swinging  back- 
ward and  forward  ;  round  this  arm  the  bowstring  passes  ;  at  the 
bottom  of  this  arm  is  placed  the  stone,  in  a  kind  of  seat.  The 
bowstring  being  drawn  backward,  by  the  power  of  the  windlass 
drawing  the  moving  arm,  the  rope  is  suddenly  let  go  from  this 
arm  by  a  kind  of  cock,  when  the  bowstring,  recovering  its 
natural  situation,  with  all  its  power  violently  swings  forward 
the  moving  arm,  and  with  it  the  stone,  thereby  projecting 
the  stone  with  great  force  and  velocity.  Another  machine 
for  throwing  stones  consists  of  two  arms  of  a  bow, 
which  are  strengthened  by  coils  of  rope,  sinews,  or  hair 
(women's  hair  was  reckoned  the  best  for  the  purpose). 
These  arms  being  drawn  backward  as  tight  as  possible,  by  a 


Cap.iv,  5— 12.7 


EZEKIEL. 


241 


windlass  placed  at  some  distance  behind  the  machine,  the  string 
of  the  bow  is  attached  to  a  kind  of  cock,  and  the  stone  to  be  dis- 
charged being  placed  immediately  before  it,  on  touching  the 
cock,  the  violent  effort  of  the  bow  threw  ofiE  the  stone  to  a  great 
distance."  The  arms  of  this  bow  were  of  iron ;  which  was  the 
same  as  the  halistce  of  the  Romans.  "  Besides  these  kind  of 
instruments  that  were  extremely  j^o^^'^rful,  others  of  smaller 
size  and  inferior  powers  were  constructed  for  the  i^iu-jDose  of 
being  carried  about :  these  were  somewhat  like  our  ancient 
cross-bows  ;  and  the  bowstring  was  drawn  back  by  various  con- 
trivances, often  merely  by  strength  of  arm,  or  by  reducing  the 
board  that  cariied  the  arrow  to  its  station  backwards,  by  jaressing 
it  against  the  ground."'* 

5—8.   (5)   three  . .  ninety,"  see  Nu.  xiv.  34.     (6)  forty 
days,  with  poss.  reference  to  the  extreme  idolatries  of  the  reign 
of  Manasseh.     (7)  set  thy  face,  i.e.  direct  thy  mind,     arm  .  .  1 
uncovered,  so  as  to  wield  a  weapon.*    (8)  bands,  to  keep  you  1 
from  moving  ;  a  symbol  of  the  straitness  of  the  siege.  j 

j\'otc  on  vr.  4 — 7. — It  is  more  than  probable  something  is  alluded 
to  here  which  we  cannot  understand.  When  a  person  is  sick,  he 
•will  not  lie  on  his  right  side,  because  that  would  be  a  bad  omen  : 
ehould  he  in  his  agony,  or  when  asleep,  turn  on  that  side,  his 
attendants  will  immediately  again  place  him  on  the  left  side. 
After  people  have  taken  their  food,  they  generally  sleep  a  little, 
but  they  are  careful  to  repose  on  the  left  side,  "  because  the  food 
digests  better."  It  is  impossible  to  saj'  what  is  the  origin  of  this 
practice  :  it  may  have  arisen  from  the  circumstance  that  the 
right  side  '•  is  of  the  masculine  gender,"'  and  the  left  feminine,  as 
is  the  case  with  the  supreme  Siva.  Females  are  directed  to 
recline  on  the  right  side,  and  many  curious  stories  are  told  in 
reference  to  them,  which  are  not  worth  repeating.'^ 

9—12.  (0)  wheat,  etc.,  needful  food  for  the  time  of  his  lying 
down,  fitches,  or  .yielt  (10)  by  weight,  carefully  doled 
out.  shekels,  Ge.  xxiii.  15.  (11)  hin,  Ex.  xsix.  40.  About  a 
quarter  of  a  pint.  (12)  bake  .  .  man,  indicating  1he  lack  of 
ordinary  firing  materials.  The  dried  dung  of  cattle  is  constantly 
used  for  firing  in  th3  East." 

Mi  lift. — This  word  (millet)  occurs  more  than  once  in  the  sacred 
volume  :  Ezr>kiel  calls  it  ditrJian  or  cJoclinn;  and  Calmet  thinks 
it  is  probably  the  Ilolcnss  diirra,  which  forms  a  principal  food 
an'iong  the  Orientals.  Its  Latin  name,  millet,  is  supposed  to  be 
derived  from  millc.  that  is,  a  thousand  grains,  in  allusion  to  its 
extraordinary  fruitfuliiess.  It  requires  a  light  sandy  sdil  :  is 
Bown  late,  and  gathered  in  about  the  middle  of  October  ;  while 
the  wheat  and  the  barley  are  reaped  by  the  end  of  May,  just 
before  the  drought  of  a  Syrian  summer  comes  on.  The  worldly 
man  is  accustomed  to  regard  such  different  management  as  the 
fruit  of  human  observation  and  sagacity ;  but  the  inspired 
Prophet  ascribes  it  with  equal  truth  and  energy  to  the  suggestion 
of  Divine  wisdom  and  goodness  :  ''  For  his  God  doth  instruct  him 
to  discretion,  and  doth  teach  him."  It  is  made  into  bread,  with 
camel's  milk,  oil,  butter,  and  other  unctuous  substances,  and  is 
almost  the  only  food  eaten  by  the  common  people  of  Arabia 
Felix.  Nicbuhr  found  it  so  disagreeable,  that  he  would  willingly 
Lave  preferred  plain  barley  bread.     This  is  certainly  the  reason 

VOL.  IX.     O.T.  Q 


Cornwallis  got  a 
good  iilea  of 
haugalore  from  a 
B  r  a  li  m  i  n,  who 
acted  as  spy,  and 
drew  a  plan  of 
the  place  with 
great  accunacy  iu 
a  short  time  ia 
moist  clay."  — 
Cullairay. 

d  Paxton. 


a  "  Prob.  dating 
from  Jeroboam's 
first  setting  up 
tli3  iiloltitrous 
worsliip  of  the 
golden  calves,  to 
the  last  captivity 
of  the  Jews,  ia 
the  twenty-tliird 
j-car  of  Kebuo.'s 
reign." — Lowlh. 


b  Is.  lii.  10. 
c  Roberts. 


a  "  To  use  human 
dung  for  such  a 
pirpvise  implies 
the  most  cruel 
necessity.  It  was 
in  violation  of  tho 
law.  De.  .xiv.  3, 
xxiii.  12—14."— 
fausset. 

The  Sultan, 
whilst  at  Buck- 
ingham Palace 
had  a  lamb 
bro.ight  to  the 
palace  every 

morning,  which 
was  slaughtered 
there  by  his 
butcner  after  a 
certain  ceremony 
had  been  per- 
formed over  it. 
Fowls  were  also- 
killed  in  the 
saine  fashion. 
The  Sultan  al- 
ways dined  alone; 
there  wa-.  a 
special  dinner 
prepared  for  his 
son,  who  also 
dined  alone,  as 
(lid  his  two 
nephews.  Seve- 
ral other  sepamte 


S42 

■tables  wore  laiil 
for  meiiiln'rs  of 
Lis  Imperial  Ma- 
jesty's suite,  ac- 
cording to  tlieir 
official  dignity. 
The  rvUo  \va> 
broken  tliroujJtli 
on  the  occasion 
of  the  luiiclieon 
■with  the  Queen 
at  Wi  II  d  S(ir 
Cvstle.auddininf; 
■with  tlie  Lord 
Mayor  at  the 
Mansion  House. 
b  t'axton. 


a  Comp.  Ac.  x. 
14. 

J  "Look  one  upon 
another  as  per- 
sons under 
astonishment  for 
the  greatness  of 
your  calamities, 
and  pining  away 
or  dying  a  lin- 
gering deatli 
through  famine 
and  other  hard- 
ships."— Loicth. 

"  Ceremony  was 
but  devised  at 
first  to  set  a  gloss 
on  faint  deeds, 
hollow  welcomes, 
recanting  good- 
ness, sorrow  ere 
'tis  shown  ;  but 
where  there  is 
true  friendship, 
there  needs 
none."  —  &hake- 
spfare. 

c  Roseniniiller. 


a  Je.  xlii.  18,  xUv. 
11—15. 

"Look,  who 
comes  here  ;  a 
grave  unto  a 
soul,  holding  the 
cterjial  spirit, 
against  her  will, 
in  the  vile  prison 
of  afflicted 
breath.  —  Shake- 
spi'iiiv. 

"  Memory,  the 
bane  of  the 
wicked,  the  home 
of  the  jiast,  the 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  V.  1—4. 


that  it  was  appointed  to  the  Prophet  Ezckicl  as  a  part  of  his  hard 
fare.  But  llauwolf  seems  to  have  been  of  a  dilFercnt  mind,  or 
not  so  difficult  to  jilease  ;  of  this  grain,  says  he,  they  bake  very 
well-tasted  bread  and  cakes,  and  some  of  them  are  rolled  very 
thin,  and  laid  tog'ethcr  after  the  manner  of  a  letter  :  they  are 
about  four  inches  broad,  six  long,  and  two  thick,  and  of  an  ashen 
colour.  The  grain,  however,  is  greatly  inferior  to  wheat  or  barley, 
and  by  consequence  must  form  a  very  inferior  species  of  bread." 

13—17.  (i;^)  defiled  iDread,  i.e.  unclean  according  to  Levi- 
tical  rules.  (14)  polluted,  by  infringement  of  the  laws  con- 
cerning the  clean  and  the  unclean."  (1."))  cow's  dung",  which 
was  commonly  used  :  camel's  dung  makes  the  clearest  tired, 
(10)  hreak  tlie  staff,  Le.  xxvi.  2ti.  (,17)  astonied,  comj).  ch. 
iii.  1.5.* 

Fuel. — In  consequence  of  the  ivant  of  wood,  camel's  dung  la 
used  in  the  East  for  fuel.  Shaw,  in  the  preface  to  his  Trarch, 
where  he  gives  a  detailed  descnption  of  the  mode  of  travelling  in 
the  East,  says  that  in  consequence  of  the  scarcity  of  wood,  when 
they  wanted  to  bake  or  boil  anything,  the  camels  dung  which 
had  been  left  by  a  preceding  caravan  was  their  usual  fuel,  which, 
after  having  been  exposed  to  the  sun  during  three  days,  easily 
catches  fire,  and  burns  like  charcoal.  The  following  quotation 
from  D'Arvieux  serves  still  better  to  illiistrate  the  text  in  which 
the  Prophet  is  commanded  to  bake  bread,  or  rather  thin  cakes  of 
bread,  upon  cow-dung.  "  The  second  sort  of  bread  is  baked 
under  ashes,  or  between  two  lumps  of  dried  and  lighted  cow- 
dung.  This  produces  a  slow  fire,  by  which  tha  dough  is  baked 
by  degrees  ;  this  bread  is  as  thick  as  our  cakes.  Tiie  crumb  ia 
good  if  eaten  the  same  day,  but  the  crust  is  black  and  burut,  and 
has  a  smoky  taste  from  the  fire  in  which  the  bread  is  baked.  A 
person  must  be  accustomed  to  the  mode  of  life  of  the  Bedouins, 
and  very  hungry,  who  can  have  any  relish  for  it."  "We  will  also  add 
what  Xiebuhr  says  in  his  descrii:)tion  of  Arabia.  '"  The  Arabs  o^ 
the  desert  make  use  of  an  iron  plate  to  bake  their  bread-cakes  ;  or 
they  lay  a  round  lump  of  dough  in  hot  coals  of  wood  or  camel'a 
dung,  and  cover  them  entirely  with  it,  till  the  bread  in  their 
opinion  is  quite  done,  when  they  take  the  ashes  from  it,  and  cat 
it  warm."  = 


CHAPTER  THE  FIFTH. 

1 — 4.  (1)  knife,  or  sword,  symbol  of  the  -destruction  of  the 
inhab."of  Jerus.  by  the  sword  of  the  Chaldfeans.  barber's  razor, 
or  a  sword  to  use  like  a  barber  uses  his  razor,  balances,  to 
signify  the  exactness  of  Divine  justice.  (2)  burn,  to  indicate  the 
destruction  of  this  proportion  of  the  inhab.  by  famine  and  pesti- 
lence, smite  .  .  knife,  as  a  symbol  of  this  proportion  killed  by 
the  sword,  scatter  .  .  wind,  to  re]n-esent  the  captivity  of  the 
last  third.  (3)  few,  to  represent  those  left  in  the  land,  Je.  xl. 
5,  G.  skirts,  or  wings.  (4)  cast  .  .  fire,  to  signify  the  calamity 
of  even  the  few  that  were  spared  fof  a  time." 

The  Scripture.^  a  record  of  hiivuiii  .sorrow. — The  Bible,  from 
the  third  of  Genesis,  is  the  history  of  a  sorrowful  race.  This 
fact  should  teach  us  —  I.  That  sorrow  is  mightily  present 
in   our  world.     Here  is  a  book — 1,  The  product  of  many  lauds 


Cap.  V.  5-13.] 


EZEKIEL. 


S4S 


and  ages,  expi'essing^  their  sorrows  ;  2.  Intended  for  all  lands 
and  times.  This  reliection  t^hould — (1)  Stir  our  thought :  (2j  Cul- 
tivate our  soberness  :  (:5)  Quicken  our  sympathies.  II.  Sorrow  is 
prestnt  in  this  world  becanso  of  sin.  The  Scriptures,  as  the 
record  of  human  sorrow,  teach — 1.  That  sorrow  is  here  because  of 
sin  ;  2.  As  the  penalty  of  sin ;  3.  As  one  means  of  purification 
from  sin.* 

5 — 9.  (."))  in  the  midst,  with  the  intention  that  she  .should 
hold  forth  My  truth  and  claims  before  the  nations.  Notice  the 
locally  central  position  of  Palestine  :  esp.  as  between  Egypt, 
rhueiiicia,  and  Assyria.  (G)  cliange  my  judgments,  into 
calamities.  God's  judgments  are  injunctiuns.  but  disobeyed  they 
become  n-oes.  (7)  multiplied,  better,  ••  raged  tumultuously,"  in 
your  self-will  and  rebellion.  (8;  execixte  judgments,  camp. 
the  commands  God  gives  with  the  judgments  He  executes. 
(9)  not  done,  comj).  Mat.  xxiv.  21." 

I^rocidtnce:  tlie  murderer  and  his  .fi/ir/iilar  n'onnd. — A  gentle- 
man, who  was  very  ill,  sending  for  Dr.  Lake,  told  him  that  he 
fotind  he  must  die,  and  gave  him  the  following  account  of  his  I 
death.  He  had,  about  a  fortnight  before,  been  riding  over  j 
Hounslow  Heath,  where  several  boys  were  playing  at  cricket. 
One  of  them,  striking  the  ball,  hit  him  just  on  the  toe  with  it,  I 
looked  him  in  the  face,  and  ran  away.  His  toe  pained  him 
extremely.  As  soon  as  he  came  to  Brentford,  he  sent  for  a  I 
Burgeon,  who  was  for  cutting  it  off.  But  unwilling  to  suffer 
that,  he  went  on  to  London.  '\Vhen  he  arrived  there,  he  imme- 
diately called  another  surgeon  to  examine  it,  who  told  him  his 
foot  must  be  cut  off.  But  neither  would  he  hear  of  this  :  and  so, 
before  the  next  day,  the  mortification  seized  his  leg.  and  in  a  day 
or  two  more  struck  up  into  his  body.  Dr.  Lake  asked  him 
whether  he  knew  the  boy  that  struck  the  ball.  He  answered, 
"  About  ten  years  ago,  I  was  riding  over  Hounslow  Heath,  where 
an  old  man  ran  by  my  horse's  side,  begged  me  to  relieve  him,  and 
Baid  he  was  almost  famished.  1  bade  him  begone.  He  kept  up 
with  me  still,  upon  which  I  threatened  to  beat  him.  Finding 
that  he  took  no  notice  of  this,  1  drew  my  sword,  and  with  one 
l)low  killed  him.  A  boy  about  four  years  old.  who  was  with 
him.  screamed  out  his  father  was  killed.  His  face  I  per- 
fectly remember.  That  hoj  it  was  who  struck  the  ball  against 
me  which  is  the  cause  of  my  death." '' 

10—13.  (10)  eat  . .  thee,  I^e.  xxvi.  29  ;  De.  xxviii.  .5.3  ;  La.  ii. 
20,  iv.  10.  remnant  .  .  scatter,  fulfilled  in  the  pre.sent  condi- 
tion of  the  remnant  of  the  Jews  ;  they  are  found  in  every  land. 
(11)  defiled,  efr...  2  Chr.  xxvi.  U.  "^detestahle  things,  i.e. 
idols.  (12)  third  part,  as  in  the  symbol,  v.  2.  (13)  fury  to 
rest,  or  cease,  when  its  purpose  of  punishment  is  completed, 
my  zeal,  or  just  regard  for  My  honour  and  authority." 

IJwniin  V recks. — Can  anything  be  more  sad  than  the  wreck  of 
a  man  I     We  mourn  over  the  destriiction  of  many  noble  things 
thnt-  liave  existed  in  the  world.     IMen.  when  they  hear  of   the  ; 
old  Phidian  Jupiter,  that  sat  forty  feet  high,  carved  of  ivory  and  j 
gold,  and  that  was  so  magniticent,  so  transcendent,  that  all  the 
ancient  world  counted  him   ttnhappy  that  died  without  having 
seen  this  most  memorable  statue  that  ever  existed  in  the  world, 
often  mourn  to  think  that  its  exceeding  value  led  to  its  destruc-  I 
Q2 


min'Ts  magnetio 
t  el  egr.T  ij  li."— 
FamUy  Frknd 
b  N.  R.  Thonias. 

a  La.  iv.  6;  Da. 

ix.  12;  see  also 
Zee.  xiii.  8,  9, 
.\iv.  2. 

"  As  Grocl  con- 
nected Himself 
pecal.arly  with. 
Isniel,  so  there 
was  to  be  a  pe- 
culiar maiiifesta-, 
tion  of  God's 
wrath  against 
sin  in  their  case." 
— Fnirbiiirn. 
"All  the  routes 
— both  by  land 
and  water— wh. 
ciinnected  tlie 
tliree  parts  of  the 
ancient,  world 
passed  through 
Palestine.  The 
commerce  bet. 
Asia  on  the  one, 
and  Europe  and 
Africa  on  the 
otlier  Iiand,  had 
its  centre  in  tlie 
great  mercantile 
cities  of  I'hicni- 
cia  and  Philistra. 
I'owards  the  S. 
tlie  Arabah  led 
to  the  Gulf  of 
Elah,  and  the 
Shephelahtotlmt 
of  Hero.  Opolis, 
while  towar.ts 
the  E.  the  ordi- 
nary caravan 
ro.ad  led  to  the 
n  e  i  g  li  b  0 11  r  ing 
?;nplirates,  to  the 
Persian  Gulf,  and 
thence  to  the  im- 
portant countries 
of  Southern  .\sia. 
Even  the  liigh- 
ways  wb.  con- 
nected Aria  and 
Africa  touched 
Palestine." — L'j^ 
Ucal  Tliinrjs. 
b  Chcever. 

a  "  This  is  only  a 
partial  and  im- 
perfect mode  of 
representing 
God's  dealings 
with  men." — Sp/c. 
Cum. 

"  The  completely 
liuman  clothing 
of  ideas  in  this 
passHfie  is  a  sen- 
sible rcpresenta- 


244 


[Cap.  V.  14— 17. 


tion  of  the  per- 
BiiM:iliry  of  (iivl. 
in  His  beins  ami 
in  His  actiuus." 
— ikhrocdci: 

"  0  pentlenipn, 
the  time  of  life 
is  short;  tospond 
that  shortness 
basely,  were  too 
long,  if  life  did 
rile  upon  a  dial's 
point,  still  end- 
ing at  the  arrival 
of  an  hour." — 
Shtikespeare. 

"  He  had  learnt 
a  most  useful 
princii)le  of  life, 
wliioli  was.  to  lay 
notljiufr  to  heart 
which  he  could 
not  help,  and  bow 
great  soever  dis- 
appoin  tments 
liad  fell  out  (if 
possible), totliink 
of  them  no  more, 
but  to  work  on 
upon  other  af- 
fairs, and  some, 
if  no';  all,  would 
be  better  natur- 
etV—Sir  Dudley 
Ni»-lh. 
b  licecher. 

a  Ex.  xxiii.  29 ; 
De.  xxxii.  24;  2 
Ki.  xvii.  25. 

"When  the  cho- 
lera rages,  no  one 
■will  go  out  while 
the  sun  is  at  its 
zenith,  because 
it  is  believed  that 
the  demon  of  the 
pestilence  is  tlien 
actively  engaged. 
'The  hot  exhala- 
tions of  noomlay 
are  the  cliariots 
of  the  fiends.' 
The  demons  of 
darkness  are  said 
to  have  the  most 
power  at  mi  1- 
night."— /iofttv/i. 

h  Busbtquius. 

tBurdcr, 


tion.  and  that  it  perishod.  It  was  a  £rreat  loss  to  art  that  such  a 
thinij  should  perish.  Can  any  man  look  upon  the  AcroiJolis — 
shattered  "tt^ith  balls,  crumbled  by  the  various  iniiuences  of  the 
elements,  and  utterly  destroyed,  and  not  mourn  to  think  that 
such  a  stately  temple,  a  tem;)le  so  unparalleled  in  its  exquisite 
symmetry  and  beauty,  should  be  desolate  and  scattered .'  Can 
there  be  anythiuGf  more  melancholy  than  the  destruction,  not 
only  of  such  temples  as  the  Acropolis  anrl  the  Parthenon,  but  of 
a  whole  city  of  temples  and  statues  .'  More  melancholy  than  the 
destruction  of  a  statue,  or  a  temple,  or  a  city,  or  a  nation,  in  its 
physical  aspects,  is  the  destruction  of  a  man,  the  wreck  of  the 
understanding,  the  ruin  of  the  moral  feelinpfs,  the  scattering-  all 
abroad  of  those  elements  of  power  that,  united  together,  make 
man  fitly  the  noblest  creature  that  walks  on  the  er.rth.  Thousands 
and  thousands  of  men  make  foreign  pilgrimages  to  visit  and 
mourn  over  fallen  and  destroyed  cities  of  former  grandeur  and 
beauty  ;  and  yet,  all  round  about  every  one  of  us,  in  every  street, 
and  in  almost  every  neighbourhood,  there  are  ruins  more  stupen- 
dous, more  pitiful,  and  more  heart-touching  than  that  of  any  city. 
And  how  strange  woulil  be  the  wonder  if.  as  men  wandered  in 
the  Orient,  there  should  come  some  one  that  should  call  from  the 
mounds  all  the  scattered  ruins  of  Babylon,  or  build  again  Tadmor 
of  the  desert  1  How  strange  it  would  be  to  see  a  city,  that  at 
night  was  a  waste  heap,  so  restored  that  in  the  morning  the  light 
of  the  sun  should  flash  from  pinnacle,  and  tower,  and  wall,  and 
roof  !  How  marvellous  would  be  that  creative  miracle  !  But 
more  marvellous,  ten  thousand  times,  is  that  Divine  touch  by 
which  a  man,  broken  down  and  shattered,  is  raised  up  in  his  right 
mind,  and  made  to  sit,  clothed,  at  the  feet  of  Jesus.* 

14—17.  (14)  -u^aste,  etc..  De.  xxviii.  37.  (l."))  instrnetion, 
they  shall  learn  of  Cod  and  His  claim:)  from  such  an  exam]>le  of 
judgment.  (It;)  arrows,  De.  xxxii.  23.  staff  of  bread,  ch. 
iv.  H).  (17)  evil  beasts,  wh.  soon  multiply  in  a  desolate  and 
uninhabited  country." 

Juf/7irafire  vxc  of  fJir  irord  "  arroii-y — The  arrow,  in  this 
passage,  means  the  pestilence.  The  Arabs  thus  denote  it :  "J 
desired  to  remove  to  a  less  contagious  air.  I  received  from  Soly- 
man.  the  emperor,  this  message  :  that  the  emperor  wondered 
what  I  meant,  in  desiring  to  remove  my  habitation.  Is  not  the 
pestilence  God"s  arrow,  which  will  always  hit  His  mark.  If  God 
would  visit  me  herewith,  how  could  I  avoid  it ?  'Is  not  the 
plague,'  said  he,  '  in  my  own  palace  :  and  yet  I  do  not  think  of 
removing.'  "  *  We  find  the  same  opinion  expre.-sed  in  Smith's 
remarks  on  the  Turks.  "  What,"  say  they.  "  is  not  the  plague 
the  dart  of  Almighty  Cod.  and  can  we  escape  the  blow  He  levels 
at  us  l  Is  not  His  hand  steady  to  hit  the  persons  He  aims  at .'  Can 
we  run  out  of  His  sight,  and  beyond  His  power  ' ''  So  Herbert, 
sp-^aking  of  Curroon,  says,  '•  That  year  his  empire  was  so  wounded 
with  God's  arrows  of  plague,  pestilence,  and  famine,  as  this 
thousand  yeaxs  before  was  never  so  terrible."' <= 


Cap.  vi.  1—10.] 


EZEKIEL. 


245 


CHAPTER  THE  SIXTH. 

1 — 4.  (1)  set  thy  face,  as  if  directing'  tliy  messag-e. 
(3)  mountains,  etc.,  Palestine  was  a  liilly,  though  it  can 
hardly  be  called  a  mountainous  country,  rivers,  or  ravines." 
(•1)  images,  or  sun-images,  Le.  xxvi.  ;^0.*  slain  .  .  idols,  to 
show  the  manifest  connection  between  idolatry  and  calamity,  and 
to  put  the  idol-trusting  to  shame. 

Preachers  to  he  ac/piainted  ov'ith  liHman  natnre. — Michael 
Angelo,  when  painting  an  altar-jiiece  in  the  conventual  church, 
in  Floi-ence,  in  order  that  the  figures  might  be  as  death-like  as 
possible,  obtained  permission  of  the  prior  to  have  the  coifins  of 
the  newly-buried  opened  and  placed  beside  him  during  the  night ; 
an  axipilliing  expedient,  but  successful  in  enabling  him  to  repro- 
duce with  terrible  effect,  not  the  mortal  pallor  only,  but  the  very 
anatomy  of  death.  If  we  would  preach  well  to  the  souls  of 
men,  we  must  acquaint  ourselves  with  their  ruined  .-tate,  must 
have  their  case  always  on  our  hearts  both  by  night  and  day.  must 
know  the  terrors  of  the  Lord  and  the  value  of  the  soul,  and  feel 
a  sacred  .sympathy  with  perishing  sinners.  There  is  no  masterly, 
prevailing  preaching  without  this.' 

5 — 7.  (5)  dead  carcases,  of  tho.se  killed  by  famine  and  the 
Bword.  bones,  said  to  intimate  that  no  decent  burial  should  be 
given  to  the  dead  bodies."  ((3)  works,  i.e.  your  idols,  which  are 
not  gods,  but  the  mere  work  of  men's  hands.  (7)  I  .  .  Lord,  by 
the  display  of  My  glory  as  the  '•  All-powerful  punisher  of  sin."'  * 

Falxc  religion  and  its  doom  (i:  5). — Man  says  he  wants  sincerity 
and  earnestness.     "What  God  asks  is  truth,  the  one  religion  which 
He  has  revealed.     I.  False  religion:  there  is  such  a  thing  :  it  may 
be  earnest  and  zealous,   yet  false.     II.  Its  uselessness  :  it  profits 
nobody,   either  here  or    hereafter ;    is  not   acceptable  to   God. 
III.  Itshatefulness:  God  abhors  it  :  it  is  outward,  untrue,  again.st 
His  revelation  :  dishonouring,  self-exalting.     IV.  Its  doom:   its 
condemnation  is — 1.    Certain  ;    2.  Utter  ;  3.  Visible  ;  4.  E.xpres- 
eive  ;  5.  Contemptuous:    6.    Everlasting.    Apply  :— (I)  See  that 
your  religion  is  true  :    (2)  Your   worship   real.' — The  end  is  come 
\v.  5). — I.  The  end  of  the  year.     It  should  be  a  season — 1.  Of 
thank.sgiving  ;  2.  Of  self-examination  ;  3.   Of  confession  :  4.  Of 
devout  contemplation.     II.  The  end  of  life.     It  is  the  end  of-  •  I 
1.  Our  abode  on  earth;  2.  Of  our  present  enjoyments;  3.  Our 
present  employments  ;   4.  Our  present  sorrows  :  5.  Our  present  - 
connections  ;    G.   Our  present  privileges.     III.    The    end   of  the  i 
world.     1.  It  will  be  the  close  of  time  ;  2.  The  introduction  of  | 
an  unalterable  state  of  rewards  and  punishments  ;  8.   It  will  be 
the  epoch  of  Chi-isfs  glorious  manifestation.'' 

8—10.  (8)  a  remnant,  Is.  iv.  2  ;  Je.  xliv.  14.  (9)  remem- 
ber me,  when  under  the  pressure  of  calamity,  they  would. 
in  penitence,  turn  thought  and  heart  to  God.  (9)  broken,  Je. 
xxiii.  9.  The  pass,  may  read.  '■  I  have  broken  their  whorish 
beirb,"  etc."  (10)  said  in  vain,  i.e.  without  adequate  cause,  or 
full  intention  and  power  to  execute. 

Conscience. — The  following  remarkable  instance  of  the  force 
of  conscience  occurred,  in  1835,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  London. 


a  Moiitioiied  aa 
tlietuvoiirite?eat 
of  iddl  rites,  just 
as  hiU-tcips  were. 

6  2Clir.  x.xxiv.4; 
Is.  xvii.  8. 

We  get  life,  as 
we  lost  It :  both 
tlie  o:;e  and  the 
other  indepeu- 
dently  of  our- 
selves. "  As  in 
Adam  all  die, 
even  so  in 
Christ  shall  all  ba 
made  alive." 

c  Spurgeon. 


a  Comp.  2  Kl. 
x.xiii.  14,  16. 

6  "  Importing 
that  the  judg- 
ments God  in- 
tended to  bring 
upon  the  Jews, 
would  make  the 
most  hardened 
and  stupid  sin- 
ners sensible  thab 
this  was  God's 
hand." — Lowth. 

c  Dr.  H.  Sonar. 

With  love,  the 
heart  becomes  a 
fair  and  fertile 
garden,  with  sun- 
sliine  and  warm 
hues,  and  eshal- 
ing  sweet  odours; 
but  without  it,  it 
is  a  bleak  desert 
covered  with 
ashes. 


a   Or  made  co»» 

Irite. 

"When  they  that 
escape  shall,  in 
the  land  of  their 
exile,  remember 
Jle,  when  they 
shall  loathetheni- 
selves  for  tlieir 
sins — tUeu  at  lasb 


246 

shall  they  know 
tliat  I  am  the 
Lord,  aii'l  that 
^ty  jnirpose  in 
pronouncing 
tlu'ir  doom  has 
not  been  in  vain." 
— Sjii:  Com. 
"  The  testimony 
of  a  gooil  con- 
science will  make 
the  comforts  of 
heaven  desccml 
upon  111  a  n '  s 
■weary  liead,  like 
r.  refreshing  dew 
or  shower  upon 
a  parched  land  ; 
it  will  give  hiiu 
lively  earnests 
and  secret  anti- 
cipations of  ap- 
proaching joy; 
it  will  bill  his 
soul  go  out  of  the 
body  undaunted- 
ly, and  lift  up  his 
head  with  con- 
fidence before 
saints  and  angels. 
The  comfort 

■which  it  conveys 
is  greater  tlian 
the  capacities  of 
mortality  can 
appreciate, 
niigUty  and  uu- 
speakable,  and 
not  to  be  under- 
stood as  it  is  felt." 
—Br.  Smth. 
h  R.  T.  S. 

a  Nx  xxiv.  10 ; 
Eze.  xxi.  17. 

6  "  In  indigna- 
tion at  the  abom- 
inations of  Israel, 
extend  thine 
baud  towards 
Juilrea.as  if  about 
to  '  strike  '  and 
'  stamp,'  shaking 
oflf  the  dust  with 
thy  foot,  in  token 
of  how  Goil  sliall 
'stretcli  out  His 
hand  upo}i  them,' 
and  tre.ad  them 
down." — Faussrt. 

e  Je.  ii.  20;  Ho. 
iv.  13. 

d  Nu.  xxxiii.  46 
Je.  xlviii.  22. 

"  The  name,  in 
tlie  modified  form 
Diblathan,  is 
found  on  the 
Jloabite  stone." 
— S/7^-.  Com. 
"A    good     con- 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  vi.  11-14. 


j  A  lady,  of    about  thirty-eight    years  of  age,  elegantly  dressed, 

eutered  the  shop  of  Mr. ,  a  resi)eclablu  pastrycook,  in  a  state 

of  great  mental  excitement,  and  inquired  if  Mr. -were  still 

alive.  On  being  answered  in  the  atlirniative,  she,  in  the  most 
earnest  manner,  begged  to  see  him.  Ueing  engaged  in  superin- 
tending the  making  of  some  confectionery,  he  begged  to  be 
excused,  and  referred  her  to  his  daughter,  ■who,  he  said,  ■would 
wait  upon  her.  The  daughter  immediately  withdrew  with  her 
into  the  parlour,  when,  after  sitting  a  few  moments  in  silence, 
she  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears.  AVhen  she  became  more  com- 
posed, she  stated  that  upwards  of  twenty  years  since  she  was  a 
boarder  at  a  highly  respectable  boarding  school  in  that  neigh- 
bourhood, which  school  Mr. had  for  nearly  forty  yei'rs  sup- 
plied with  pastry,  etc.,  and  while  there,  she  w^as  in  the  habit  of 
abstracting  small  articles  from  his  tray,  unknown  to  the  person 
who  brought  it.  She  had  now  been  married  some  years,  was  the 
mother  of  six  children,  and  in  the  po.■^sessiou  of  every  comfort 
this  world  could  afford  ;  but  still  the  remembrance  of  her  youthful 
sin  had  so  haunted  her  conscience,  that  she  was  never  happy. 
Her  husband,  perceiving  her  uuhapijiness,  had,  after  many  fruit- 
less endeavours,   at  last  got  possession  of  the  cause,   when  he 

advised  her,  for  the  easement  of  her  conscience,  to  see  if  jMr. 

were  alive,  and  to  make  him  or  his  family  a  recompense  ;  and  as 
she  was  going  to  leave  Loudon  on  the  following  day,  perhaps  for 

ever,  she  had  then  come  for  that   purpose.    Mr. ,  on  b^^'ing 

informed  of  the  object  of  her  visit,  told  her  not  to  make  herself 
any  longer  unhappj^,  as  she  was  not  the  only  young  lady  who 
J-^'-d  acted  in  that  manner.  After  begging  his  forgiveness, 
which  he  most  readily  granted,  she  insisted  on  his  acceptance  of 
a  sum  of  money,  which,  she  said,  she  believed  was  about  the  value 
of  the  articles  she  had  stolen  :  and  after  remaining  about  an  hour, 
she  departed,  evidently  much  happier.* 

11 — 14.  (11)  smite  .  .  foot,"  gestures  indicating  deep  concern 
at  the  wickedness  of  the  people.''*  ''Call  attention  by  act>!  of 
grief  and  consternation."  (12)  far  off,  i.e.  out  of  reach  of  the 
perils  of  the  siege,  remaineth,  in  the  city.  (13)  slain  .  . 
altars,  w.  4.  5.  hill,  etc.,  noted  places  for  idolatrous  worship." 
sweet  savour,  Heb.  sacuur  of  o-r.it,  Ge.  viii.  21.  "Applied  to 
idol  sacrifices  in  ivory."  (H)  Diblatb.,  part  of  the  desert  to- 
wards Moab.'' 

Note  on  V.  14. — "  The  land  shall  be  utterly  spoiled, — I  •will 
make  the  land  more  desolate  than  the  wilderness."  '•  The  tem- 
ples are  thrown  down  ;  the  palaces 'demolished  :  the  ports  filled 
up  ;  the  towns  destroyed  ;  and  the  earth,  stripped  of  inhabitants, 
seems  a  dreary  burying-place."  (Volney.)  "Good  God!"  ex- 
claims the  same  writer,  '•  from  whence  proceed  such  melancholy 
revolutions  ?  For  what  cause  is  the  fortune  of  these  countries  so 
strikingly  changed  ?  Why  are  so  many  cities  destroyed  ?  ^^'h.7 
is  not  that  ancient  population  reiiroduced  and  perpetuated?"  "'I 
wandered  over  the  country  ;  I  traversed  the  provinces  ;  I  enu- 
meiated  the  kingdoms  of  Damascus  and  Idumasa,  of  Jerusalem 
and  Samaria.  This  Syria,  snid  I  to  myself,  now  almost  depopu- 
lated, then  contained  a  hundred  flourishing  cities,  and  abounded 
with  towns,  villages,  and  hamlets.  "What  are  become  of  so  many 
productions  of  the  hands  of  man  ?  AVhat  are  become  of  those 
ages  of  abundance  and  of  life^  "  etc.    Seeking  to  be  ■wise,  mea 


tJap.  vii.  1—9.] 


EZEKIEL. 


247 


become  fools  when  tliey  trust  to  their  own  vain  imaginations, 
and  will  not  look  to  that  Word  of  God  which  is  as  able  to  con- 
found the  wise  as  to  give  Understanding  to  the  simple."  These 
words,  from  the  lips  of  a  great  advocate  of  infidelity,  proclaim 
the  certainty  of  the  truth  which  he  was  too  blind  or  bigoted  to 
isee.  For  not  more  unintentionally  or  unconsciously  do  many 
illiterate  Arab  pastors  or  herdsman  verify  one  prediction,  while 
they  literally  tread  Palestine  under  foot,  than  Volney,  the  acade- 
imician,  himself  verifies  another,  while,  speaking  in  his  own 
mame,  and  the  spokesman  also  of  others,  he  thus  confirms  the 
unerring  truth  of  God's  holy  word  by  what  he  said,  as  well  as 
by  describing  what  he  saw.* 


CHAPTER   THE  SEVENTH. 

1 — 4.  (1)  moreover,  etc..  the  ch.  beginning  thus  is  a  dirge 
rather  than  a  proidiecy.  Only  three  or  four  years  were  to  inter- 
vene before  the  final  overthrow  of  Jerusalem  by  the  Clialdasans. 
(2)  land  of  Israel,  this  is  the  term  for  the  whole  land  that  is 
useil  after  the  captis-ity  of  the  northern  nation."  four  corners, 
or  wings  ;  *  fig.  to  include  the  whole  land,  (3)  recomiDense, 
eU-.,  God  speaks  of  the  people's  sin  as  if  it  had  been  a  personal 
injury  to  Him.  (1)  not  spare,  or  set  limits  to  the  calamities 
that  are  coming.  Punishment  and  bitter  sufEering  is  necessary 
to  reveal  the  hateful  character  of  sin. 

Desolation  of  Judaa. — It  is  no  "  secret  malediction,"  spoken  of 
by  Volney.  which  God  has  pronounced  against  Juda3a.  It  is  the 
curse  of  a  broken  covenant  that  rests  upon  the  land  ;  the  con- 
seriuences  of  the  iniquities  of  the  people,  not  of  those  only  who 
have  been  plucked  from  off  it  and  scattered  throughout  the  world, 
but  of  those  also  that  dwell  therein.  The  ruins  of  emisires  origi- 
nated, not  from  the  regard  which  mortals  paid  to  revealed 
religion,  but  from  causes  diametrically  the  reverse.  The 
desolations  are  not  of  Divine  appointment,  but  only  as  they  have 
followed  the  violations  of  the  laws  of  God,  or  have  ai'isen  from 
thence.  And  none  other  curses  have  come  upon  the  land  than 
those  that  are  written  in  the  Book.  The  character  and  condition 
of  the  people  are  not  less  definitely  marked  than  the  features  of 
the  land  that  has  been  smitten  with  a  curse  because  of  their 
iniquities.  And  when  the  unbeliever  asks,  Wherefore  hath  the 
Lord  done  this  unto  the  land  1  the  same  word  which  foretold 
that  the  question  would  be  put,  supplies  an  answer  and  assigns 
the  cause.'^ 

5 — 9.  (5)  an  only  evil,  i.e.  a  singular  evil,  with  none  to 
match  it.  Or  an  unrelieved  evil,  which  shall  have  no  mitigations. 
(<!j  the  end,  the  final  manifestation  of  the  Divine  judgment  on 
the  land,  watchetll,  or  wakes  up  for  thee.  (7)  morning,  or 
beginning  of  the  day  of  doom,  sounding,  or  echo  :  i.e.  it  is  a 
reality,  and  no  mere  echo  of  the  mountains."  (8)  shortly,  in  a 
very  few  years  ;  at  most  three  or  four.     (9)  not  spare,  v.  4. 

Sin  in  hlosxom  (y.  '>). — The  teaching  of  the  figure  before  us  is — 
I.  That  beauty  may  be  associated  with  evil,  as  beauty  of  counte- 
nance, Absalom,  poetry,  eloquence,  art.  magnificent  mansions  and 
picturesque  acres.  II.  That  success  is  no  test  of  moral  right  or 
Vkioug.    111.  That  the  forces  of  retribution  are  ever  at  work.* 


science  is  to  the 
soul  what  health 
is  to  the  body; 
it  preserves  a 
constant  easa 
anil  serenity 

within  us,  and 
more  than  coun- 
tervails all  the 
calamities  and 
afflictions  whicli 
can  possibly  be- 
fall U&."  —Addi- 
son. 
e  Keilh. 


a  Mai.  i.  1,  ii.  11. 

"  Possibly  Manas- 
sell  and  his  suc- 
ce.=sors  in  the 
k  i  n  g  d  o  m  of 
Judah  had  the 
dominion  of  th'j 
whole  laud  of 
Canaan,  formerly 
divided  into  the 
two  kingdoms  of 
Judah  and  Israel, 
as  t  r  i  b  u  t  a  r  i  cs 
under  the  kings 
of  Assyria." — 
ri'idiuux. 

b  Nu.  x.\iv.  17. 

"  Wliat  stronger 
breastplatethan  a 
heart  untainted  ? 
Thrice  is  he  arm- 
ed who  hath  his 
quarrel  just;  and 
he  but  naked, 
though  locked  up 
in  steel,  whose 
conscience  witU 
injustice  is  cor- 
rupted."— Shake- 
sjwai-e. 

c  Keith. 


a  Rather,  the 
noise  you  hear  is 
the  rushing  of 
the  enemy  to 
destroy  you. 

"  How  in  the 
looks  does  con- 
scious guilt  ap« 
pear!"— Oi'id. 

b  U.  R.  Tliomas. 


248 


EZKKlF.t. 


[Cap.  vii.  10-27. 


t«  "  Wiokedness 
daily  siireailsan.l 
increases,  till  it 
becomes  ripe  for 
j  u  d  J?  "1  c  11 1-" — 

L'HVtll. 

b  "  Tlio  violence 
aiiil  fury  of  the 
CMemy  have  risen 
up  so  as  to  be- 
come a  rod  to 
punisli  the  wick- 
edness of  the 
people."  — Spk. 
Com. 

c  "  Trans.  '  There 
is  notliing  of 
them,  of  their 
multitude,  of 
their  crowds; 
and  there  is  no 
eminence  among 
them.' " — Keviscd 
Eng.  Bible, 
d  Joel  ii.  2  ;  Zep. 
1.14. 
«  Roberts. 

a  "  As  cloves, 
whose  natural 
abode  is  the 
Talleys,  when 
driven  by  fear 
into  the  moun- 
tains mourn  la- 
mentably, so  shall 
the  remnant,  who 
have  escaped  ac- 
tual deatli,  moan 
in  the  land  of 
their  e.xile."-Spi-. 
Com. 

h  "  Their  wealth 
will  not  procure 
them  the  neces- 
saries of  life 
under  the  straits 
cf  famine,  or 
miseries  of  bond- 
age."— Lowth. 
c  Eze.  xiv.  3,  xvi. 
17,  xliv.  12. 
d  Campbell. 

a  "The  God  of 
Jerusalem  gires 
the  tcmjile  into 
the  hands  of  tlie 
C'haldajans,  and 
He  uses  them, 
■wicked  as  they 
are,  as  His  own 
instruments  for 
punishing  His 
people  for  the 
sins  by  which 
they  pollute  tlie 
city  and  the 
temple."-  Words- 

wo  I- III. 
I  Keith. 

a  "  It  was  cus- 
.tomary   to    lead 


10—15.  (10)  rod.  .  .  blossomed,  a  fig.  to  represent  the  fact 
that  the  iniquity  of  Jiulah  was  now  full,  and  demanded  im- 
mediate Diviup  interference."  8ome  refer  thetij^.  to  the  blossom- 
intr  of  the  Chal(i;e;in  power,  (llj  rod  of  wickadnes.a,  or  a 
roil  that  must  punish  wickedues.s.*  multitude  .  .  theirs,  a 
difficult  sentence.  Prob.  meaning-,  neitlier  the  men  themselves, 
nor  any  of  their  belong-ings,  their  wives  or  their  children."^  (12) 
day,  /.«".  the  day  of  doom.<*  (13)  not  return,  to  occupy  hid 
land,  the  lease  of  which  he  sells,  neither  .  .  life,  better, 
'■  Neither  shall  any  strengthen  for  himself  his  life  by  his  iniquity." 
(14)  none  .  .  battle,  bee.  of  failing  hearts.  (15)  sword,  etc., 
V.  2.  vi.  12,  etc. 

The  miirnhif/  gone  forth  (v.  10). — This  alludes  to  the  punish- 
ment of  the  children  of  Israel  ;  and  Jehovah,  through  His  servant, 
addresses  the  people  in  Eastern  language  :  •'  The  morning  is  gone 
forth.'  Their  wickedness,  their  violence,  had  grown  into  a  rod 
to  punish  them.  The  idea  is  implied  in  the  Tamul  translation 
also.  '•  Yes,  wretch,  the  rod  has  long  been  growing  for  thee  :  'tis 
now  ready,  they  may  now  cut  it.'  "True,  true,  the  man"s  past 
crimes  are  as  so  many  rods  for  him.'"* 

16 — 19.  (16)  doves,  noted  for  the  mournfulness  of  their  note, 
and  their  fond  attachment  to  their  homes  and  mates."  (17) 
hands  .  .  feeble,  for  the  fig.  see  Job  iv.  :5.  4.  ;  Is.  xxxv.  3.  be 
weak,  lit.  r/a,  yield  as  wat^r.  (18)  gird,  etc.,  Is.  xv.  3  ;  Je. 
xlviii.  37.  baldness.  Is.  xxii.  12  ;  comp.  De.  xiv.  1.  (19)  cast, 
etc.,  this  would  be  done  in  the  misery  of  famine,  when  they 
found  gold  and  silver  could  feed  nobody.*  stumblingblock, 
curse  was  on  the  gold  and  silver  because  they  had  made  idol 
gods,  and  ornaments  for  idol  gods  with  it.' 

Doves  mouni'intj. — This  is  a  most  strikingly  apt  simile  to  all 
who  have  heard  the  sound  made  by  the  turtle  dove.  In  the 
woods  of  Africa  I  have  often  listened  to  the  sound  of  the  turtle 
dove's  apparent  mourning  and  lamentations,  uttered  incessantly 
for  hours  together — indeed,  without  a  moment's  intermission.  In 
a  calm,  still  morning,  when  everything  in  the  wilderness  is  at 
rest,  no  sound  can  be  more  plaintive,  pitiful,  and  melancholy.  It 
would  cause  gloom  to  arise  in  the  most  sprightly  mind, — it  rivets 
the  ear  to  it, — the  attention  is  irresistibly  arrested. "* 

20—22.  (20)  beauty  . .  ornament,  prob.  referring  to  God'a 
temple,  images,  of  their  idol  gods,  set  .  .  them,  or  made  it 
as  an  unclean  thing ;  given  it  into  the  hands  of  the  Gentiles. 
(21)  strangers,  barbarous  and  savage  nations."  (22)  face  .  . 
them,  so  as  not  to  interfere  and  defend  the  holy  place  from 
their  outrages,     robbers,  lit.  "  men  making  breaches." 

tStrangers. — Instead  of  abiding  under  a  settled  and  enlightened 
government,  Judtea  has  been  the  scene  of  frequent  invasions, 
'■  which  have  introduced  a  succession  of  foreign  nations  (des 
peuples  etrangers)."  "  When  the  Ottomans  took  Sj'i-ia  from  the 
Mamelouks,  they  considered  it  as  the  spoil  of  a  vanquished 
enemy.  According  to  this  law,  the  life  and  jiroperty  of  the  van- 
quished belong  to  the  conqueror.  The  Government  is  far  from 
disapproving  of  a  system  of  robbery  and  plunder  which  it  finds 
so  profitable  "  (Voluey).' 

23 — 27.  (23)  make  a  chain,  comp.  Je.  xxvii.  2.  A  chain  is 
the  symbol  of  caijtivity."    bloody  crimes,  Xtath.ev,Jitdgiiu'nt  of 


Cap.  viii.  1-4.]  ezekiel. 

blood,  i.e.  "  murder  committed  with  hypocritical  formalities  of 
justice."'  (24)  worst,  the  most  cruel  and  terrible.*  pomp  .  . 
strong,  or  the  pride  of  power,  Le.  xxvi.  I'J.  their  lioly 
places,  God  no  longer  owns  them  as  His."  (25)  destruction, 
or  cutting  off.  (2i))  mischief.  Is.  xlvii.  11.  seek  a  vision, 
coiiij).  Je.  xxxvii.  17,  xxxviii.  14.  (27)  king  .  .  troubled, 
general  consternation  making  all  the  leaders  and  counsellors  of 
the  land  helpless. 

War. — Seneca,  the  great  moralist  of  antiquity,  is  still  more 
strong  in  his  condemnation  of  war.  "  How  are  we  to  treat  our 
fellow  creatures?  Shall  we  not  .spare  the  effusion  of  blood  ?  How 
small  a  matter  not  to  hurt  him  to  whom  we  are  bound  by  every 
obligation  to  do  all  the  good  in  our  power  I  Some  deeds,  which 
are  considered  as  villanous  while  capable  of  being  prevented, 
become  honourable  and  glorious  when  they  rise  above  the  con- 
trol of  law.  The  very  things  which,  if  men  had  done  them 
in  their  private  capacity,  they  would  expiate  with  their  lives,  we 
extol  when  perpetrated  in  regimentals  at  the  bidding  of  a 
general.  We  punish  murders  and  massacres  committed  among 
private  persons  ;  but  what  do  we  with  w^ars,  the  glorious  crime 
of  murdering  whole  nations !  Here  avarice  and  cruelty  know 
no  bounds  ;  enormities  forbidden  in  private  persons  are  actually 
enjoined  by  legislatures,  and  every  species  of  barbarity  autho- 
rised by  decrees  of  the  senate,  and  votes  of  the  people." 


CHAPTER  THE  EIGHTH. 

1 — 4.  (1)  elders,  those  carried  away  with  Jehoiachin,  and 
now  at  the  Chebar.  These  had  come  to  inquire  of  the  Lord, 
through  His  Prophet,  hand  .  .  me,  ch.  i.  3.  (2)  likeness, 
etc.,  comji.  ch.  i.  2(;,  27.  loins  .  .  fire,  to  intimate  the  vengeance 
of  God  kindled  against  the  wicked  Jews,  amber,  ch.  i.  4.  (3) 
form  of  a  hand,  camp.  Da.  v.  5.  in  the  visions,  i.e.  he 
seem.. '  to  have  all  these  things  done  to  him  in  the  vision,  door 
.  .  gate,  i.e.  the  entrance  to  the  court  of  the  juiests.  image  of 
jealousy,  some  idol  figure  that  provoked  Jehovah  to  jealousy." 
(4)  glory  .  .  there,  showing  plainly  that  it  was  the  residence 
of  Jehovah  alone.     Ref .  is  to  the  Shekinah  cloud.* 

Ainhcr  (Heb.,  clutxmal;  Greek,  electron)  is  supposed  to  be  a 
fossil  resin,  which  is  most  likely  the  case,  leaves  and  insects 
being  often  found  embedded  in  it.  It  is  one  of  the  most  electric 
substances  known,  and.  by  friction,  produces  light  in  the  dark. 
By  rubbing  a  piece  of  this  substance  brisklj'  till  it  became  heated, 
it  was  found  to  attract  and  repel  light  bodies.  This  principle 
was  called  electricity,  from  the  Greek  word  electron,  amber. 
Amber  is  a  substance  somewhat  harder  than  resin,  transparent, 
of  a  yellowish  colour,  bitter  in  taste,  something  like  myrrh,  and 
capable  of  a  bright  polish  ;  on  account  of  which  the  ancie'nts 
reclioned  it  among  gems  of  the  first  clnss.  and  employed  it  in  all 
kinds  of  ornamental  dress.  Malte  Bruu  conjectures  that  the 
aromalites,  or  aromatic  stone  of  the  ancients,  was  amber.  The 
colour  which  resembled  wax  and  honey-yellow  was  most 
esteemed  by  them,  not  only  for  beauty,  but  for  solidity.  The 
high  esteem  in  which  it  is  held  is  shown  by  the  statement  of 
Piiuy  that,  in  his  days,  a  small  piece  of  amber  was  more  than 


249 


away  captives  in 
a  row  with  a 
chain  passed  from 
the  utck  of  one 
to  the  otlier." — 
Fausiel. 

b  De.  xxviii.  49, 

50. 

c  Jerome. 

"  This  expression 
appears  to  inrli- 
cate  tliat  at  this 
time  the  Bab. 
empire  contained 
in  it  an  elements 
of  rude,  rough, 
and  uncultivated 
warriors,  wliile  at 
tlie  same  time 
there  must  iiave 
been  a  highly 
civilised  popula- 
tion long  settled 
in  iS'ineveh  or 
Babylon."  — 
Jbuald. 


a  Comp.  2  Ki. 
xvi.  lu— 15,  x.\L 
7. 

« 

b  "  EzeWel  has 
this  repeated 
vision  of  (be 
glory  of  God  to 
aggravate  the  sin 
of  Israel,  in 
changing  their 
own  Uod.theGod 
of  Israel  (who  is 
a  God  of  so  much 
glory  as  here  He 
appears  to  be), 
forilunghill  gods, 
.scandalous  god., 
false  gods,  and 
indeed  no  goUs." 
—Mai.  Ihury. 

The  ancients 
used  amber  as  a 
medicine.  How 
tlie  Hebrews  ob- 
taiueil  it  we  are 
not  told.  But  as 
the  I'hfEnicians 
traded  with 
Spain,  there  is 
very  little  doubt 
but  th.at  they 
carried  it  to  Tyre. 
A  classic  writer 
a^Sbcrts  tbattlifl 


250 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  viii.  5-11. 


P  h  no  n  i  c  i  a  n  s  equal  in  value  to  a  strouo-  and  robust  slave.  It  is  used  in  thia 
Trom'^tUe  Korih-  i  country  for  making'  necklarces,  snuif-boxes,  and  bracelets,  etc, 
cru  Saa.    '  ^^'^^^  Easterns,  at  the  present  day,  make  mouthpieces  to  their 

I  tobacco  jjipes  of  the  same  material,  which  they  highly  prize.  It 
1^'!!!^.''  "il"  .'.^..'^  i  is  sometimes  used  for  money.  A  traveller  writes,  ••  We  paid  for 
what  we  wanted  in  little  coarse  pieces  of  amber."  This  sub- 
stance is  found  in  different  jjarts  of  the  world  ;  but  mostly  on 
the  shores  of  the  Baltic  Sea.  It  is  met  with  floating  on  the  coast, 
particularly  after  tempests  ;  and  in  beds  of  wood  coal  in  different 
parts  of  Europe. — often  in  mines  far  from  the  sea.  and  in  liirmah. 
As  many  as  one  hundred  and  fifty  tons  were  picked  up  in  one 
year  on  the  seashore  near  Pillau,  in  Prussia. 

5,  6.  (5)  toward,  the  north.,  comp.  2  Ki.  xvi.  14."  the 
altar,  i.r.  the  great  altar  of  burnt-offering.  (0)  great  abomi- 
nations, by  thus  in  the  most  insulting  way  setting  up  an  idol 
image  right  in  front  of  Jehovah's  shrine,  go  .  .  sanctuary, 
being  compelled  to  forsake  it,  and  deliver  it  up  to  its  pollution.* 

I^rcdicfinn.t  of  Ezclcicl.- — Host  of  the  earlier  predictions  of  the 
Book  of  Ezekiel  have  respect  to  the  remnant  of  the  nation  left 
in  Juda;a.  and  to  the  further  judgments  impending  over  them, 
such  as  the  siege  and  sacking  of  Jerusalem — the  destruction  oi! 
the  Temple — the  slaughter  of  a  large  portion  of  its  inhabitauta 
— and  the  abduction  of  the  remainder  into  a  foreign  land.  The 
date  of  the  first  chapter  is  about  six  years  prior  to  the  occurrence 
of  these  events,  and  the  vision  which  it  contains  was  undoubtedly 
designed  to  exhibit  a  visible  symbol  of  the  Divine  glory  which. 
dwelt  among  that  nation.  The  tokens  of  Jehovah's  presence 
constituted  the  distinguishing  honour  of  Israel,  and  its  depar- 
ture from  among  thorn  would  consequently  form  the  essence  of 
their  national  calamities,  and  swell  them  indefinitely  beyond  all 
similar  disasters  which  could  possibly  befall  any  other  j)cople. 
Plain  intimations  of  the  abandonment  of  the  Holy  City  by  the 
emblems  of  the  Lord's  gloiy  are  interspersed  through  several 
ensuing  chapters,  till  we  come  to  the  tenth,  where  the  same 
splendid  image  is  again  brought  to  view,  and  is  now  exhibited 
in  the  act  of  forsaking  its  ancient  dwelling-place.  The  first 
chajiter  describes  what  their  treasure  was  ;  the  tenth,  the  loss  of 
it.  Together  with  this,  the  latter  contains  several  additional 
particulars  in  the  description  of  the  vision,  which  are  all  impor- 
tant to  its  explication.  By  keeping  in  mind  this  general  viev/  of 
the  contents  of  these  chapters,  the  reader  will  find  himself 
assisted  in  giving  that  significancy  to  each,  which  he  was 
probably  before  at  a  loss  to  discover.  It  may  be  here  remarked, 
that  the  symbol  of  the  Divine  glory  described  by  Ezekiel  was  not 
designed  as  a  mere  temporary  emblem,  adapted  oi;ly  to  that  occa- 
sion, but  that  it  is  a  permanent  one,  of  which  we  have  repeated 
intimations  in  the  Scriptures.  It  is  from  this  fact,  chiefly,  that 
it  derives  its  importance  as  an  object  of  investigation." 

7 — 11.  (7)  hole  in  the  wall,  through  which  ho  could  see 
into  one  of  the  very  side  chambei's  of  the  sanctuary  itself.  This 
is  more  prob.  than  that  the  chamber  was  in  the  outer  wall  of  the 
Temple."  (,S)  dig,  i'Vr.,the  secrecy  of  these  ritts  is  thus  forcibly 
indicated  :  the  ordinary  entrance  had  been  covered  up.  and  some 
secret  entrance  madi>,  poss.  through  the  other  rooms.  Or  the 
very  chamber  itself  may  have  been  secretly  made  iu  the  foun« 


Volnnu^  if  you 
know  how  to 
roiul  liini."— ir. 
ELlerij  C/uinniiuj. 


a  "The  locality 
of  tlie  Mol  en- 
iianops  the  hei- 
iiousiiv^ss  of  the 
sin  before  God's 
own  altar." — 
Fausset. 

^  Crimp.  V,7.e.  vii. 
21,  2-2,  X.  18. 

e  Duxh. 

"  Books  are  a 
giiiile  in  youth, 
anil  an  entertain- 
ment for  age. 
They  support  us 
under  solitude, 
.and  keep  us  from 
becoming  a  bur- 
den to  onr.selve.^. 
Thoy  help  us  to 
forget  ffie  cross- 
ness of  men  and 
things,  compose 
our  cares  and  our 
passions,  and  lay 
our  disappoint- 
ments asleep. 
we  are 
of  the 
we  may 
to  the 
dead,  who  have 
nothing  of 
peevishness, 
priile.  or  design 
iu  their  conver- 
Batiou." — Collier. 


When 

weary 
living, 
repair 


a  Ko  indignity 
couM  be  so  great 
as  making  a  very 
portion  of  the 
Riuctuary  a  place 
of  idulutrous 

rites. 

b   Eclurence     is 


Cap.  viii.  7—11.1 


EZEKIEL. 


251 


dations.     (9)  go   in,    so  as  to   get  demonstration   of   the   evil. 

(10)  ponrtrayed,  etc.,  these  pictures  were  objects  of  worship.' 

(11)  seventy,  etc.,  a  comjjany  of  the  elders  or  leaders  of  the 
nation.     Poss.  members  of  the  great  council,  or  Sanhedrim. 

The  chdiiihcr  of  iinagerij  (rr.  7 — 12). — From  this  vision  we  learn 
the  following  truths.  I.  Tliat  man  has  a  wonderful  power  of 
vision  beyond  that  of  the  senses.  1.  Through  this  power  God 
'frequently  reveals  the  greatest  truths  ;  2.  Through  it  man  will 
derive  much  of  his  happiness  or  misery  for  ever.  II.  That  the 
degenerating  tendency  in  the  most  advanced  people  has  ever  been 
strong.  This — 1.  Repudiates  the  atheistic  notion  that  the  original 
state  of  man  was  that  of  savageism,  and  confirms  the  Biblical 
doctrine,  that  God  made  man  ujiright,  etc.  ;  2.  Shows  that  it 
behoves  the  most  advanced  people  to  be  humble.  III.  That  the 
greatest  sins  of  humanity  are  generally  the  hidden  ones.  1.  Man 
has  power  to  conceal  his  sins  ;  2.  That  as  a  sinner  he  has  the 
strongest  reasons  for  concealment.  IV.  That  an  insight  of  the 
hidden  iniquity  of  a  pojiulation  is  a  necessary  qualification  for  a 
true  reformer.  1.  It  serves  to  impress  him  with  the  justice  of 
human  suffering  :  2.  Also  with  the  greatness  of  God's  love  in 
redemption ;    3.    With    the    sublime    mission   of    Christianity. 

V.  That  the  most  hidden  sins  are  destined  to  be  exposed.  Of  this 
exposure  of  sin  there  are  two  kinds.     1.  Unconscious  ;  2.  Conscious. 

VI.  That  a  practical  disregard  of  the  constant  presence  and 
iTispectiou  of  God  is  an  explanation  of  all  sin  1.  Because  the 
realising  of  God's  presence  implies  supreme  love  to  Him  ;  2.  If 
men  love  Him  supremely,  they  will  have  no  room  in  their  hearts 
for  idols. "^ 

Cdrc.i. — Caves,  and  other  similar  subterraneous  recesses,  eonse- 
crated  to  the  worship  of  the  sun,  were  very  generally,  if  not 
universally,  in  request  among  nations  where  that  superstition 
was  practised.  The  mountains  of  Chusistan  at  this  day  abound 
with  stupendous  excavations  of  this  sort.  Allusive  to  this  kind 
of  cavern  tempLe,  and  this  species  of  devotion,  are  these  words  of 
Ezekiel.  The  Prophet  in  a  vision  beholds,  and  in  the  most  sub- 
lime manner  stigmatises,  the  horrible  idolatrous  abomimrtions 
which  the  Israelites  had  borrowed  from  their  Asiatic  neighbours 
of  Ohaldiea,  Egypt,  and  Persia.  '"  And  he  brought  me  (says  the 
Prophet)  to  the  door  of  the  court ;  and  when  I  looked,  behold,  a 
hole  in  the  wall.  Then  said  he  unto  me,  Son  of  man,  dig 
now  in  the  wall  ;  and,  when  I  had  digged  in  the  wall,  behold 
a  door.  And  he  said  unto  me,  Go  in  (that  is,  into  this  cavern 
temple),  and  behold  the  wicked  abominations  that  they  do 
there.  So  I  went  in,  and  saw,  and  behold,  every  form  of 
ci'ceping  things,  and  abominable  beasts,  and  all  the  idols  of  the 
house  of  Israel,  were  portrayed  upon  the  wall  round  about."' 
In  this  subterraneous  temple  were  seventy  men  of  the  ancients 
of  the  house  of  Israel,  and  their  employment  was  of  a  nature 
very  nearly  similar  to  that  of  the  priests  in  Salsette.  "  They 
stood  with  every  man  his  censer  in  his  hand,  and  a  thick  cloud 
of  incense  went  up.  Then  said  he  unto  me.  Son  of  man,  hast 
thou  seen  what  the  ancients  of  Israel  do  in  the  dark,  every 
man  in  the  chambers  of  his  imagery,'  "  In  Egypt,  to  the  parti- 
cular idolatry  of  which  country,  it  is  plain,  from  his  mentioning 
every  forni  of  creeping  thing  and  abominable  beasts,  the  Prophet 
ift  tkie  place  alludes,  these  dark,  eeoluded  recesses  were  called 


evirlently  to  the 
Egyptian  form 
oi  idolatry. 


"  Bclzoni's  dis- 
coveries brought 
to  liglit  many 
subterraueau 
cliainbers  in 
rocks  upon  the 
shores  of  the 
Nile.  These  were 
used  as  sepul- 
chres both  for 
kings  and  private 
persons.  The 

walls  were  uni- 
formly adorned 
by  painted 
figures  .  .  .  and 
by  hieroglyphical 
cliLiracters,  some 
of  wh.  were  re- 
presentative of 
the  objects  of 
idolatrous  wor- 
sliip." — Spk.  Com. 


c  Dr.  Thomas, 


"  Conscience  is 
justice's  best 
minister:  it 
thieateus,  pro- 
mises, rewards, 
and  punishes, 
and  keeps  all 
under  its  control: 
the  busy  must 
attend  to  its  re- 
monstrances, the 
most  powerful 
submit  to  its  re- 
proof, and  the 
angry  endure  its 
upbrai  dings. 
Wiiile  conscience 
is  our  friend,  all 
is  peace  ;  but  if 
once  offended, 
farewell  the  tran- 
quil mind." — 
JJon  Mrs.  MoU' 
tatju&. 


Bessus,  a  Greciark,- 
gave  as  a  reason 
for  pulling  down 
the  birds'  nests 
about  his  house, 
that  the  birds 
never  ceased  to 
accuse  him  of  the 
murder  of  lug 
father. 


252 


EZEKJEL. 


[Cap.vlil.  12— 18 


a  As  vi:  7,  8. 

h  ••  Kvt-ry  one  of 
the  7l)  el.ler.-5  had 
]iis  own  imagery, 
iliis  favourite  ob- 
ject of  idolatrous 
worship  por- 

trayed upon  the 
wall  of  thecham- 
iber ;  and  to  it  lie 
did  homage  with 
iliis  censor,  ac- 
cording to  tlie 
device  of  his  own 
lieart." —  Words- 
icort/i. 

c  "  Tliis  was  a 
form  of  Katnre- 
worsliip.  It  was 
a  festival  held 
when  Nature  in 
the  E.  seem-!  to 
wither  and  die 
under  the  scorcli- 
ing  heat  of  the 
8un.  to  burst 
forth  a?rain  into 
life  in  due  sea- 
son. The  death 
of  Adonis  sym- 
bolised the  siis- 
pensii.u  of  the 
productive 
powers  of  Na- 
ture, wh.  wore  in 
due  time  revived. 
The  excitement 
of  the  fesiival 
led  to  unl)ridled 
license  and  ex- 
cess."—  Biblical 
Tiiinris, 
d  Hush. 

a  Joel  il.  17. 
6  "  To  under- 
stand this  clearly 
it  should  be  ob- 
served that,  ,as  if 
purposely  to  pre- 
vent the  abomi- 
nation referred 
to,  the  entrance 
of  the  temple  was 
on  the  E.  side  of 
the  bnildin.?,  so 
that,  in  looking 
towards  it  in 
worship,  the  wor- 
shippers neces- 
sarily turned 
their  backs  upon 
the  sun  at  its 
rising  in  the  K., 
at  wh.  time  the 
Inininary  w.is 
most  usually 
worshipped. 
Tliese  meu  being 


mystic  cells,  and  in  them  were  celebrated  the  secret  mysteries  of 
Isis  aud  Osiris,  represented  by  the  quadi'upeds  sacred  to  those 

deities.'' 

12—14.  (12)  in  the  dark,  or  in  secret."  chambers., 
imagery,  or  his  chambers  painted  with  imajres.*  Lord  .  . 
eartll,  ch.  ix.  9.  This  they  inferred  from  Gods  permitting' 
national  calamities  to  come  unchecked.  (13.  I'ij  weeping  for 
Tammuz,  tv  Adonis,  poss.  the  same  as  Osiris,  a  symbol  of  the 
sun."  '-The  sun-god  mourned  by  his  lover  Astarte,  the  personi- 
tication  of  vegetable  aud  animal  life,  at  his  departure  in'  the 
decline  of  the  year  to  dwell  in  the  region  of  gloom  with 
Peisephone." 

T/ie  I'roplu'f  Ezcl'icL — The  Prophet  Ezekiel  holds  a  conspicuous 
place  among  the  writers  of  the  Old  Testament,  although,  from  the 
highly  figurative  style  of  his  predictions,  a  greater  tiegree  of 
obscurity  has  been  supposed  to  attach  to  this  book  than  perhaps 
to  any  other,  except  the  Revelations,  in  the  whole  sacred  canon. 
This  remark  applies  peculiarly  to  the  first  and  tenth  chapters  of 
the  book,  which  contain  the  description  of  a  remarkable  emble- 
matical vision,  presented,  indeed,  under  some  variations  of  aspect 
in  each,  but  in  its  general  features  manifestly  the  same.  These 
chapters,  together  with  the  nine  last,  are  said  to  have  been 
reckoned  so  sacredly  obscure  by  the  ancient  Jews,  that  they 
abstained  from  reading  them  till  they  were  thirty  yeai-s  of  age. 
The  mystery  appears  to  have  been  but  little  abated  by  time,  as 
the  great  mass  of  commentators  still  speak  of  the  unpeuetrated 
veil  of  symbolical  darkness  in  which  the  Prophet's  meaning  is 
wrapped,  and  the  common  readers  of  Scripture  reiterate  the 
lamentation ;  although  doubtless  every  portion  of  the  inspired 
writings  i.s  just  as  luminous  and  intelligible  as  infinite  Wisdom 
saw  best  it  sliould  be  :  and  it  is  a  feature  of  revelation  worthy 
of  that  Wisdom,  that  it  is  adapted  to  every  stage  of  progress  aud 
attaiument  in  spiritual  knowledge.  While  in  some  parts,  and 
those  the  most  important,  it  levels  itself  to  the  capacity  of  a 
child,  in  others  it  gives  scope  to  the  intellect  of  an  angel.'' 

15—18.  (1."),  IG)  inner  court,  that  of  the  priests.  iDetweeii 
.  .  altar,  positions  which  even  the  priests  only  took  on  the  most 
solemn  occasions,  and  then  they  turned  to  the  west  of  the  temple." 
faces  .  .  east,  offering  tints  the  insult  of  their  backs  to  Jehovah, 
and  the  worship  of  their  faces  to  the  sun.''  (17)  branch  .  . 
nose,  "  as  the  Persians,  who.  when  worshipping  the  rising  sun, 
held  a  tamarisk  branch  in  their  hands.''"^  Perhaps  in  contempt 
Ezekiel  puts  the  noite  instead  of  the  mnvth.  before  which  the 
branch  was  properly  held.'*    (18)  not  spare,  ch.  v.  11. 

Iliilderi    ahnmhiation.^  c.vpofu'd  (>:  l.')). — Apply    this  passage — 

1.  To  the  world.  1.  The  abominatioE-s  that  are  visible  to  all  are 
exceeding  great :  2.  But  the  more  we  know  of  the  world,  the 
more  wicked  will  it  appear.  II.  The  Church.  1.  The  outward 
court  worshippers  are,  for  the  most  part,  exceedingly  corrupt ; 

2.  Would  to  God  we  could  except  from  this  censure  the  wor- 
shinpers  of  the  inner  court.  III.  The  heart.  1.  This,  the  Prophet 
tells  us,  is  superlatively  deceitful  ;  2.  It  is  also,  as  the  same 
Prophet  informs  us,  unsearchably  wicked.  Behold  here  then — 
(1)  The  folly  of  man;  (2)  The  forbearance  of  God;  (3)  The 
wonders  of  Ecdeeming  Love.* , 


Cap.lx.  1—4.] 


EZEKlEt. 


253 


Svn-ivorship. — This  last  expression  undoubtedly  alludes  to  some 
particular  ceremony  belong-ing  to  their  idolatrous  ■wori^hip.  Mr. 
Lowth  {On  the  Prophets)  says,  the  words  may  refer  to  a  custom 
among-  the  idolaters  of  dedicating  a  branch  of  laurel,  or  some 
other  tree,  to  the  honour  of  the  sun,  and  carrying  it  in  their 
hands  at  the  time  of  their  worship.  Lewis  observes,  that  the 
most  reasonable  exposition  is  that  the  worshipper,  with  a  wand 
in  his  hand,  would  touch  the  idol,  and  then  apply  the  stick  to  his 
nose  and  mouth,  in  token  of  worship  and  adoration.-^ 


CHAPTER  THE  NINTH. 

1 — 4.  (V)  loud  voice,  as  giving  a  command  requiring  imme- 
diate attention,  have  charge,  Le.  the  angels  charged  to  exe- 
cute Goii's  judgments  on  the  city."  draw  near,  quickly ; 
ready  to  act  at  once.  (2)  slaughter  ■weapon,  such  as  Levites 
used  for  preparing  the  sacrifices,  one  man,  the  leader  of 
them,  linen,  the  dress  of  the  priests,  and  symbol  of  purity, 
inkhorn  .  .  side,'  it  was  quite  usual  for  scribes  to  carry  the 
receptacle  for  ink  and  pen  stuck  in  tlieir  girdle.  (3)  gone  up, 
departed  from  the  inner  sanctuaiy  to  the  threshold,  as  a  step 
towards  forsaking  His  temjile.  The  glory  tarried  awhile  only 
to  give  the  waiting  officers  their  commission  of  vengeance. 
(4)  mark,"^  to  indicate  that  such  should  be  spared,  sigh,  etc., 
in  their  grief  at  the  iniquity  around  them. 

CJiri.ftians  a  t/rinrj  protest  tu/tjinxt  sin  (r.  4). — I.  God"s  people 
described.  I.  They  are  sighing  ones,  sorrowing  ;  2.  They  are 
crying  ones,  protesting.  II.  Their  pecu^liar  mark,  a  mark  of — 
1.  Separation  :  2.  Service  ;  3.  A  visible  mark  :  4.  A  mark  of 
safety.'' — Uetrihiition  {rr.  4,  5), — I.  That  the  chief  distinction 
between  man  is  moral.  1.  Not  unreasoning  caprice  ;  2.  Nor  any 
material  characteristics  :  3.  Nor  any  mental  qualities.  II.  That 
the  results  of  this  distinction  are  tremendous.  III.  That  the 
Divine  superintendence  of  human  destiny  is  perfect.  1.  The 
moral  character  and  condition  are  now  conspicuous  ;  2.  The 
arrangement  is  divine.' 

Mark  on  the  forehead. — Mr.  Maurice,  speaking  of  the  religious 
rites  of  the  Hindoos,  says,  before  they  can  enter  the  great 
pagoda,  an  '•  indispensable  ceremony  takes  place,  which  can  only 
be  performed  by  the  hand  of  a  Brahmin  ;  and  that  is,  the 
impressing  of  their  foreheails  with  the  tiltik,  or  mark  of  different 
colours,  as  they  may  belong  either  to  the  sect  of  Yeeshnu,  or 
Seeva.  If  the  temple  be  that  of  Veeshnu.  their  foreheads  are 
marked  with  a  longitudinal  line,  and  the  colour  used  is  vermilion 
If  it  be  the  temple  of  Seeva,  they  are  marked  with  a  parallel 
line,  and  the  colour  used  is  turmeric,  or  saffi'on.  But  these  two 
grand  sects  being  again  subdivided  into  numerous  classes,  both 
the  size  and  the  shape  of  the  tUiih  are  varied  in  proportion  to  their 
sul.ierior  or  inferior  rank.  In  regard  to  the  tihih.  I  must  observe, 
that  it  was  a  custom  of  veiy  ancient  date  in  Asia  to  mark 
their  servants  in  the  forehead.  It  is  alluded  to  in  these  words 
of  Ezekiel,  where  the  Almighty  commands  his  angels  to  •'  go 
through  the  midst  of  thf  city,  and  set  a  mark  on  the  foreheads  of 
the  men  who  sigh  for  the  abominations  committed  in  the  midst 
thereof."    The  same  idea  occurs  also  in  Rev.  vii.  3./ 


compelled         to 
make    a    chcice, 
cliose     to      triru 
Hieir     backs,     li. 
the   temple,  and 
tlieir  faces  to  tlia 
sun.  rather  thao 
their     backs     to 
the  sun,  and  their 
faces  to  the  tern* 
pie.''—  Kitto. 
c  W'ini.iirnrl/i. 
d  H.iKI.'ih'nb.rri. 
>■  C.  ,Simrun,il.A, 
/  ISurder. 


a  Comp.  2  EL  x; 
24. 

h  "  The  form  in 
most  general  use 
is  a  flat  case 
about  nine  inches 
long,  hj  an  inch 
.and  a  quarter 
broad,  and  half 
an  inch  thick,  the 
hollow  of  which 
serves  to  con- 
tain the  reed, 
pens,  and  pen- 
knife. It  is  fur- 
nislied  at  one 
end  with  a  lid 
at  ached  by  a 
hinge.  To  the 
flit  end  of  the 
shaft  towards  the 
end  furnished 
with  the  lid  is 
soldered  the  ink- 
vessel,  which  has 
at  the  top  a 
liingo,  and  a 
clasp  fitting  very 
closely.  The  ink- 
vessel  is  usually 
twice  as  heavy  a3 
the  shaft.  The 
latter  is  pa=sed 
thro'  the  girdle, 
a;;  1  prevented 
from  slipping 
through  by  the 
projecting  ink- 
vessel.  The 
whole  is  usually 
of  polished  metal, 
b)-ass,  silver,  or 
copper." — Kilto. 

c  lie.  vii.  1. 

The  mark  to  be 
put  is  the  Heb. 
letter  Tiot,  wh. 
is  in  form  some- 
thing like  a  cross, 

d  ir.  If.  ninjthe, 

e  U.  R.  Ttwmat, 

f  Durder, 


254 


EZEKIEL. 


Cap.  Ix.  5—11, 


a  2  Chr.  xxxvi. 
17. 

"Jivlgraent  of  ten 
begins  at  tlie 
house  of  God, 
bee.  such  pcrscjus 
sin  a  g  ,1  i  n  s  t 
greater  liglit  and 
clearer  cnuvic- 
tions." — Lotcl/i. 

b  Nu.  -xix.  11. 

•'Every  great  and 
original  writer, 
in  proportion  as 
he  is  great  or 
original,  must 
himself  create 
the  taste  by 
which  he  is  to  be 
r  e  1  i  s  h  e  d." — 
Wordsworth. 
e  sturgeon. 


Dr.  Thompson, 
speaking  of  one 
of  tliese  scribes 
or  letter-writers, 
says  :— ■'  This  is  a 
sort  of  Moslem 
confessional,  and 
that  fellow's  head 
must  be  crammed 
with  the  secrets 
and  the  scandal 
of  half  tl;e  city. 
No  matter  ;  I 
suppose,  like 
other  confessors, 
he  keeps  dark 
and  may  be 
trusted.  Still, 
this  letter  writ- 
ing would  not  be 
a  very  thriving 
business  In  our 
own  country." 

•'  Consider  !  ex- 
cept aliving  man, 
there  is  nothing 
more  wonderful 
than  a  book  1  a 
message  to  us 
from  the  deal ; 
from  human 
Bouls  whom  we 
never  saw,  who 
»ived  perhajis 
thousands  of 
miles  away  ;  anil 
yet  tliese,  in 
those  little  sheets 
of  paper,  speak 
to  us,  amuse  us, 
terrify  us,  teach 
ns,  comfort  us, 
open  tlieir  hearts 
to  us  as  brot  hers." 
—C.K.   gslfi/. 


5—7.  (r;  smite,  all  that  have  not  the  mark  of  r.  4.  (C)  be- 
gin .  .  sanctuary,  where  idolatry  was  most  shamefully  deve- 
loped. This  work  of  de.struction  was  in  fact  done  by  the  (Jhal- 
dajans.a  ancient  men,  ch.  viii.  11,  12,  IG.  (7)  defile  the 
house,  this  was  done  by  shedding  human  blood  iu  it,  am^ 
leaving  in  it  dead  bodies.* 

I'rcachlng :  its  force  the  main  conxidcrntion. — I  had  tried  to 
drive  certain  long-  brass-headed  nails  into  a  wall,  but  had  never 
succeeded  except  in  turning  up  their  points,  and  rendering  them 
useless.  When  a  tradesman  came  who  understood  his  work.  I 
noticed  that  he  filed  off  all  the  points  of  the  nails,  the  veiy 
points  upon  whose  sharpness  I  had  relied  ;  and  when  he  had 
([uite  blunted  them,  he  drove  them  in  as  far  as  he  j)leased. 
With  some  consciences  our  fine  jioints  iu  preaching  are  worse 
than  useless.  Our  keen  distinctions  and  nice  discriminations  are 
thrown  away  on  many  ;  they  need  to  ^e  encountered  with  sheer 
force  and  blunt  honesty.  The  truth  must  be  hammered  into 
them  by  main  strength,  and  we  know  from  whom  to  seek  the 
needed  power." 

8 — 11.  (8)  left,  bee.  the  avengers  were  gone  forth  from  the 
temple  to  slay  in  the  city.  Then  the  Prophet  intercedes.  (It) 
full  of  blood,  the  sign  of  violence,  perverseness,  or  wrest- 
ing of  judgment,  ch.  viii.  2;i.  (10)  not  spare,  ch.  v.  11.  (II) 
reported,  .his  report  concerned  his  safe  jji-eservation  of  Goda 
elect  by  affixing  on  them  the  required  mark. 

Inkliorn. — This  position  of  the  inkhorn  of  Ezekiel's  writer  may 
appear  somewhat  odd  to  a  European  reader,  l)ut  the  custom  of 
placing  it  by  the  side  continues  in  the  East  to  this  day.  Olearius, 
who  takes  notice  of  a  way  that  they  have  of  thickening  their 
ink  with  a  sort  of  paste  they  make,  or  with  sticks  of  indian  ink, 
wliich  is  the  best  paste  of  all — a  circumstance  favourable  to  their 
sealing  with  ink — observes  that  the  Persians  carried  about  with 
them,  by  means  of  their  girdles,  a  dagger,  a  knife,  a  handkerchief, 
and  their  money  ;  and  those  that  follow  the  profession  of  writing 
out  books,  their  inkhorn,  their  penknife,  their  whetstone  to 
sharpen  it,  their  letters,  and  everything,  the  Muscovites  were  wont 
in  his  time  to  put  in  their  boots,  which  served  them  instead  of 
pockets.  The  Persians,  in  carrying  their  inkhorns  after  this 
manner,  seem  to  have  retained  a  custom  as  ancient  as  the  days 
of  Ezekiel ;  while  the  Muscovites,  whose  garb  was  veiy  much 
in  the  Eastern  taste  in  the  days  of  Olearius.  and  who  had  many 
Oriental  customs  among  them,  carried  their  inkhorns  and  their 
papers  in  a  very  different  manner.  Whether  some  such  variations 
might  cause  the  Egj'ptian  translators  of  the  Septuagint  "\'ersiou 
to  render  the  words,  "  a  girdle  of  sapjihire,  or  embroideiy.  on  the 
loins,"  I  will  not  take  upon  me  to  alllrm  :  but  I  do  not  imagine 
our  Dr.  Castell  would  have  adojited  this  sentiment  in  his  Lexicon, 
had  he  been  aware  of  this  Eastern  custom  :  for  with  great  pro- 
priety is  the  word  hcxrtlt  mentioned  in  this  chapter  three  times, 
if  it  signified  an  inkhorn,  the  requisite  instrument  for  sealing 
those  devout  mourners;  but  no  account  can  be  given  why  this 
lieseth  should  be  mentioned  so  often,  if  it  only  signified  an  ''  em- 
broidered girdle."  As  to  the  other  point  relating  to  the  Arab 
seals,  their  having  no  figures  upon  them.  otAj  an  inscription  :  ifc 
is  to  be  thought  that  tho-e  of  the  Jews  were  in  like  manner 
without  any  images,  since  they  were  as  scrupulous  as  the  Mohaia- 


Cap.  X.  1—12.] 


255 


medans  can  be :  and  from  hence  it  will  appear  that  it  was 
extremely  natural  for  St.  Paul  to  make  a  seal  and  an  inscription 
equivalent  terms  in  2  Tim.  ii.  It)  :  "  Tlie  foundation  of  God 
Btandeth  sure,  baving  His  seal,"  this  inscription,  '■  The  Lord 
kuoweth  those  that  are  His  ;  and  let  every  one  that  nameth  the 
name  of  Christ  depart  from  iniquity.'"  " 


CHAPTER  THE  TENTH. 

1 — 4.  (1)  firmament,  etc.,  comp.  ch.  i.  26.  sapphire  stone, 
Ex.  xxiv.  10.  (2)  he  siJake,  i.e.  the  being  seated  on  the  thrones. 
cherub,  i.e.  the  fourfold  fig-,  described  in  ch.  i.  coals,  with 
which  to  burn  up,  or  destroy,  the  city."  (3)  right  side,  or 
north  side.  clOTld  .  .  court,  i.e.  the  Shekinah  cloud  was  moved 
from  the  entrance  of  the  sanctuary,  and  filled  the  priest's  court.'' 
(4)  went  up,  as  if  ascending  and  jmssing  away. 

TJirine  forces  and  hinnan  lu/cnts  hi  rctnhvtion  (v.  2). — I.  That 
■there  are  in  the  economy  of  God  terrific  forces  for  the  destruction 
of  evil.  II.  That  the  great  forces  provided  against  evil  will 
often  be  used  by  the  instrumentality  of  man."^ 

5—7.  (5)  sound  .  .  -wings,  ch.  i.  24.  The  cherubic  figure 
appears  to  move,  as  if  in  close  attendance  on  the  Divine  glory. 
(.0)  take  fire,  v.  2.  (7)  clothed  with  linen,  symbol  of  his 
priestly  office  ;  but  now  he  has  to  become  a  minister  of  Divine 
vengeance,  took  .  .  went  out,  to  put  the  command  at  once 
into  execution. 

An  gel. i :  their  ititerest  in  man. — Angels  were  in  the  full  exercise 
of  their  powers,  even  at  the  first  infancy  of  our  species,  and 
ehared  in  the  gratulations  of  that  period  when,  at  the  birth  of 
humanity,  all  intelligent  nature  felt  a  gladdening  impulse,  and 
the  morning  stars  sung  together  for  joy.  They  loved  even  as 
"with  the  love  which  a  family  on  earth  bears  to  a  younger  sister, 
and  the  very  childhood  of  our  tinier  faculties  did  only  serve  the 
more  to  endear  us  to  them  ;  and  though  born  at  a  later  hour  in 
creation,  did  they. regard  us  as  heirs  of  the  same  destiny  with 
themselves,  to  rise  along  with  them  in  the  scale  of  moral  eleva- 
tion, to  bow  at  the  same  footstool,  and  to  partake  in  those  high 
dispensations  of  a  parent's  kindness,  and  a  parent's  care,  which 
are  ever  emanating  from  the  throne  of  the  Eternal  on  all  the 
members  of  a  duteous  and  affectionate  family.  AVe  cannot  but 
remark  how  fine  a  harmony  there  is  between  the  law  of  sympa- 
thetic nature  in  heaven,  and  the  most  touching  exhibitions  of  it 
on  the  face  of  our  world.  When  one  of  a  numerous  household 
droo])s  under  the  power  of  disease,  is  not  that  the  one  to  whom 
all  the  tenderness  is  turned,  and  who  in  a  manner  nionojjolises 
the  inquiries  of  his  neighbourhood,  and  the  care  of  his  family .' 
When  the  sighing  of  the  midnight  storm  sends  a  dismal  fore- 
boding into  the  mother's  heart,  to  whom  of  all  her  offspring,  we 
would  ask,  are  her  thoughts  and  anxieties  then  wandering '!  Is  it 
not  to  her  sailor  boy.  whom  her  fancy  has  placed  amid  the  rude 
and  angry  surges  of  the  ocean .''  Does  not  this,  the  hour  of  his 
apprehended  danger,  concentrate  upon  him  the  whole  force 
of  her  wakeful  meditations  I  And  does  not  he  engross  for  a 
season  her  every  sensibility  and  her  every  prayer  ?<» 

8—1.2.  (8)  man's  hand,  ch.  i.  8.    (9)  beryl  stone,  ch,  i. 


a  liarmer. 


a  For  coals  of 
fire  as  denoting 
the  Divine  venge- 
ance, see  Vs.  c.KX, 
4,  cxI.  10  ;  Re. 
viii.  5. 

6  "  The  Shekinah, 
or  Divine  glory, 
is  i-epre.sented  as 
a  briglit  flame 
breaking  out  o'£ 
a  thick  cloud." — 
Loulh. 
c  U.  R.  Tlwmas. 

"  Down  thither 
prone  in  flight, 
he  speeds  and 
tlirougli  the  vast 
ethereal  sky  sails 
between  world 
and  World  with 
steady  wings  : 
now  on  the  polar 
winds,  then  with 
quick  fan  win- 
nows the  buxom 
air." — Millon. 

"  Among  the 
varied  e.xternal 
inflnences  amidst 
wliich  tlie human 
race  is  developed, 
a  book  is  incom- 
parably the  most 
important,  and 
tlie  only  one  that 
is  absolutely 
essential.  Upon 
it  the  collective 
education  of  the 
race  depends.  It 
is  the  sole  instru- 
ment of  register- 
ing, pei'petuat- 
ing,  transmitting 
t  h  o  u  g  h  t."— i/, 
Rogurs. 

a  Dr.  Chalmert, 


a  E.  P.  Hood. 


255 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  X  13—17. 


"  Oh  1  there  are 
no  tears  in 
Ji  e  a  T  o  n  ;  but 
when  angels 
coniJ  clown  to 
eartli,  it  may  lie 
tliL'y  can  fall  into 
companionship 
with  human  sad- 
ness, and  even 
learn  to  weep ; 
anil  wliere  is  the 
speotacle  which 
shall  wring  tears 
from  eyes  which 
they  were  never 
meant  to  stain, 
if  it  be  not  that 
of  the  obstinate 
rejection  of  the 
Gospel  of  re- 
conoi  lia  tion, 
and  of  careless 
trifling  with  a 
thing  so  inesti- 
mably precious 
as  the  soul  ?  Olii 
men,  buried  with 
your  gold  1  angels 
weep  over  you. 
Young  men,  frit- 
tering away  your 
days  in  vanities 
and  pleasures ! 
angels  weep  over 
you."-//.  Meloill. 

"Books,  such  as 
are  worthy  the 
name  of  books, 
ought  to  have  no 
patrons  but  truth 
and  reason." — 
Bacon. 

h  Dwight. 


a  Onlgnl  is  the 
whole  wheelwork 
machinery,  with 
its  ic'iirlwind-IH'f 
rouaion.  Their 
being  so  ad- 
dressed is  in 
order  to  call 
them  immediate- 
ly to  put  them- 
selves in  rajjid 
motion."  —  Faus 
sd. 

"■What  the  god 
intmid,   is   theirs 
alone :  h?t  us  not 
bar    their    great 
opposeless    wills, 


10.    (10, 11)  appearances,  etc.,  ch.  i.  13,  15,  17.    (12)  eyes, 

ch.  i.  IS. 

The  hand  and  the  winrj  (r.  S). — There  are  two  proofs  of  our 
religious  life — our  great  thoughts  of  God  ;  our  great  deeds  for 
f4od.  In  religion,  as  in  life,  there  are  two  ideas — the  sense  of 
faruess,  the  sense  of  nearness.  I.  See  Vv-hat  a  Divine  work 
creation  is.  II.  Then  you  see  what  Divine  providence  is.  III. 
See  in  the  human  hand,  beneath  the  wing  of  the  angel,  the  rela- 
tion of  a  life  of  action  to  a  life  of  contemplation.  IV.  In  a 
word,  you  see  what  religion  is  ;  it  is  the  human  hand  beneath 
the  angel's  wing." 

The  mini.<tfrij  of  angels. — "  Are  they  not  all  ministering  spirits," 
says  St.  Paul,  '•  sent  forth  to  minister  to  them  who  shall  be  heirs 
of  salvation  ? "  In  this  passage  we  are  plainly  taught  that 
ministering  to  the  saints  is  a  standing  emjiloyment  of  angels 
throughout  the  ages  of  time.  Accordingly,  they  are  exhibited 
in  Jacobs  vision  of  the  ladder  as  "ascending  and  descending" 
from  heaven  to  earth  and  from  earth  to  heaven  continually  in 
the  discharge  of  this*  great  duty.  According  to  this  declaration 
also  we  are  furnished  by  the  Scriptures  with  numerous  examples 
of  their  actual  ministry  to  the  children  of  God.  Thus  angels 
delivered  Lot  from  Sodom,  Jacob  from  Esau,  Daniel  from  th3 
lions,  his  three  companions  from  the  fiery  furnace,  Peter  from 
Herod,  and  the  Jewish  Sanhedrim  and  the  nation  of  the  Israelites 
successively  from  the  Egyptians,  Canaanites,  and  Assj^ians. 
Thus  they  conducted  Lot,  Abraham,  and  the  Israelites  in  seasons 
of  great  difficulty  and  danger  to  places  and  circumstances  of  safety 
and  peace.  Thus  they  conducted  Gideon  to  the  destruction  of 
the  Midianites.  Joseph  and  Mary  to  Egypt,  Philip  to  the  eunuch, 
and  Cornelius  to  Peter,  tq  the  knowledge  of  the  Gospel  throutrh 
him,  and  to  the  salvation  of  himself,  his  family,  and  his  friends. 
Thus  angels  instructed  Abraham,  Joshua,  Gideon.  David.  Elijah, 
Daniel,  Zechariah  the  Prophet,  Zachariah  the  father  of  John  the 
Baptist,  the  Virgin  Mary,  the  Apostles,  and  their  fellow-disciples. 
Thus  they  comforted  Jacob  at  the  approach  of  Esau,  Daniel  in 
his  peculiar  sorrows  and  dangers,  Zechariah  in  the  sufferings  of 
his  nation,  Joseph  and  Mary  in  their  perplexities.  Christ  in  His 
agony,  the  Apostles  and  their  companions  after  His  resurrection, 
Paul  immediately  before  his  shipwreck,  and  the  Church  uni- 
versally by  the  testimony  and  instruction  given  in  the  Revelation 
of  St.  John.* 

13 — 17.  (13)  O  "wheel,  or  move  round,  as  if  reminding  them 
of  their  duty."  Heb.  the  gnlgal.  or  the  whirling.  These  wheels 
were  most  rapid  in  their  revolutions.  (14)  face,  etc.,  ch.  i.  10. 
(l."))  lifted  up,  to  attend  the  Divine  Glory  on  this  its  removal 
from  the  Temple.  (IB)  cherubims  •went,  ch.  i.  19.  (17) 
spirit . .  tliem,  ch.  1.  20,  21. 

0  wheel  (r.  13). — I  shall  consider  this  wheel — I.  As  emble- 
matical of  God's  government.     II.  The  propriety  of  this  figure, 

1.  A  wheel  is  a  very  curious  piece  of  mechanism  ;  2.  You  never 
see  uTore  than  half  of  it  at  one  time  ;  3.  All  parts  of  the  circum- 
ference are  alike  near  to  the  centre  ;  4.  It  is  subject  to  frequent 
movements  and  changes  ;  5.  A  wheel  is  a  great  assistance  to 
labour.  III.  Some  of  the  revolutions  which  prompt  the  excla- 
mation, 0  wheel.     1.  The  gift  of  a  Saviour  for  a  guilty  world  ; 

2.  Some  of  the  sparing  movements  j  3.  Those  events  which  lead 


Cap.  X.  18-22.] 


E7.EKIEL. 


257 


to  conversion  ;  4.  Unforeseen  events  leading-  to  unforeseen  con- 
nections ;  0.  That  cast  of  the  wheel  which  brings  poor  sinners  to 
heaven.  Improvement: — (1)  Mark  God's  jirovidence — g-eneral, 
particular,  or  miraculous ;  (2)  Admire  God's  providence ;  (3) 
Trust  it ;   (4)  Obey  it.* 

tiujJCTintc'Jidence  of  Jirovidence. — 

There  is  a  power 
Unseen,  that  rules  the  illimitable  world, 
That  guides  its  motious,  from  the  brightest  star 
To  the  least  dust  of  this  sin-tainted  mould  ; 
"While  man.  who  madly  deems  himself  the  lord 
Of  all.  is  nought  but  weakness,  and  dependence. 
This  sacred  truth,  by  sure  experience  taught, 
Thou  must  have  loarnt,  when  wandering  all  alone ; 
Each  bird,  each  insect,  flitting'  through  the  sky, 
"V\'as  more  sufficient  for  itself  than  thou." 

IS — 22.  (18)  departed,"  moved  ag-ain,  as  if  ascending'.  ''It 
now  quite  leaves  the  house  itself,  and  settles  upon  the  cherubim 
which  stood  in  the  court  adjoining'  it,  r.  3."  (ID)  wheels.  . 
them,  ch.  i.  19,  2(5.  (20)  knew  . .  cherubims,  ■i.e.  now  I 
recognised  that  this  strang-e  living'  creature  represented  the 
cherubim  that  guarded  the  glory,  in  the  holy  of  holies.  (21) 
hands,  ch.  i.  8.     (22)  saw  .  .  Chebar,  as  narrated  in  ch.  i. 

Order  of  Providence. — 

See  through  this  air.  this  ocean,  and  this  earth, 
All  matter  quick,  and  bursting  into  birth. 
Above,  how  high  progressive  life  may  go  ! 
Around,  how  wide  !  how  deep  extend  below  I 
Vast  chain  of  being  !  which  from  God  began, 
Nature's  ethereal,  human  angel,  man, 
Beast,  bird,  fish,  insect,  what  no  eye  can  see, 
No  glass  can  reach  :  from  infinite  to  thee  ; 
From  thee  to  nothing. — On  sujierior  powers 
"Were  we  to  press,  inferior  might  on  ours  ; 
Or  in  the  full  creation  leave  a  void, 
"Wliere.  one  step  broken,  the  great  scale's  destroyed; 
From  Nature's  chain  whatever  link  j-ou  strike. 
Tenth,  or  ten-thousandth,  breaks  the  chain  alike. 

And  if  each  system  in  gradation  roll, 
Alike  essential  to  the  amazing  whole. 
The  least  confusion,  but  in  one,  not  all 
That  system  onl.y,  but  the  whole,  must  fall. 
Let  earth,  unbalanced,  from  her  orbit  fly, 
Planets  and  suns  run  lawless  through  the  sky; 
Let  ruling  angels  from  their  spheres  be  hurl'd. 
Being  on  b'ing  wreckd.  and  world  on  world  ; 
Heaven's-,  whole  foundations  to  their  centre  nod, 
And  nature  tremble  to  the  throne  of  God. 
All  this  dread  order  break— for  whom  ?  for  thee? 
Vile  worm  ! — oh.  madness  !  pride  !  impiety  1 
'\^'bat  if  the  foot,  ordain'd  the  du-t  to  tread. 
Or  hand  to  toil,  asj'ired  to  be  the  head  .' 
What  if  the  head,  the  eye,  or  ear.  repined 
To  serve  mere  engines  to  the  ruling  mind  ?* 

VOI.  IX.     O.T.  B 


by  seeming  mora 
than  the}'  would 
havo  lis  be  ;  so 
sliall  the  thxia 
tli.it  links  pro- 
priety remain 
unbroken,  and 
the  nerve  of  hops 
but  brace  obedi- 
ence to  the  wiU 
of  heavea. "  — 
Havai-d. 

b  M.  WiU-s. 

c  Tliomson. 


a  "  The  cherubim 
(or  chariot)  had 
stooil  first  oil  tlie 
tlireshoM  of  tha 
temple  door,  and 
there  received 
the  glory  of  the 
Lord.  They  then 
lifted  tlieir 
wings,  rose  and 
left  the  temple 
by  the  east  gate 
of  the  outer 
court,  at  the  en- 
trance of  which 
they  now  lor  a 
time  stooil.  It 
was  by  the  east 
gate  of  the  outer 
court  that  tha 
glory  of  the  Lord 
returned  to  tha 
new  temple.  Ch. 
xiiii.  4." — Splc 
Cm. 

"  iSothing  but 
omniscience  can 
outdo  tlie  know- 
ledge of  angels ; 
r  knowledge  that 
dives  into  all  tha 
recesses  of  nature 
and  spies  out  all 
the  secret  work- 
ings of  second 
causes  by  a  cer- 
tain and  imme- 
diate view ;  wh. 
the  quickest  hu? 
man  intellect 
]i  u  r  s  u  e  s  by 
tedious  medita- 
tion, dubious 
conjectures.shorfc 
experiments,  and 
perhaps  after  all 
is  forced  to  sit 
down  in  igno- 
rance and  dis» 
8  a  t  i  sfactiou."— • 
Dr.  Soul/i. 
b  fope. 


253 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.xl.  1— T2. 


a  Je.  i.  13  ;  Eze. 
xxiv.  3,  4. 

h  •'  These  infulf^ls 
purpose  to  deride 
tliG  Prophet ;  as 
if  they  liad  said — 
If  tliis  city  be  a 
caldron,  wo  li:id 
rather  take  our 
chance  of  boiug 
cousuincd  iu  it, 
than  leave  our 
fine  houses  and 
other  acconuuo- 
dations.  and  run 
the  risk  of  \var 
or  captivity." — 
ZfOui/i. 

e  U.  R.  Thcmas. 


"  Oh  !  while  you 
speak,  methinks 
a  sudden  calm,  in 
spite  of  all  the 
liorror  tliat  sur- 
rounds nie,  falls 
upon  every 
fri.<?hted  faculty, 
anil  puts  my  soul 
in  tune  1 " — Lee. 

m  W/iUecrcss. 


a  1  Ki.  viii.  C5; 
2  Ki.  xiv.  25. 
J  Je.  lii.  9,  lU. 
"  Home  is  the 
one  place  in  all 
this  world  whore 
hearts  are  sure 
of  each  other 
It  is  the  place  of 
confldenco.  it  is 
the  place  whore 
we  tear  ofT  that 
mask  of  guarded 
and  suspicious- 
coldness  which 
the  world  forces 
us  to  we.ar  iu 
self-rl  .fence,  and 
wIki  .;  we  pour 
out  the  unrs; 
served  connuuiii- 
oatiuus     of     lull 


CHAPTER  THE  ELEVENTH. 

1—4.  (1)  lifted  me  up,  ch.  iii.  12, 14,  viii.  3.  east  gate, 
where  the  glory  tarried  awliile  iu  its  departing.  Jaazaniall, 
com  p.  ch.  viii.  11,  but  the  names  cannot  be  identified  with  any 
known  persons.  (2)  wicked  counsel,  esp.  in  bidding  tho 
people  not  to  believe  the  Divine  threatenings  by  the  Prophets. 
(H)  not  near,  i.e.  the  threatened  day  of  calamity,  caldron," 
likening  their  safety  within  the  impregnable  walls  of  Jeru.^alem 
to  the  safety  of  flesh  iu  a  caldron,  wh.  the  lire  cannot  reach.* 
(4)  prophesy,  declare  the  denunciations  of  God  against  them. 

A  ri.s/on  of  jjrio^t/ioodfi  {vr.  1 — 2.j). — This  vision  discovers — I 
The  destruction  of  a  corrupt  priesthood.  1.  Their  unhallowed 
designs  and  influence  ;  2.  Their  contempt  of  sacred  things  ;  3, 
Their  false  security  ;  4.  Their  conformity  to  evil  associations  ;  5, 
Their  liability  to  terrible  retribution.  II.  The  formation  of  a 
true  priesthood.  1.  Divinely  collected  ;  2.  Divinely  regenerated  ; 
3.  Divinely  adopted." 

5 — 8.  (o)  fell  upon  me,  comp.  ch.  iii.  24.  (C)  multiplied 
your  slain,  ch.  xxii.  3,  4.  (7)  flesh,  cic,  see  note  on  c.  3,  (8) 
the  sword,  or  judgment  by  war. 

l'rori(h'nri'. — A  lady  in  high  life  introduced  herself  to  tho  Eev. 
Samuel  Xilpin's  study,  with  the  apology  that  she  thought  it  her 
duty  to  inform  him  that,  some  years  before,  she  was  passing  the 
street  as  a  stranger  on  the  Sabbtth,  when  seeing  many  persons 
enter  a  pa.ssage,  she  followed  them,  and  found  herself  within  his 
chapel.  Every  object  was  new  ;  but  she  listened,  and  was  in- 
terested in  the  sermon.  Immediately  after,  she  left  England, 
and.  with  some  young  friends,  became  the  inmate  of  a  convent 
in  France,  to  finish  their  education.  AvHiile  there,  every  argu- 
ment was  employed  to  convert  them  to  the  lloman  Catholic 
religion.  Her  English  associates  were  overcome  by  these  per- 
suasions. "  Your  discourse,  sir,"  said  she.  '•  which  I  could  never 
get  from  my  mind,  has  been  my  preservation,  from  that  period 
to  the  present,  though  I  have  been  beset  with  every  snai'e  from 
family  connections,"  etc.  Mr.  Kilpin  recommended  suitable 
books  to  her  attention,  and  devoutly  committed  her  to  the  God  of 
heaven,  while  she  kneeled  with  him,  bathed  in  tears." 

9 — 12.  (0)  hands  of  strangers,  who  sh;  11  carry  you  into 
captivity.  (10)  border  of  Israel,  at  Hamatb,"  where  the  king 
of  ]3abylon  judged  and  condemned  Zechariah,  etc.''  (11)  not  .  . 
caldron,  i.e.  it  shall  be  no  defence  from  the  tire  of  the  Divine 
indignation.  (12)  not  walked,  etc.,  De.  xii.  30,  31. 
Jl(i)m\  cluirKjed  from  our  youth. — 

Onr  home  in  youth — no  matter  to  what  end  : 

Study — or  strife — or  pleasure,  or  what  not : 

And  coming  back  in  few  short  years,  we  find 

All  as  we  left  it,  outside  ;  the  old  elms. 

Tilt,  house,  grass,  gates,  and  latchefs  selfsame  click; 

I'uL  lift  that  latchet — all  is  changed  as  doom  : 

The  tscrvants  have  forgotten  ovu-  step,  and  more 


Cap.  xi.  13-21.] 


EZEKIEL. 


259 


Than  half  of  those  who  knew  us  know  us  not. 

Adversity,  ijrosperity,  the  grave, 

Play  a  round  game  with  friends.     On  some  the  world 

Hath  shot  its  evil  eye,  and  they  have  passed 

From  honour  and  remembrance,  and  a  stare 

Is  all  the  mention  of  theii-  names  receives  ; 

And  people  know  no  more  of  them  than  of 

The  shapes  of  clouds  at  midnight,  a  year  back.« 

13 — 16.  (13)  Pelatiah,  v.  1.  This  stroke  of  God  indicated 
the  destruction  of  the  idolaters,  of  whom  Pelatiah  was  a 
leader,  full  end,  or  a  complete,  irremediable  destruction." 
(14,  lo)  tliy  bretliren,  i.e.  those  of  thy  kindi-ed  and  ac- 
quaintance who  are  carried  captive  with  thee.  US  .  .  posses- 
sion, i.e.  those  left  in  Jerusalem  regarded  their  captive  brethren 
as  couiing  under  Divine  judgments,  and  themselves  as  in  the 
Divine  favour.  (UJ)  little  sanctuary,*  God's  presence  pre- 
Berviug  them  in  their  distant  captivity,  even  as  His  presence  had 
preserved  them  in  their  own  land. 

A  refuge  In  the  time  of  danijcr  (r.  16). — I.  The  blessing  pro- 
mises— 1.  A  refuge  in  the  time  of  danger  ;  2.  Continued  safety  ; 
3.  The  bond  of  their  union  ;  4.  The  source  of  their  enjoyment. 
II.  The  extent  of  its  application.  1.  In  illustrating  the  bound- 
less mercy  of  the  Lord  :  2.  In  trusting  to  an  unchanging  source 
of  happiness  ;  3.  In  pointing  out  the  only  centre  of  union  of  the 
whole  Church. 

FcdiiKjs  in  danr/er. — A  child  lies  in  his  little  bed  in  some  high 
chamber  of  an  old  castle,  and  hears  the  tempest  growling  in  the 
chimney,  and  the  prowling  thief-winds  at  the  window,  and  the 
Bcream  of  the  spirits  of  the  air.  The  storm  rocks  the  walls,  and 
beats  upon  the  roof  ;  and  ho  sliudders  and  covers  his  head,  and 
expects  at  every  burgt  of  thunder  that  the  castle  will  go  crashing 
to  the  ground.  But,  down  in  the  room  below,  his  father  sits 
unmoved,  reading  by  the  fire  ;  only  now  and  then,  when  the 
tempest  swells,  he  raises  his  spectacles  for  a  moment,  and 
exclaims.  '■  God  help  the  poor  wretches  on  the  sea  to-night  !  "  or 
"I  hope  no  belated  traveller  is  out  in  such  a  storm  as  this  !  " 
and  then  turns  to  his  book  again.  In  the  morning,  the  child 
hardly  dares  to  look  forth,  lest  the  heavens  and  the  earth  have 
passed  away  ;  but  the  father  only  walks  into  his  garden  to  see 
if  some  old  tree  has  been  blown  down,  or  some  unpropped  vine 
fallen  from  tlie  trellis.  In  times  of  peril  and  disaster,  the 
Christian,  through  his  faith  and  hope  in  God,  is  like  the  father 
by  the  fire  :  wliile  he  who  has  no  such  trust  is  tormented  with 
fear  and  apprehension  like  the  child  in  the  chancer.* 

17 — 21.  (17)  gather  you,  etc.,  the  point  seems  to  be  that 
the  earlier  captives  should  return,  biit  the  proud  remnant  then  in 
Jerusalem  should  be  destroyed,  or,  if  taken  into  captivity,  never 
return  from  it  to  their  own  laud.  (IS)  they,  i.e.  the  people  of 
the  earlier  caiitivities.  detestable  tilings,  or  things  asso- 
ciated with  idolatry.  (1!))  one  heart,  a  united  feeling  of  devo- 
tion to  the  sole  service  of  God  ( Is.  xxxii.  .39)."  new  spirit,  comp. 
the  stiff-neckedness  and  rebelliousness  which  they  had  formerly 
Bhown.*  stony  .  .  flesh,  a  fig.  peculiar  to  Ezekiel."  (20)  my 
people,  as  serving  ]\Ie  heartily  and  sincerely.  (21)  heart  .  . 
heart,  a  strong  expression  to  indicate  that  the  very  essence  of 

B  2 


and  confiding 
hearts.  It  is  tha 
spot  whei-e  ex- 
piessions  of  ten- 
dprness  gu;h  out 
without  any  son- 
tation  of  awk- 
wardness and 
without  any 
dread  of  riiii- 
c\Ue.  "  ~  F.  W. 
Robertson, 
c  Bail  I/. 

a  Comp,  .To.  ir. 
27,  V.  lU,  18. 
6  "  They  have 
been  carried  far 
away  from  the 
literal  and  ma- 
terial sanctuary 
at  .Jerusalem,  but 
I  .Myself  will  be 
their  sanctuary." 
—  li'ordsicurth. 
Is.  viii.  14  ;  Pa. 
.\ci.  9. 

"  Jty  shrine  is 
the  humble  heart 
— a  preparatioa 
for  Gospel  catho- 
licity when  tha 
local  anil  ma- 
terial temple 
should  gi^e  place 
to  the  spiritual." 
— Faasset. 
Render,  "  for  a 
Utile  while  a 
sauctuary." 
r.  IG.  /.  &iurin, 
viii.  103  ;  11'.  Jai/, 
iii.  414;  Dr.  it. 
Gordon,  iv.  194. 
Talkative  per- 
sons'seldom  read. 
This  is  among 
the  few  truths 
\yhich  .appear  the 
more  strange  the 
more  we  reflect 
upon  them.  For 
what  is  reading 
but  silent  cou- 
versation  1 
c  Bceclio: 

(I  Ac.  iv.  32. 

b  Zee.  xii.  10. 

•'  Conversion  is 
commonly  .spo- 
ken of  in  Scrip- 
ture as  if  it  v.-ere 
a  new  en  ation, 
because  of  tlie 
new  dispositions 
and  powers  wh. 
accompany  it,""" 
Lotclh, 


2G0 


rZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xi.  22-25. 


e  "  The  coiitra'^t 
Is  not,  as  uiiinl, 
botwcon  Uie 
spirit  ami  tlio 
flesh,  Imt,  be- 
tween tlie  IiearD 
nniiatur.illy  Ii.ir- 
deiied,  ami  tljc 
heart  reawalc- 
eiieil  to  feeling- 
proper  to  uian." 
• — apk.  Com. 

r.l9.  B-Bedilnrnfl, 
iv.  27  ;  /;;■.  y.'. 
Harris,!.  91;  W. 
Jaij,  is.  23. 

The  imajre  anrl 
likeness  of  Guil 
are  to  be  fouml 
not  in  the  face 
l)iit  ill  the  lieart. 

d  G.  Broois. 

"X  heart  xin- 
epotted  is  not 
easily  dannteil." 
—m/iakespcure. 


rtTlie  TJabbis  say 
that  the  plory 
liiifrereil  for  three 
years  over  tlie 
Jlount  of  Olives, 
but  of  tliis  Scrip- 
tiira  says  uo- 
thiug. 

b  "  Not  in  actual 
fact,  but  in  ec- 
static vision.  He 
hail  been  as  to 
the  outward 
world  all  the 
time  before  the 
elders  in  Chal- 
da;a  ;  he  now 
reports  what  he 
had  witnessed 
with  the  inner 
eye." — Fatissel. 

eC.ShmorijM.A. 
"  Six  wings  he 
■wore,  to  shade 
his  lineaments 
divine ;  the  pnir 
that  clad  eacli 
Elioulder  bro;irl 
came  mantling 
o'er  his  breast 
with  regal  orna- 
ment; tliemidille 
pair  girt,  like  a 
starry  zone,  liis 
waist,  ami  rounrl 
skirted  his  loins 
and  thifrhs  with 
downy  pold  ami 
colours  dipjj'd  in 
beareu;  the  third 


idolatry  -was  pleasing  to  the  very  lieart  of  these  rebellious 
people. 

O'eniiine  rdiginn  (rr.  10,  20). — I.  Its  Author.  1.  Explain  iu 
■what  sense  ;  2.  Prove.  II.  The  chang'e  which  it  accomplishes. 
1.  It  hannonises  :  2.  It  renews;  3.  It  softens.  III.  The  prac- 
tical inlluence  which  it  exerts.  1.  01>edience  to  God,  which  is 
impartial  ;  2.  Which  is  constant ;  8.  Which  is  decided.  IV.  The 
privilege  which  it  confers.  1.  Its  nature  ;  2.  Its  validity  ;  3.  Ita 
effects.  Address— (1)  Those  who  are  indifferent  about  this 
invaluable  privilege  ;  (2)  Those  who  are  uncertain  -whether  they 
possess  it  or  not  ;  (3)  Those  who  have  attained  it."* 

A  new  heart — An  Indian  chief. — The  efforts  of  some Cliri-stian 
mis.sionaries  had  been  the  means  of  diffusing  much  Scriptural 
knowledge  among  the  Delaware  Indians  of  >.'orth  America,  and 
their  doctrines  were  frequently  the  subject  of  conversation 
among  them.  One  evening,  Tedynscung,  a  native  chief,  ■was 
sitting  by  the  fireside  of  his  friend,  who  mantioned  the  golden 
rule  to  him  as  very  excellent. — ••  For  one  man  to  do  to  another  as 
he  would  the  other  .should  do  to  him."  '•  It  is  impossible  1 — It 
cannot  be  done  1  "  said  the  Indian  chief.  After  mu.sing  for  about 
a  quarter  of  an  hour,  Tedynscung  again  gave  his  opinion,  and  Kiid, 
•■  Brother,  I  have  been  thoughtful  on  what  you  told  me.  If  the 
Great  Spirit  that  made  man  would  give  him  a  new^  heart,  he  could 
do  as  you  say,  but  not  else." 

22—25.  (22)  lift  np,  as  in  attitude  for  flying.  (23)  upon 
the  mountain,  i.e.  the  Mount  of  Olives.  The  Shekinah  thus 
left  altogether  the  temple  and  city  :  yet,  in  great  grace,  it 
lingered  near."  (24)  brougllt  .  .  Chaldsea,  i.e.  back  again  to 
the  banks  of  the  Chebar.*  (25)  them  .  .  captivity,  see 
ch.  -viii.  1. 

Departure  of  G oil  from  IBs  temple  (v.  23). — I.  How  averse 
God  is  to  forsake  His  people.  Look  we  to  His  declarations  ; 
look  we  to  examples.  II.  "What  are  the  different  steps  by  which 
His  departure  may  be  discovered  .'  He  withholds— 1.  The  mani- 
festations of  His  love  ;  2.  The  influences  of  His  grace  ;  3.  The 
warnings  of  His  Spirit.  III.  The  dreadful  state  of  those  who 
are  forsaken  by  Him.  1.  They  are  delivered  up  into  the  hands  of 
their  spiritual  enemies  :  2.  They  live  only  to  increa.se  their 
guilt  and  misery.  Apply: — (1)  How  are  we  to  reconcile  this 
doctrine  with  other  parts  of  Scripture  (2)  How  are  we  to  avert 
this  awful  calamity  ? " 

An/jels. — Their  airy  and  gentle  coming  may  well  be  com- 
pared to  the  glory  of  colours  flung  by  the  sun  upon  the  morning 
clouds,  that  se(fti  to  be  born  just  where  they  appear.  Like  a 
1)eam  of  light  striking  through  some  orifice,  they  shine  upon 
Zacharias  in  the  temple.  As  the  morning  light  finds  the  flowers, 
so  they  found  the  mother  of  Jesus,  and  their  message  fell  on  her, 
pure  as  dewdrops  on  the  lily.  To  the  shepherd's  eyes,  they  filled 
the  midnight  arch  like  auroral  beams  of  light :  but  not  as 
silently,  for  they  Fang  more  marvellously  than  when  the  morning 
stars  sang  together,  and  all  the  sons  of  God  shouted  for  joy. 
They  coramitncd  with  the  Saviour  in  His  glory  of  ti-ansfiguration, 
sustained  Ilira  in  the  anguish  of  the  garden,  watched  Him  at  the 
tomb  ;  and  ns  they  had  thronged  the  earth  at  His  coming,  so 
fhey  seem  to  have  hovered  in  tlie  air  in  nniltitudes  at  the  hour 
of  ilia  ascension.    Beautiful  as  they  seem,  they  are  never  mere 


Cap.  xii.  1-7.] 


EZEKIEL. 


2G1 


poetical  adornments.  The  occasions  of  tlieir  appearing  are  grand, 
tlie  reasons  weijlity.  and  tlieir  demeanour  suggests  and  belies  the 
highest  conception  of  superior  beings.  Their  very  coming  and 
going  is  not  with  earthly  movement.  They  are  suddenly  seen  in 
the  air,  as  one  sees  white  clouds  round  out  from  the  blue  sky  in 
a  summer's  day.  that  melt  back  even  while  one  looks  upon 
them.  We  could  not  imagine  Christ's  history  without  angelic 
lore.  The  sun  without  clouds  of  silver  and  gold,  the  morning 
on  the  fields  without  dew-diamonds,  but  not  the  Saviour  without 
His  angels. '' 


CHAPTER  THE  TWELFTH. 

1 — 7.  (1,  2)  dwellest,  i.e.  even  now,  in  the  captivity,  such 
is  tlie  character  of  the  people  around  you."  (3)  stuff,'  or 
household  goods.  By  this  act  Ezekiel  was  to  intimate  that  he 
might  not  stay  with  a  people  who  gave  so  little  heed  to  his 
counsels.  (\)  by  day,  so  that  all  may  see,  take  notice,  and  be 
warned  by  it.  (5)  dig,  ''tc,  to  illus.  the  escape  of  Zedekiah  from 
Jerusalem.''  (6)  cover  tny  face,  as  the  king  did.  (7j  twiliglit, 
or  dark.  Through  all  this  representing  Zedek.'s  escape  as  a 
warning  to  the  people  around  him. 

The  Difine  expectation  {v.  3). — I.  The  subject  to  which  this 
expectation  refers.  1.  Men  do  not  consider  that  they  are  sinful 
creatures ;  2.  Nor  that  they  are  dying  creatures  ;  3.  Nor  that 
they  are  immortal  creatures.  II.  The  means  employed  for 
bringing  about  the  expectation  which  is  here  expressed.  1.  The 
Divine  forbearance  ;  2.  The  afflictive  dispensations  of  Divine 
Providence  ;  3.  The  ministrj'  of  the  Gospel. 

TraccUinij — Baggage. — When  they  travel  to  distant  places, 
they  are  ■wont  to  send  off  their  baggage  to  some  jilace  of  ren- 
dezvous some  time  before  they  set  out.  The  account  that  an 
ingenious  commentator,  whose  expositions  are  generally  joined 
to  Bishop  Patrick's,  gives  of  a  paragraph  of  the  Prophet  Ezekiel. 
ouaht  to  be  taken  notice  of  here  ;  it  is,  iu  a  few  words,  this, 
"  that  the  Prophet  was  to  get  the  goods  together,  to  pack  them 
up  openly,  and  at  noonday,  that  all  might  see  and  take  notice  of 
it.  that  he  was  to  get  forth  at  even,  as  men  do  that  would  go  of): 
by  stealth  ;  that  he  was  to  dig  through  the  wall,  to  show  that 
Zedekiah  should  make  his  escape  by  the  same  means  ;  that  what 
the  Prophet  M'as  commanded  to  carry  out  in  the  twilight,  must 
be  something  different  from  the  gods  he  removed  in  the  day- 
time, and  therefore  must  mean  provision  for  his  present  subsis- 
tence :  and  that  he  was  to  cover  his  face,  so  as  not  to  see  the 
ground,  as  Zede-kiah  should  do,  that  he  might  not  be  discovered." 
Sir  John  Chardin,  on  the  contrary,  supposes  there  was  nothing 
unusual,  nothing  very  particular,  in  the  two  first  of  the  above- 
mentioned  circumstances.  His  manuscript  notes  on  this  passage 
of  Ezekiel  are  to  the  following  pui-port :  "  This  is  as  they  do  in 
the  caravans  :  ^they  carry  out  their  baggage  in  the  daytime,  and 
the  caravan  loads  in  the  evening,  for  in  the  morning  it  is  too  hot 
to  set  out  on  a  journey  for  that  day.  and  they  cannot  well  see 
in  the  night.  However,  this  depends  on  the  length  of  their 
journeys  :  for  when  they  are  too  short  to  take  up  a  whole  night, 
they  load  iu  the  night,  in  order  to  arrive  at  their  joui-ney's  "end 


liis  feet  sliadow'd 
from  either  liec-l 
with  feather'd 
mail,  sky-tinc- 
tured   grain,"  — 

MilliVK 

d  Bccdier. 


a  De.  xxix.  4. 

6  Instruments  oZ 
cajitiTity  :  the 
needful  equip- 
ments of  au 
exile. 

c  2  Ki.  XXV.  4; 
Je.  xxxix.  4. 

»'.  3.  S.  Lavington, 
■Mi. 

"  There  are  few 
tilings  so  exhila- 
rating to  the 
spirits,  especially 
in  the  season  of 
ardent  and  buoy- 
ant youtli,  as  the 
first  visit  to  a 
foreitrn  land. 

Amongst  tiling* 
purely  ploasur- 
alile,  it  is  per- 
haps one  of  the 
n]Ost  nnalloyed 
gratificati  ons 
whicli  occur  in 
tlie  course  of  oui 
life.  But.  hkeiU 
other  pleasures, 
it  may  be  made, 
accordingly  as  we 
use  it,  a  source 
of  present  vanity 
anil  future  regret, 
or,  on  tlie  other 
hand,  of  lasting 
anil  solid  im- 
provement. Our 
object  should  be, 
not  to  gratify 
curiofity,  and 
seek  mere  tem- 
)iorary  amu.-e- 
ment,  t.ut  to 
learn  and  to 
vcnci'ate, — to  im- 
prove the  heart 
and  understand' 
iug." — Grairy. 


2G2 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xii.8— 19. 


early  in  the  morning,  it  being  a  greater  inconvenience  to  arrive 

at  an  unknown  i)lace  in  tlie  night,  than  to  set  out  on  a  journey 
I  then.  As  to  his  digging  through  the  wall,  he  says  Ezekiel  ia 
,  speaking,  without  doubt,  of  the  walls  of  the  caravansary.     These 

walls,  in  the  East,  being  mostly  of  earth,  mud,  or  clay,  they  may 

easily  be  bored  through."  <^ 


d  Uarmer. 


(I  "Ezekiel,  bear- 
ing his  .«.'('#  on 
his  shoulder,  was 
a  sign  (jf  the 
weight  of  calam- 
ity coming  upon 
king  and  peoijle." 
— Spi:  Com. 

6  Eze.  vli.  27. 

"  This  is  a  travel- 
ler, sir,  knows 
men  ami  man- 
ners, and  has 
plongh'd  lip  sea 
so  far,  till  both 
the  poles  have 
knock'd;  has 
teen  the  sun  take 
Ooach,  and  can 
distinguish  the 
colour  of  his 
liorses,  and  their 
kinds." —  lleiiu- 
mont  cindFletclier. 

"All  travel 
has  its  advan- 
tages. If  the 
passenger  visits 
better  countries, 
he  may  learn  to 
improve  his  own ; 
anil  if  fortune 
carries  him  to 
worse,  he  may 
learn  to  enjoy  his 
own. ' — Julinson. 

Ton  dill  not 
make  yourself  a 
heart  of  stone  ; 
neither  can  you 
make  yourself 
"  a  heart  of 
flesh  ;"  both  the 
one  and  the 
other  are  trace- 
able to  a  power 
out  of  yourself. 

e  Uarmer. 


a  2  ITi.  xxiv.  11, 
Xiv.  12. 

"  0  happy  heart, 
wliere  piety  af- 
fectotli,  wliere 
humility  sub- 
jectcth,  whore 
repentance  cor- 
fcctetU,      where 


I  8 — 12.  (8,  9)  house  of  Israel,  those  among  whom  Ezekiel 
dwelt.  (10;  burd.en,  or  prediction  of  woe."  prince,  or  King 
Zedekiah.*"  (11)  your  sign,  t.e.  a  sign  or  warning  to  you  of 
what  shall  surely  come  to  pass.  (12)  bear,  etc.,  just  as  the 
Prophet  had  represented.     Comp.  the  historical  account. 

TraveUhif] — Bnr/'iafje. — Ezekiel's  collecting  together  his  goods, 
does  not  look  like  a  person's  flying  in  a  hurry,  and  by  stealth  ; 
and  consequently  his  going  forth  in  the  evening,  in  consequence 
of  this  preparation,  cannot  be  construed  as  designed  to  signify  a 
stealing  away.  These  managements  rather  mark  out  the  distance 
of  the  way  they  were  going — going  into  caj^tivity  in  a  very  far 
country.  The  going  into  captivity  had  not  privacy  attending  it ; 
and  accordingly,  the  sending  their  goods  to  a  common  rendez- 
vous beforehand,  and  setting  out  in  an  evening,  are  known  to  be 
Eastern  usages.  On  the  other  hand,  I  should  not  imagine  it  was 
the  wall  of  a  caravansary,  or  any  place  like  a  caravansary,  but 
the  wall  of  the  jjlace  where  Ezekiel  was,  either  of  his  own 
dwelling,  or  of  the  town  in  which  he  then  resided  ;  a  manage- 
ment designed  to  mark  out  the  flight  of  Zedekiah  :  as  the  two 
first  circumstances  were  intended  to  shadow  out  the  carrying 
Israel  openly,  and  avowedly,  into  captivity.  Ezekiel  was,  I 
apprehend,  to  do  two  things  ;  to  imitate  the  going  of  the  people 
into  captivity,  and  the  hurrying  flight  of  the  king,  two  very 
distinct  things.  The  mournful,  but  composed  collecting  together 
all  they  had  for  a  transmigration,  and  leading  them  perhaps  on 
a^ses,  being  as  remote  as  could  be  from  the  hun-ying  and  secret 
management  of  one  making  a  private  breach  in  a  wall,  and 
going  off  precipitately,  with  a  few  of  his  most  valuable  effecta 
on  his  shoulder,  which  were.  I  should  think,  what  Ezekiel  was 
to  carry,  when  he  squeezed  through  the  aperture  in  the  wall,  not 
provisions.  Nor  am  I  sure  the  Prophet's  covering  his  face  waa 
designed  for  concealment :  it  might  be  to  express  Zedekiah "s  dis- 
tress. David,  it  is  certain,  had  his  head  covered  when  he  fled 
from  Absalom,  at  a  time  when  he  intended  no  concealment :  and 
when  Zedekiah  fled,  it  was  in  the  night,  and  consequently  such  a 
concealment  not  wanted  :  not  to  say,  it  would  have  been  embar- 
rassing to  him  in  his  flight  not  to  be  able  to  see  the  ground. 
The  Prophet  mentions  the  digging  through  the  wall,  after  men- 
tioning his  preparation  for  removing  ns  into  captivity  ;  but  it 
is  necessary  for  us  to  sujipose  these  emblematical  actions  of  the 
Prophet  are  rang-od  just  as  he  performed  them." 

13 — 16.  (13)  my  net,  Zedekiah  was  caught  in  escaping  by 
the  Chalda;ans,  but  the  net  was  really  God's,  not  see  it,  bee, 
his  eyes  were  put  out.  (14)  scatter,  etc.,  2  Ki.  xxv.  4.  5.  (l.">) 
know,  by  the  fulfilment  of  the  threatened  Divine  judgments. 
(K!)  a  few  men,  ch.  vi.  8— 10." 

The  liavdnr.'is  of  the  Am r^.— Stones  are  charged  with  the  Avorst 
species  of  hardness — "  As  stubborn  as  a  stone  ; "  and  yet  the 
hardest  stones  submit  to  be  smoothed  and  rounded  under  the  sofb 


Cap.  xii.  17-25.] 


EZEKIEL. 


263 


friction  of  wat?r.  Ask  the  myi'lads  of  stones  on  the  soa-shore, 
what  has  bciconi3  of  all  their  an'jfles,  oncj  so  sharp,  and  of  the 
roughness  and  uncouthness  of  their  whole  appearance.  Thoir 
simple  reply  is,  "  Water  wrought  with  us,  nothing  but  water,  and 
none  of  us  resisted."  If  they  yield  to  be  fashioned  by  the  water, 
aud  you  do  not  to  be  fashioned  by  God,  what  wonder  if  the  very 
stones  cry  against  j'ou  .'  * 

17 — 20.  (17)  moreover,  on  another  occasion,  or  with  another 
message.  (1>S)  with  quaking,  i.i-.  with  such  signs  of  alarm  as 
persons  would  feel  in  a  time  of  siege  ;  and  with  anxiety  to  limit 
the  quantity  of  food  to  that  barely  necessary  to  sustain  life." 
(I'J)  people  of  the  land,  i.e.  the  captives.  They  were  to  feel 
that  the  lot  of  their  brethren  in  Jerusalem  was  far  worse  than 
their  own.  desolate  .  .  therein,  \.e.  desolated  of  her  people 
and  her  treasures.  (20)  cities,  dejiendent  on  the  fall  of  the 
chief  city,  Jerusalem. 

Preparing  food. — At  Algiers  they  have  public  bakehouses  for 
the  people  in  common,  so  that  the  women  only  prepare  the 
dough  at  home,  it  being  the  business  of  other  persons  to  bake  it. 
Boys  are  sent  about  the  streets  to  give  notice  when  they  are  ready 
to  bake  bread  ;  "  upon  this  the  women  within  come  and  knock 
at  the  inside  of  the  door,  which  the  boy  hearing  makes  towards 
the  house.  The  women  open  the  door  a  very  little  way,  and, 
hiding  their  faces,  deliver  the  cakes  to  him,  which,  when  baked, 
he  bring-s  to  the  door  again,  and  the  women  receive  them  in  the 
same  manner  as  they  gave  them."  This  is  done  almost  eveiy 
day,  and  they  give  the  boy  a  piece,  or  little  cake,  for  the  baking, 
which  the  baker  sells  (Pitts).  This  illustrates  the  account  of 
the  false  prophetesses  receiving  as  gratuities  pieces  of  bread  : 
they  ai"e  compensations  still  used  in  the  East,  but  are  compensa- 
tions of  the  meanest  kind,  and  for  services  of  the  lowest  sort.* 

21—25.  (21,  22)  days  .  .  faileth,  the  point  of  the  prov.  is 
that  the  threatened  judgment  was  so  long  in  coming  that  the 
people  need  not  fear  its  ever  coming  at  all."  vision,  i.e.  pro- 
phetic vision.  (23 )  at  hand,  close  at  hand.  Very  close  when 
Ezekiel  wrote,  effect,  or  carrying  out.  (24)  vain  vision, 
one  that  will  not  be  fulfilled,  flattering  divination,  one  that 
encourages  the  people  to  think  they  will  yet  be  spared.  Very 
soon  the  national  calamities  will  silence  the  false  diviners.* 
(25)  in  your  days,  before  you  die  :  in  your  time. 

Denlli  and  efernitij  at  hand  {v.  23). — I.  The  tidings  here 
announced  to  the  Jews.  Similar  tidings  to  you,  but  you  have 
disregarded  them  as  the  Jews  of  old  :  yet  the  days  are  at  hand. 
II.  The  sign  by  whicli  they  were  confirmed.  Apply  : — 1.  It  may 
be  that  some  of  you  will  consider  ;  2.  But  the  great  mass  of  you 
will  not.*^ 

j\Wirne.f.t  to  the  dead. — AHien  the  spirit  of  the  living  Christian 
draws  nigh  to  the  throne  of  grace,  there  is  then  between  him 
and  the  spirits  of  the  just  made  perfect  a  real  nearness,  the 
thought  of  which  should  be  mi  st  consolatory  to  those  whose 
friends  have  fallen  asleep  in  Jesus.  They  are  then  breathing 
the  same  atmosphere  of  communion  with  Christ  which  those 
breathe  who  are  with  Him  in  paradise.  The  radii  of  a  circle,  in 
approaching  a  centre,  cannot  but,  in  the  nature  of  things,  draw 
near  to  one  another  ;  and  two  hearts,  though  separated  by  oceans 


oberlienoa  dis- 
secteth,  where 
perseverance  pcr- 
fectetli,  wliera 
power  protccteth, 
where  devotion 
projecteth,  where 
cluirity  comiect- 
eth." — Qniiiii;s, 
b  falsford, 

a  "  K  syinhoh'cal 
representation  of 
the  famine  ami 
fear  witli  which 
tliey  sliould  eat 
tlieir  scanty 
morsel  at  the 
siege." — Fausset. 

Tlie  Rev.  James 
Hervey  was  once 
liighly  compli- 
mented by  a  per- 
son on  account 
of  liis  writings. 
"  0  sir,"  said  that 
godly  man,  and 
at  the  same  time 
laying  his  hand 
on  his  breast, 
"  you  would  not 
strilie  the  sparks 
of  applause,  if 
you  knew  liow 
much  corrupt 
tinder  I  have 
within." 

h  JUarmer. 


a  Je.  xvii.  15,  xt. 

7;  Zcp.  i.  12;  Is. 
V.  10;  Am.  vi.  18: 
2  Te.  iii.  3,  4. 

b  "  The  false  pro- 
phets who  fore- 
told peace  and 
safety,  shall  see 
their  prophecies 
so  confuted  by 
the  events  quite 
con'rary  to  wliat 
they  foretold, 
that  they  will 
never  pretend 
any  more  to 
publish  new  pro- 
phecies."-Z<o!c,'/(. 

fi:  21,  22.  J.  W. 
Warier,  ii.  453. 

c  C.  Simeon ,  M.A. 

Notice  in  the 
seed  the  germ  of 
the  tree.  Cut  it 
open ;  study  it 
under  the  mi- 
croscope. Root, 
trunk,  branches, 
Icavcd,    ai°e     ail 


264 


[Cap.  xiil.  1-5 


there.     Pii  in  tin? 

Cliris;iaii's  heart 

is     planted     the 

genu  of  all  that 

iiuikes  a  sou    a: 

God. 

d  Dr.  Goulburn. 

a  "Not  a  mere 
repetition  of 
the  scotr  (('.  22). 
Tliere  the  scoffers 
asi^ertcd  that  the 
evil  was  so  often 
threatened  and 
postponed,  it 
must  have  no 
reality ;  here  for- 
malists (|o  not  go  i 
so  far  as  to  deny 
that  a  dny  of 
evil  is  coming:, 
but  assert  it  as 
far  off  yet.  The 
transition  is  easy 
from  this  carnal 
security  to  the 
gross  infidelity  of 
the  former  class." 
— Fiiusset. 

rv.  23—28.  Adn. 
Witjriim,  Blooms. 
Lee.  viii.  248. 

As  soon  may  we 
count  the  rays  of 
light,  or  atoms 
floating  throujrh 
the  air,  as  num- 
ber the  vain  ima- 
ginations that 
pass  through  the 
human  heart. 
i  Elliot. 


a  Te.  vi.  14,  \xiii 
11.  etc.,  xxvii.  14. 
xxix.  8,  22,  23  ; 
!Mic.  iii.  5. 

6  Comp.  Is.  i  1, 
ii.  1. 

e  "In  deserts  the 
foxes  become  so 
ravenous  and 
crafty  in  their 
devices  to  got 
fooil.  Bo  the 
prophets  wander 
in  Israel,  a  moral 
desert,  nnre- 
ftraineil,  greedy 
of  gains  which 
they        get       by 

crnft,"— /it  M&st^ 


and  monnlains,  yea.  though  scparatrd  hy  a  greater  gulf,  which 
divides  the  seeu  from  the  unseen  world,  if  l)oth  api)roach  that 
great  centre  of  attraction  in  the  spiritual  world.  "  the  Lamb  ."lain 
from  the  foundation  of  the  world."  cannot  but  really  and  tridy 
draw  near  to  one  another,  though  there  may  be  no  outward 
visible  token  of  such  aearness.'* 

26—28.  (2n.  27)  many  days,  i.e.  it  belong-s  only  to  the  far 
off  future."    (28)  prolonged,  even  Divine  long-suffering  now 
shall  fail,  and  judgment  come  speedilj'. 
.i\2)os  f  I  -op  It  0  to  fu  turiti/.  — 

Ye  rocks  !  ye  elements  !  thou  shoreless  main, 

In  whose  blue  depths,  worlds,  ever  voj'aging. 

Freighted  with  life  and  death,  of  fate  complain. 

Things  of  immutability  1  ye  bring 

Thoughts  that  with  terror  and  with  sorrow  wringf 

The  human  breast.     Unchanged,  of  sad  decay 

And  deathless  change  ye  speak,  like  prophets  old, 

Foretelling  evil's  ever-present  day  ; 

And  as  when  horror  lays  his  finger  cold 

Upon  the  heart  in  dreams,  appal  the  bold. 

O  thou  Futurity  1  om-  hope  and  dread, 

Let  me  unveil  thy  features,  fair  or  foul  I 

Thou  who  shalt  see  the  grave  untenanted, 

And  commune  with  the  re-embodied  soul ! 

Tell  me  thy  secrets,  ere  thine  ages  roll 

Their  deeds,  that  yet  shall  bo  on  earth,  in  heaven, 

And  in  deep  hell,  where  rabid  hearts  with  pain 

Must  purge  their  plagues,  and  learn  to  be  forgiven  I 

Show  me  the  beauty  that  shall  fear  no  stain. 

And  still  through  age-long  years  unchanged  remain  1 

As  one  who  dreads  to  raise  the  pallid  sheet 

Which  shrouds  the  beautiful  and  tranquil  face 

That  yet  can  smile,  but  never  more  shall  meet, 

With  kisses  warm,  his  ever  fond  embrace, 

So  I  draw  nigh  to  thee,  with  timid  pace. 

And  tremble,  though  I  long  to  lift  thy  veiL» 


CHAPTER  THE  TniRTEENTH. 

1—5.  (1,2)  propliesy  .  .  hearts,  i.e.  of  their  own  will,  and  not 
as  delivering  a  Divine  message."  (3)  seen  nothing,  had  no 
Divine  vision  given  them.*  "  Seers  of  what  they  have  not  seen." 
(4)  like  the  foxes,  these  creatures  find  their  homes  in  desolate 
and  ruined  countries  and  cities  ;  so  the  prophets  find  their  profit 
in  the  ruin  of  their  country.<"  (5)  gaps,  or  breaches.  The  fig. 
is  taken  from  stopping  the  way  of  an  enemy  when  a  breach  in 
the  walls  has  been  made.''  made  . .  hedge,  or  thrown  up  any 
works  of  defence. 

luKvrx. — When  game  fails  him,  or  when  the  eword  has  ceased 
to  sujiijly  his  wants,  the  fox  devours,  with  equal  greediness,  honey, 
fruits,  and  particularly  grapes.  In  allusion  to  his  eager  desire 
for  the  fruit  of  the  vine,  it  is  said  in  the  Song  of  Solomon,  "  Take 
us  the  foxes,  the  little  foxes,  that  spoil  the  vines,  for  our  vine3 
have  tender  grapes."    In  Scripture,  the  Church  is  often  compareJ 


Cap.  xiii.  6-9.1 


EZEKIEL. 


to  a  vineyard  ;  her  members  to  the  vines  with  which  it  is  stored  ; 
and  by  consequence,  the  grapes  may  signify  all  the  fruits  of 
righteousness,  which  those  mystical  vines  produce.  The  foxes 
that  spoil  these  vines  must  therefore  mean  false  teachers,  who 
corrupt  the  purity  of  the  doctrine,  obscure  the  simplicity  of 
worshio.  overturn  the  beauty  of  appointed  order,  break  the  unity 
of  believers,  and  extinguish  the  life  and  vigour  of  Christian 
practice.  These  words  of  Ezekiel  may  be  understood  in  the  same 
sense  :  '■  0  Jerusalem  !  thy  ju-ophets  (or  as  the  context  clearly 
proves),  thy  flattering  teachers,  are  as  foxes  in  the  deserts  ; "  and 
this  name  they  receive  because,  with  vulpine  subtlety,  they  speak 
lies  in  hypocrisy.  Such  teachers  the  Apostle  calls  "  wolves  in 
Bheep's  clothing,"  deceitful  workers,  who.  by  their  cunning,  sub- 
vert whole  houses  ;  and  whose  word,  like  the  tooth  of  a  fox  upon 
the  vine,  eats  as  a  canker.' — In  this  passage,  Dr.  Boothroj-d, 
instead  of  foxes,  translates  "  jackals,"  and  I  think  it  by  far  the 
best  rendering.  These  animals  are  exceedingly  numerous  in  the 
East,  and  are  remarkably  cunning  and  voracious.  I  suppose  the 
reason  why  they  are  called  the  lion's  provider  is,  because  they 
yell  so  much  when  they  have  scent  of  prey,  that  the  noble  beast 
hearing  the  sound,  goes  to  the  spot  and  satisfies  his  hunger.  They 
often  hunt  in  packs,  and  I  have  had  from  twenty  to  thirty  follow- 
ing me  (taking  care  to  conceal  themselves  in  the  low  jungle)  for 
an  hour  together.  They  will  not.  in  general,  dare  to  attack  man  : 
but  let  him  be  helpless  or  dead,  and  they  have  no  hesitati6n. 
Thus  our  graveyards  are  often  disturbed  by  these  animals  ;  and, 
after  they  have  once  ta.stcd  of  human  flesh,  they  (as  well  as 
many  other  creatures)  ai'e  said  to  prefer  it  to  any  other.  Their 
cunning  is  proverbial :  thus,  a  man  of  plots  and  schemes  is  called 
a  nareijan,  i.e.  a  jackal.  '■  Ah  !  only  give  that  fellow  a  tail,  and 
he  will  make  a  capital  jackal."  ''Begone,  low  caste,  or  I  will 
give  thee  to  jackals."/ 

6 — 9.  (0)  made  to  hope,  reference  is  rather  to  their  own 
delusive  hope  that  the  event  might  confirm  their  word."  (7) 
vain  vision,  one  that  was  a  mere  mental  deception  ;  an  imagi- 
nation of  your  own  mind.  (8)  am  against  you,  or  I  come 
against  you  to  punish  your  wickedness.  (D)  assembly,  etc., 
here  referring  to  the  roll  of  the  sacred  people,  as  recognised  by 
God.  The  Heb.  word  used  {xod)  means  a  privy  council  ;  and  the 
Projihets  may  be  spoken  of  as  constituting  God"s  privy  council, 
enter,  etc..  on  the  return  of  the  people  to  their  land.!" 

Foj-e.i. — ••  The  cunning  of  the  fox  caused  it  to  be  a  f.tting  term 
of  rejiroach  for  the  false  prophets  :  '  0  Israel,  thy  pro23hets  are 
like  the  foxes  in  the  deserts'  (Ezek.  xiii.  4).  Thus  also  our  Lord 
rebuked  the  duplicity  of  Herod  :  •  Go  ye,  and  tell  that  fox ' 
(Luke  xiii.  32).  Its  habit  of  burrowing,  especially  among  rocks 
or  ruins,  is  more  than  once  alluded  to  :  '  Foxes  have  holes,  and 
the  birds  of  the  air  have  nests  :  but  the  Son  of  man  hath  not 
where  to  lay  His  head "  (Matt.  viii.  20).  '  If  a  fox  go  up.  he  shall 
even  break  down  their  stone  wall'  (Neh.  iv.  3).  And  its  resort- 
ing to  desolate  places  :  '  The  mountain  of  Zion,  which  is  desolate, 
the  foxes  walk  upon  it'  (Lam.  v.  IS)  :  though  here  the  jackal  is 
more  especially  indicated.  So  it  is  also  in  I'sa.  Ixiii.  10  :  'They 
shall  fall  by  the  sword  :  they  shall  be  a  portion  for  .tJuT all/ 1»;' 
for  the  fox  is  not  an  habitual  carrion  feeder  ;  while  the  jackals 
follow  caravans,  and  attack  graves  for  the  carrion,  which  is  their 
favourite  dainty," 


265 

d  "It  was  the 
office  and  duty 
of  prophets,  liE 
tliey  were  truly 
what  they  pre- 
tended, by  their 
prayers  aud  in- 
tercessions to 
put  a  stop  to 
God's  vengeance 
when  it  was  just 
ready  to  be 
poured  out  upon, 
a  sinful  people." 
— Lowlli. 

"Reference  is  to 
jackals,  wliich  iff 
desolate  ruins  arft 
more  hungry  aud 
rapacious  tbaa 
otliers." — Woi-di- 
icoiih. 

V.  3.  //.  Syden- 
ham,  224  ;  Bp. 
Wilber/uice,  30G. 

V.  4.  W.  Beading, 
iv.  129. 

e  Paxton. 

f  RuberU. 


a  "  They  come  to 
believe  their  own 
lies.  'The  Lord 
hath  not  sent 
them  that  they 
should  hope,'  ie. 
so  that  they 
should  have 
grounds  to  hope 
iliat  their  words 
will  be  coa- 
lirnied,  "  —  Spk. 
Com. 

b  "  They  shall  die 
in  their  capiivity, 
and  shall  die 
childless,  shall 
leave  no  poster 
rity  to  take  their 
denomination  fr. 
them,  aud  bo 
their  names  shall 
not  be  found 
among  those  who 
either  themselves 
or  their  posterity 
returned  out  of 
Babylon,  of 
whom  a  particu- 
lar account  was 
kept  in  a  publio 
register."  —  Mat, 
Henry. 


266 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  x'ii.  10-13, 


«  "  la  a  Mc'lian 
Village  the  iiiun 
were  biiililin^'  a 
wall  of  beaten 
earth  rainuied 
Into  moulils  or 
boxes,  to  give  the 
jiarts  the  requi- 
site shape  ami 
consistence,  ami 
so  Uepositeil,  by 
the  withdrawal 
of  the  niouM, 
layer  by  layer, 
upon  tlie  wall, 
each  layer  drying 
in  its  place  as  tlie 
work  proceeds. 
I'he  blocks  are 
xisually  of  con- 
siderable size, 
and  are  of  va- 
rious quality  and 
strength,  as  well 
as  cost,  according 
to  the  materials 
employed,  and 
the  time  ex- 
pended upon 
them.  Unless  the 
climate  be  very 
dry,  such  a  wall 
ri-xjuires  to  be 
faced  or  coated 
■with  a  tenijipreil 
mortar  of  lime  or 
Sana,  as  a  fence 
against  the 
weather.  "-K/^n. 
h  Job  xxvii.  20; 
Ps.  xi.  6,  xviii. 
13,  n  ;  Eze. 
xxxviii.  22. 
c  G.  Brooks 
dC.  Simeon,  M.A. 
e  Campbell. 


"  A  divine  ought 
t )  calculate  his 
sermon,  as  p.u 
astronomer  does 
his  almanac,  to 
the  meriilian  of 
the  place  and 
people  where  he 
lives." — Palmer. 

"As  a  tliistle,  if 
stroked  upward, 
will  not  molest 
a  mull,  but,  if 
stroked  down- 
ward, will  prick 
liim :  so  many 
hearers  of  the 
•wonl,  so  long  as 
the  minister 
preaches  pleasant 
t  h  i  n  g  s,  are 
pleased  with 

iiim  ;  but  so  soon 
Bj  ho  rubs  them 


10-13.  (10)  saying,  peace,  Je.  vi,  H.  a  wall,  very 
sliirhtly  :  as  we  would  t^iij,  '•  run  up  a  wall.''  untenipered 
mortar,  or  slight  coating  of  lime  to  make  it  look  sound.  WalU 
in  the  E.  are  often  made  of  unbaked  bricks,  or  rather  ma.«ses  of 
clay,  smeared  over  with  cement.  This  will  not  stand  heavy 
rains."  (11)  overflowing  shower,  i.e.  one  so  heavy  as  to  make 
an  overflow.  God's  judgments  are  often  compared  to  storms.* 
hailstones,  lleb.  Ktuncts  of  ice.  (12)  Toe  said,  your  folly  shall 
even  pass  into  a  popular  jirovcrb.  (liJ)  rend  it,  force  it  asunder 
so  that  it  shall  come  down  with  an  utter  destruction. 

Preaching  (y.  10). — I.  The  charge  brought  against  the  preachers 
of  the  Gospel.  1.  That  they  preach  what  is  unreal ;  2.  AVhat  is 
unintelligible  ;  3.  Allegorical.  II.  Some  of  the  statements  of 
the  preachers  of  the  Gospel  on  which  thi.s  charge  against  them  is 
founded.  1.  Those  which  relate  to  the  natural  condition  of  man- 
kind :  2.  To  the  evidences  of  conversion  :  3.  To  the  happiness  of 
religion  ;  4.  To  the  future  punishment  of  the  finally  impenitent.*' 
— Deln.^ive confidence  reproved  {vr.  10—12). — I.  Who  are  obnoxious 
to  this  reproof?  1.  Unfaithful  ministers  :  2.  Unbelieving  people. 
II.  The  warning  here  given  to  tliem.  Their  labour  will  end — 1. 
In  certain  and  bitter  disappointment  :  2.  In  irremediable  and 
endless  ruin.  Address — (1)  Careless  sinners;  (2)  Self-compla- 
cent formalists  ;  (8)  Inconsistent  professors.'' 

Snelts. — In  countries  destitute  of  coal,  bricks  .are  only  either 
sun-dried,  or  very  slightly  burnt  with  bushes  and  branches  of 
trees  laid  over  them  and  set  on  fire.  Such  are  ready  to  moulder 
if  exposed  to  moisture,  and  entirely  to  melt  away  if  exposed  to 
heavy  rain  dashing  against  them.  To  prevent  such  a  catastrophe, 
all  the  houses  in  the  Cape  colony  ai\)  daubed  or  plastered  over 
with  fine  mortar,  made  from  ground  seashells.  Should  only  a 
small  hole  remain  unnoticed  in  the  plaster,  powerful  rain  will 
g-et  into  it,  and  probably  soon  be  the  destruction  of  the  whole 
building.  Well  do  I  remember  one  deluge  of  rain  that  turned  a 
new  house  of  three  floors  absolutely  into  a  mass  of  rubbish,  and 
brought  down  the  gable  of  a  parish  chui'ch,  besides  injuring 
many  other  buildings.^ 

14 — 16.  (11)  ye  .  .  consumed,  fr.  this  expression  it  appears 
that  the  city  of  Jerusalem  is  figured  by  this  wall  which  is  about  to 
be  destroyed.  (15)  they  .  .  dauljed,  i.e.  the  false  prophets,  who 
helped  it  to  cherish  a  false  security.  (l(j)  visions  of  peace, 
Je.  vi.  10,  viii.  11. 

Cure  for  dull  i^reaeliinfj. — Congregations  sometimes  ntourn  over 
dull  preaching  when  themselves  are  to  blame.  Give  your  minister 
more  beefsteak,  and  he  will  have  more  fire.  Next  to  the  Divine 
unction,  the  minister  needs  blood  ;  and  he  cannot  make  that  out 
of  tough  leather.  One  reason  why  the  Apostles  preached  so 
powerfully  was  that  they  had  healthy  food.  Fish  was  cheap, 
along  Galilee,  aiid  this,  with  unbolted  bread,  gave  them  plenty 
of  phosphorus  for  brain-food.  These  early  ministers  were  never 
invited  out  to  late  suppers,  with  chicken  .salad  and  doughnuts. 
Nobody  ever  embroidered  slippers  for  the  big  foot  of  Simon 
Peter,  the  fisherman  preacher.  Tea  parties  with  hot  waflles.  at 
ten  o'clock  at  night,  make  namby-pamby  ministers  :  but  good 
hours  and  substantial  diet,  that  furni.shes  nitrates  for  the  muscle, 
and  phosphates  for  th<i  brain,  and  carbonates  for  the  whole  frame, 
prepare  a  man  for  ellectivc  work.     \\'hen  Iho  water  lb  low  tho 


Cap.  xiii.  17-23.1 


EZEKIEL. 


267 


mill-wheel  goes  slow  ;  but  a  full  race,  and  how  fast  the  grist  is 
ground.  lu  a  man  the  arteries  are  the  mill-race,  and  the  brain 
the  wheel  ;  and  the  jDractical  work  of  life  is  the  grist  ground. 
The  reason  our  soldiers  failed  in  some  of  the  battles  was  because 
their  .stomachs  had  for  several  days  been  innocent  of  everything' 
but  ■•  hurd-tack.''  See  that  your  minister  has  a  full  haversack. 
Feed  him  on  gruel  during  the  week,  and  on  Sunday  he  will  give 
you  gruel.  Eight  hundred  or  a  thousand  dollars  for  a  minister 
is  only  a  slow  way  of  killing  him,  and  is  tho  worst  style  of  homi- 
cide. Why  do  not  the  trustees  and  elders  take  a  mallet  or  an  axe, 
and  with  one  blow  i^ut  him  out  of  his  misery .' " 

17 — 19.  (17)  daughters,  some  women  prophets  are  noticed 
in  Scripture  :"  this  encouraged  others  of  the  same  sex  to  pretend 
to  the  same  gift.  (18)  sew  .  .  armlioles,  or  elbows.  By  fixing 
pillows  on  the  elbows,  these  women  designed  to  indicate  the 
assurance  of  perfect  restf ulness  and  tranquillity.*  kerchiefs  .  . 
stature,  magical  veils  put  on  the  heads  of  those  who  consulted 
these  false  prophetesses,  "will  ye  save,  nay  rather,  how  surely 
you  will  deceive  and  destroy  all  j'ou  gain.  (19)  for  handfuls, 
eic,  i.e.  for  mere  gain  putting  the  name  of  God  to  dishonour. 
For  even  the  meanest  and  most  tritling  rewards. 

Carpets. — In  Barbary  and  the  Levant  they  "always  cover  the 
floors  of  their  houses  with  carpets  :  and  along  the  sides  of  the 
wall  or  floor,  a  range  of  narrow  beds  or  mattresses  is  often  placed 
upon  these  carpets  ;  and,  for  their  further  ease  and  convenience, 
several  velvet  or  damask  bolsters  are  placed  upon  these  carpets 
or  mattresses,  indulgences  that  seem  to  be  alluded  to  by  the 
stretching  of  themselves  upon  couches,  and  by  the  sewing  of 
pillows  to  armholes  "  (Shaw).  But  Lady  M.W.  Montagu's  descrip- 
tion of  a  Turkish  lady's  apartment  throws  still  more  light  on  this 
passage.  She  says  :  '•  The  rooms  are  all  spread  with  Persian 
carpels,  and  raised  at  one  end  of  them  about  two  feet.  This  is  the 
sofa,  which  is  laid  with  a  richer  sort  of  carpet,  and  all  round  it  a 
sort  of  couch,  raised  half  a  foot,  covered  with  rich  silk,  according 
to  the  fancy  or  magnificence  of  the  owner.  Round  about  this 
are  placed,  standing  against  the  walls,  two  rows  of  cushions,  the 
first  very  large,  and  the  rest  little  ones.  The  seats  are  so  con- 
venient and  easy,  that  I  believe  I  shall  never  endure  chairs  again 
as  long  as  I  live."  An^J  in  another  place  she  thus  describes  the 
fair  Fatima  :  "  On  a  sofa  raised  three  steps,  and  covered  with 
fine  Persian  carpets,  sat  the  kahya's  lady,  leaning  on  cushions 
of  white  .«atin.  embroidered.  She  ordered  cushions  to  be  given 
me.  and  took  care  to  place  me  in  the  corner,  which  is  the  place  of 
honour.'''^ 

20—23.  (20)  make  tliem  fly,"  or  run  into  your  nets  and 
snares.  Margin  has,  "  into  your  gardens  or  groves.'"  tear  .  . 
arms,  and  expose  your  deceptions.  (21)  kerchiefs,  r.  18. 
(22;  lies,  false  representations,  leading  the  righteous  to  mistrust 
the  "Word  of  God.*"  and  deluding  the  sinners  with  vain  hopes. 
hands  .  .  wicked,  by  wh.  his  evil  works  were  wrought. 
(2:J)  see  no  more  vanity,  bee.  the  fulfilment  of  Divine 
thrcateniugs,  and  your  own  destruction,  are  close  at  hand. 

I'llhum  nnd  nrmluth'.<!. — The  margin  has,  instead  of  "arm- 
holes,''  '•  elbows."  The  marginal  reading  is  undoubtedly  the 
best.    Rich  people  have  a  great  variety  oi"  pillows  and  bolsters 


a  little  on  tbe 
gall,  and  touches 
them  home  to 
the  cjuieU,  thea 
they  kick  and 
storm  at  the 
same."-C'«  icdniif. 

a  Be  IVitt  Tal- 
mu'je. 


a  E.\.  XV.  20 ;  JiL 
iv.  4  ;  2  Ki.  xxii. 
14 ;  comp.  Joel 
ii.  28. 

b  "  Or  the  idea 
may  be.  Woe  to 
the  women  wlio 
mutHe  up  tlie 
joints  of  My 
hands,  when  I 
stretch  them  out 
in  retribution, 
and  wlio  endea- 
vour to  hide  My 
arms  wliich  I 
make  bare  to 
p  u  n  i  s  h  My 
people."— IFo/'dj- 
wuiih. 

"An  old  Scotch 
preacher  is  re- 
porteci  to  have 
.said  in  one  of  his 
sermons  at  AJaer- 
leen-'  Ye  people 
of  Aberdeen  get 
your  fashions 
from  G  lasgow, 
and  Glasgow 

from  Edinburgh, 
and  Edinburgh 
from  London,  and 
London  froru 
Paris,  and  Paris 
from  the  devil.'  " 
— John  Bute. 

c  Biirder. 


a  "  Fly  is  pecu- 
liarly appropriate 
as  to  those  lofty 
spiritual  flighls, 
to  wliicli  they 
pretended  to 

raise  their  dupes 
when  tliey  veiled 
tlieir  heads  with 
kerchiefs,  and 
made  tliem  rest 
on  luxurious 

arm-eushious." — ■ 

l>  "  Disheartened 


268 


EZEEIEL. 


[Cap.  xlv.  1-8, 


the  rigliteoiis 
with  grouinlless 
fears."  — /,()«'//(. 
lluference  may 
be  iuteiulcil  to 
the  l'roi)liet 
Jcremiali,  as  llie 
man  (lisheai-t- 
eiieil  t)y  the  male 
and  female  false 
propliets. 
c  Ruberts. 


a  "  They  look  for 
en  CO  unigeinent 
and  comfort.  But 
Kzekiel,  with  the 
genuine  pro- 

phetic  spirit,  sees 
deep  into  their 
hearts,  and  finds 
them  at  variance 
with  devotion  to 


to  support  themselves  in  various  positions  when  they  wish  to 
take  tlieir  case.  Some  are  long  and  round,  and  are  stuffed  till 
they  are  quite  hard,  whilst  others  are  short  and  soft,  to  suit  the 
convenience.  The  verse  refers  to  females  of  a  loose  character, 
and  Parkhur-t  is  right  wlien  he  says.  ••  These  false  i)rophote>sjs 
decoyed  men  into  tlieir  gardens,  where  probably  some  impure 
rites  of  worship  were  ])fr formed."  The  pillows  were  u.sed  for 
the  vilest  purjjoses,  and  the  kerchiefs  were  used  as  an  affectation 
of  shame." 


CHAPTER  THE  FOURTEENTH. 

1 — 5.  (1)  elders,  comp.  ch.  viii.  1.  These  were  fellow-exiles 
with  Ezckiel,  who  was  at  this  time  fully  recognised  as  a  prophet  of 
Jehovah."  (2.  3)  idols  .  .  heart,  the  idol  of  the  heart  is  self- 
will.'-  sttimblingblock,  etc.,  comp.  ch.  vii.  11).  (4)  will 
answer  him,  or  as  we  say  in  sarcasm,  "  He  shall  have  his 
answer."  according  .  .  idols,  i.e.  an  an.swer  as  didusive  as 
the  idols  he  serves.     A  reply  adjusted  not  to  his  inrpiiry  but  to 


tlie     true    God.  I  his  evil  practices."     (a)  take,    as  in  a   snare  ;   their   own   evil 
The  idols  of  self- '  -  -  -  ^    ^  _      _      »_.   .  . 


heart  being  the  snare  and  pitfall  in  which  they  are  causrht. 

The  iiliik  in  the  heart  a  liarner  to  the  truth  (vr.  2.8j.  — I.  The 
idols  that  are  in  the  heart,  and  the  stumbling-blocks  that  ai"e 
before  the  face,  are  tho  sins  with  wliich  God's  people  are  some- 
times chargeable.  II.  Men  professing  to  impiire  after  God  while 
their  idols  are  in  their  hearts,  and  their  stumbling-blocks  before 
their  faces  :  or  the  gross  inconsistency  of  seeking  to  mingle  the 
service  of  God  with  the  pursuit  of  sin.  1.  Men  may  pray  from 
the  influence  of  custom  ;  '2.  From  the  ]iromptings  of  conscience  ; 
'.i.  From  the  desire  to  stand  well  with  their  fellow-men  ;  4.  From 
a  vain  desire  to  set  themselves  right  with  God.  III.  God 
taking  notice  of  the  idols  that  are  in  men's  hearts,  and  the 
stumbling-blocks  that  ar3  before  their  faces,  or  the  faithful 
I  warnings  which  God  addresses  to  those  who  follow  sin  while 
Wordsu-urth.  1  they  profess  to  serve  Him.  1.  He  intimates  that  He  is  perfectly 
e  "Turn  thee  fr.  /  acipiainted  with  us  ;  2.  He  tells  us  that  He  cannot  answer  the 
these,  ordarenot  I  i-e(juests  of  those  who  indulge  in  sin:  8.  He  shows  us  how 
wh'iT'namris  i  Unreasonable  it  is  to  expect  that  He  Mill  >e  inquired  of  by  us. 
Jealous,  'le.^t  in  j  J)(irkHex.'^  (if  heathenism- — A  Hindoo  of  a  thoughtful,  re- 
wrath  He  hear  |  fleeting  turn  of  mind,  but  devoted  to  idolatry,  lay  on  his  death- 
bed. As  he  saw  himself  about  to  plunge  into  that  boundle.'^a 
unknown,  he  cried  out,  ''What  will  become  of  me.'"  '-Oh," 
said  a  Brahmin,  who  stood  by.  "  you  will  inhabit  another 
body."  ''And  where,"  said  he.  "shall  I  go  then?"  "Into 
another."  "  And  where  then  .'  "  "  Into  another  ;  and  so  on, 
through  thousands  of  millions."'  Darting  across  this  whole 
period,  as  though  it  were  bat  an  instant,  he  cried,  "  'Wliere 
shall  I  go  then .'  "  Paganism  could  not  answer  ;  and  he  died, 
agonising  under  the  inquiiy,  "  Where  shall  I  go  last  of  all  ?  " 

6—8.  (fi)  repent  and  turn,  the  word  repent  deals  with 
the  right  feel'imj  ;  tlic  word  turn  deals  with  the  correspondingf 
ttet'ion  in  ordering  life  and  conduct.  (7)  stranger,  comp.  Le. 
xvii.  10,  XX.  2.  hy  myself,  not  by  the  agency  of  a  projjhet.  but 
by  a  direct  visitation  of  judgment."  "     sign,  etc.,  De.  xxviii  37. 


will  and  unsub- 
missiveness  are 
set  up  therein. 
The  Proijhet 

warns  tlieni  that 
God  will  not  be 
inquired  of  in 
such  a  spirit  as 
this." — Syk.  Com. 

b  "Lit.  'They 
have  made  their 
idols  to  go  up 
upon  their 
hearts,  as  \i  their 
Jiearts  were  an 
altar  and  throne  ( 
for       idols. 


and  answer  thine 
unblest  desire : 
far  better  we 
should  cross  His 
lightning's  path 
than  be  accord- 
ing to  our  idols 
}ieard,  and  God 
should  take  us  at 
our  own  vain 
word."'— A'cWe. 

a  "I  will  punish 
him  immedi.itely 
b  y  M  y  o  w  n 
hands.  See  v.  8.  ' 
— Lomh. 

V.  7.  W.  Readiivi, 


Cap.  xiv.  9—11.] 


EZEKIEL. 


269 


Infanticide. — When  a  missionary,  in  South  America,  was 
reproving-  a  married  woman,  of  reputed  good  character,  for 
following-  the  custom  of  destro.ying-  female  infants,  she  answered 
with  tears.  •'  I  wish  earnestly,  father,  I  wish  that  my  mother  had. 
Ly  my  death,  prevented  the  distresses  I  endure,  and  have  yet  to 
endure,  as  long  as  I  live.  Consider,  father,  our  deplorable  con- 
dition. Our  husbands  go  to  hunt,  and  trouble  themselves  no 
further.  We  are  dragged  along,  with  one  infant  at  the  breast 
and  another  in  a  basket.  They  return  in  the  evening  without 
any  burden  :  we  return  with  the  burden  of  our  children  ;  and. 
though  tired  with  a  long  ma-ch,  are  not  permitted  to  sleep, 
but  must  labour  the  whole  night  in  grinding  maize  to  make 
chica  for  them.  They  get  drunk,  and.  in  their  drunkenness, 
beat  us,  draw  us  by  the  hair  of  the  head,  and  tread  us  under 
foot.  And  what  have  we  to  comfort  us  for  slavei-y  that  has  no 
end  .'  A  young  wife  is  brought  in  upon  us,  who  is  permitted  to 
abuse  us  and  our  children,  because  we  are  no  longer  regarded. 
Can  human  nature  endure  such  tyranny  .'  What  kindness  can 
we  show  to  our  female  childreji  equal  to  that  of  relieving  them 
from  such  oppression,  more  bitter  a  thousand  times  than  death  .' 
I  say  again,  would  to  God  that  my  mother  had  put  me  under 
ground  the  moment  I  was  born  !  "  * 

9—11.  (9)  I  .  .  deceived,  i.e.  suffered  him  to  be  deceived.^ 
but  both  he  and  those  who  are  deceived  by  his  false  prophecies 
will  alike  come  into  the  Divine  judgment.  (10)  bear  .  . 
iniquity,  both  of  their  idolatry  and  their  hypocrisy  in  seeking 
Jehovah  when  they  loved  their  idols.  (11)  go  .  .  astray,  this 
■was  the  Divine  purpose  in  inflicting  the  ijunishments.  For  the 
Divine  love  works  through  the  Divine  judgments.'' 

BeliLsiun  find  ilhi.'iion. — We  distinguish  between  illusion  and 
delusion.  We  may  paint  wood  so  as  to  be  taken  for  stone,  iron. 
or  marble ;  this  is  delusion  :  but  you  may  paint  a  picture  in 
which  rocks,  trees,  and  sky  are  never  mistaken  for  what  they 
seem,  yet  produce  all  the  emotion  which  real  rocks,  trees,  and 
sky  would  produce.  This  is  illusion,  and  this  is  the  painter's 
art :  never  for  one  moment  to  deceive  by  attempted  imitation, 
but  to  produce  a  mental  state  in  which  the  feelings  are  sug- 
gested which  the  natural  objects  themselves  would  create.  Let 
us  take  an  instance  drawn  from  life.  To  a  child  the  rainbow  is 
a  real  thing — substantial  and  palpable  ;  its  limb  rests  on  the 
Bide  of  yonder  hill  ;  he  believes  that  he  can  appropriate  it  to 
himself  ;  and  when,  instead  of  gems  and  gold,  hid  in  its  radiant 
bow.  he  finds  nothing  but  damp  mist — cold,  dreary  drops  of  dis- 
appointment,— that  disappointment  tells  that  his  belief  has  been 
delusion.  To  the  educated  man  that  bow  is  a  blessed  illusion,  yet 
it  never  once  deceives  ;  he  does  not  take  it  for  what  it  is  not,  he 
does  not  expect  to  make  it  his  own  ;  he  feels  its  beauty  as  much 
as  the  child  could  feel  it.  nay,  infinitely  more — more  even  from 
the  fact  that  he  knows  that  it  will  be  transient  ;  but  besides 
and  beyond  this,  to  him  it  presents  a  deeper  loveliness  :  he 
knows  the  laws  of  light  and  the  laws  of  the  human  soul  which 
gave  it  being.  He  has  linked  it  with  the  laws  of  the  universe, 
and  with  the  invisible  mind  of  God  :  and  it  brings  to  him  a 
thrill  of  aAve.  and  a  sense  of  a  mysterious,  nameless  beauty,  of 
which  tlie  child  did  not  conceive.  It  is  illusion  still,  but  it  has 
fulfilled  the  pr:)uuse.« 


r.  8.  //.  Ay,rd, 
ii.  V2). 

"  Travel  Iprs  tell 
us  that  there  is  a 
trihe  in  Africa  so 
piven  to  supersti- 
tion, tliat  tliey  fill 
tlieir  huts  and 
liovels  with  so 
many  idols,  that 
they  do  not  even 
leave  room  for 
their  families. 
How  many  men 
there  are  who  fill 
their  hearts  with 
the  iilols  of  sin, 
so  that  there  is 
no  room  for  the 
living  God,  or  for 
any  of  His  holy 
pri  n  c  iplesl" 
—ISate. 

b  R.  T.  a. 


a  "  Not  merely 
permis-ive.ly,  but 
but  by  overruling 
their  evil  to  serve 
the  purposes  of 
His  righteous 
judgment,  to  be 
a  touchstone  to 
spparate  the  pre- 
cious from  the 
vile,  and  to 
'prove  His  peo- 
ple.' " — Fausset. 

De.  xiii.  1-3;  1 
Ki.  xxii.  2.3;  Je. 
iv.  10;  2  Th.  ii 
11,  12. 

b  "God  punishes 
sins  liy  means  of 
sins." 

"  The  judgments 
i  inflict  on  the 
false  prophets, 
and  those  that 
consult  tbem, 
sliall  be  an  in- 
struction to  My 
people  to  keep 
close  to  Jle  and 
3Iy  worship." — 
Luicth. 

V.  0.  J.  Puckle,  IL 


c    F.   W.  Robert- 
son. 


270 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xiv.  12— la. 


i»  "  Pi'snal  objects 
of  Divine  f;ivour 
on  account  of 
tlieir  rigliteous- 
ncss.  >,oa!i,  in 
lieing  allowed  to 
be  an  iiistni- 
nient  in  saving 
tlie  human  race 
from  the  flood,  in 
the  ark;  Job,  in 
having  his  estate 
doubled  after  liis 
affliction;  Daniel, 
in  seeing  the 
captivity,  ami 
foreseeing  the  re- 
turn anil  coming 
of  Christ."— 
Oiigi-n. 

"  Tliey  signally 
prevailed  in  sur- 
ing  ollwrn.  Noah, 
in  saving  the 
human  family  ; 
Daniel,  in  saving 
the  Chaldican 
astrologers  from 
destruction  (Da. 
if.  21):  Job,  in 
interceding  for 
his  friends  (Job 
xlii.  8—10)."— 
Wurdsioorth. 

vv.   12,    13.       J. 

Abenwlhy,  ii.  328. 

fi'.  12—14.  Ii. 
Goodirin,  iii.  33. 

vv.  13,  14.  Origen, 
Op.  iii.  369. 

"  There  is  many 
a  woundeil  heart 
without  a  con- 
trite spirit.  The 
ice  may  be 
broken  into  a 
thousand  pieces, 
it  is  ice  still ;  but 
expose  it  to  the 
beams  of  t)ie  Sun 
of  iiigliteousness 
and  tlien  it  will 
■m(i\i."-Middletvn. 

i  Gi'indon. 

a  There  may  be 
times  when  the 
very  Divine  love 
must  refuse  to 
hear  intercessors. 

"Were  there  in 
it  tho  most  per- 
fect of  all  men 
that  have  been, 
or  are  still  living, 
they  should  avail 
liotliing  tiiwanls 
interceding  for  a 
laud   already 


12—14.  (12,  13)  the  land,  better,  a  land,  any  land- 
grievously,  in  a  way  tliat  compels  Divine  interl'erenee. 
staff,  etc.,  di.  iv.  1(5.  V.  k;.  (14)  three  men,  comp.  Ge.  xv.  1. 
Noah,  Daniel,  and  Job,  three  men  eminent  in  rijrhteousnesa 
and  lioliness,  who  Uved  in  evil  days."  Obs.  the  indication  that  iu 
Ezekiel's  time  Daniel  was  known  and  honoured  among  the 
exiles.     Daniel  was  then  about  thirty  years  old. 

Evil.'i  of  inmiffii-'iencii  of  fond. — The  benefits  which  accrue  to 
the  body  from  supplying-  it  with  a  sufficiency  of  wholesome 
food,  show  in  the  strongest  light  the  evils  which  result  from 
insufficiency.  Disease  is  one  of  the  first.  Many  diseases  are 
induced  by  it,  many  are  aggravated.  Sanitary  movemenrs 
having  reference  to  the  poor  cannot  possibly  effect  any  lasting- 
amelioration  of  their  condition  so  long  as  they  go  short  of  proper 
aliment.  It  is  worthy  the  attention  of  philanthropists  that 
epidemic  and  pestilential  diseases  in  particular  are  far  more 
widely  fatal  in  their  ravages  among  the  ill-fed  than  among  the 
well-fed.  Certainly  there  are  several  such  diseases  which  assail 
rich  and  poor  alike — as  measles,  small-pox.  and  scarlet  fever  ; 
Ijut  even  these  are  much  more  destructive  when  they  attack 
persons  who  have  been  forced  to  subsist  on  poor  or  too  scanty 
nourishment.  Legislators,  no  less  than  the  charitable,  may  find 
in  this  fact  a  vitally  important  princijjle  of  action.  Insufficiency 
over-j^rolonged,  induces  the  slow  and  miserable  death  of  starva- 
tion :  and  no  physical  calamity  can  be  conceived  of  as  more 
terrible.  Yet  starvation — actual,  killing  starvation — is  perhaps 
the  least  part  of  the  injury  to  the  human  race  which  comes  of 
privation  of  needful  sustenance.  Actual  death  from  hunger  is 
only  an  occasional  thing  ;  the  evils  which  accrue  from  the 
debilitating  effects  of  customary  stint,  life  still  dragging  on.  are 
incalculably  more  extended  and  severe.  Even  the  physical 
disease  which  they  engender  is  a  slight  evil  compared  with  the 
impeded  mental  action  which  must  needs  follow.  A  miserable, 
starving  dietary,  while  it  weakens  the  body,  half  paralyses  the 
soul,  and  not  seldom  leads  direct  to  insanity  itself.  "When  we 
remember  how  entirely  the  brain  depends  for  its  nourishment 
upon  the  blood,  and  that  if  this  iiabulum  of  life  and  nervous 
energy  be  either  diminished  in  quantity  or  deteriorated  in 
quality,  no  organ  of  the  body  can  possibly  work  -well,  how  easy 
it  is  to  see  that  between  insufficient,  innutritions  diet,  and  pros- 
tration of  mind,  there  is  little  less  than  an  inevitable  connection. 
Every  man  has  experienced  the  feeling  of  debility  which  attends 
hunger  but  a  little  longer  unsatisfied  than  nsual.  and  how  swift 
and  lively  is  the  revival  of  every  function  of  the  mind  as  well  as 
body  which  follows  its  proper  gratification.* 

15 — 18.  (15)  noisome  beasts,  comp.  Le.  sxvi.  C>.  Prob. 
enemies  are  intended  by  this  fig.  of  beasts.  (K;)  deliver  .  , 
daughters,  i.e.  their  intercessions  should  be  unavailing,  bee. 
the  iniquity  would  be  such  as  necessitated  Divine  visitation.* 
(17)  sword,  ch.  xxi.  4,  xxxviii.  21.  (18)  tbough,  etc.,  comp. 
V.  10. 

The  tiger. — A  party  of  gentlemen  from  Bombay,  one  day  visit- 
ing the  stupendous  cavern  temple  of  Ele]ihanta,  discovered  a 
tigers  whel])  in  one  of  the  obscure  recesses  of  the  edifice. 
Desirous  of  kidnap]nng  the  ctib  without  encountering  the  fury 
of  its  dam,  they  took  it  up  hastily  and  cautiously,  and  retreated. 


Cap.  TV.  1—5.] 


EZEKIEL. 


271 


doomed  to  de« 
siruotioa." — Cal' 

Vill. 

"  As  to  a  valiant 
soldier,  nothing 
is  more  noble, 
and  worthy  of 
praise,  than  to 
carry  the  armour 
and  arms  of  his 
prince  ;  so  a  true 
Christian  esteem- 
eth  nothing  of 
greater  yalue, 
and  more  honour- 
able, than  to  bear 
the  arms  and 
ba<]ges  of  Christ, 
that  is,  crosses 
anil  afflictions." 
—  Caudray. 

b  VisiloK 


Being  left  entirely  at  liberty,  and  extremely  well  fed,  tlie  tiger 
grew  rapidly,  appeared  tame  and  fondling  as  a  dog,  and  in  every 
respect  entirely  domesticated.  At  length,  when  having  attained 
a  vast  size,  and  notwithstanding  its  apparent  gentleness,  it  began 
to  inspire  terror  by  its  tremendous  powers  of  doiug  mischief,  it 
fell  in  with  a  piece  of  raw  meat  dripi)ing  with  blood.  It  is  to 
be  observed,  that  up  to  that  moment  it  had  been  studiously  kept 
from  raw  animal  food.  The  instant,  however,  it  had  dipped  its 
tongue  in  blood,  something  like  madness  seemed  to  have  seized 
the  animal ;  a  destructive  principle,  hitherto  dormant,  was 
awakened  ;  it  darted  fiercely,  and  with  glaring  eyes,  upon  its 
prey,  tore  it  with  fury  to  pieces,  and,  growling  and  roaring  in 
the  most  fearful  manner,  rushed  off  towards  the  jungles.  How 
forcibly  descriptive  is  this  propensity  of  the  tiger  of  the  evil 
inclinations  of  the  human  heart  1  In  various  situations  in  which 
we  may  be  placed,  they  appear  to  have  no  power  ;  but  let  only 
the  oppOL'tunity  occur,  and  the  temptation  approach,  and  the 
unhallowed  heart  of  man  rushes  forward  as  recklessly  and  as 
impetuously  after  evil  as  the  tiger  after  his  prey.  The  grace  of 
God  alone,  can  control  the  unruly  wills  and  affections  of  sinful 
men.  Sin  may  be  repressed  and  hidden,  but  it  cannot  be  destroyed 
within  us,  until  Divine  grace  reigns  triumphant  in  our  hearts.' 

19 — 23.  (19)  pour  .  .  blood,  i.e.  with  great  destruction  of 
mens  lives,  by  the  pestilence.  In  Heb.  l/Ivod  expresses  any 
premature  kind  of  death.  (20)  own  souls,  or  own  lives.  (21) 
upon  Jerusalem,  the  former  references  had  been  general,  now 
the  principle  of  Divine  dealing  is  ajiplied  to  the  city  of  privilege, 
Jerusalem,  whose  iniquity  was  more  hateful  by  reason  of  its 
superior  position  and  privilege.  (22)  comforted,  by  seeing 
how  even  Divine  judgments  work  out  for  good."  (23)  "without 
cause,  i.e.  without  sufficient  cause  ;  or  without  a  definite  and 
gracious  ijurpose. 

GoiVs  peace. — The  child  frightened  in  Ms  play  runs  to  seek  his 
mother.  She  takes  him  upon  her  laj).  and  presses  his  head  to 
her  bosom  ;  and,  with  tenderest  words  of  love,  she  looks  down 
upon  him,  and  smooths  his  hair,  and  kisses  his  cheek,  and  wipes 
awaj'  his  tears.  And  then,  in  a  low  and  gentle  voice,  she  sings 
some  sweet  descant,  some  lullaby  of  love  :  and  the  fear  fades 
out  from  his  face,  and  a  smile  of  satisfaction  plays  over  it,  and 
at  length  his  eyes  close,  and  he  sleeps  in  the  deep  depths  and 
delights  of  peace.  God  Almighty  is  the  mother,  and  the  soul  is 
the  tired  child ;  and  He  folds  it  in  His  arms,  and  dispels  its 
fear,  and  lulls  it  to  repose,  saying,  "  Sleep,  My  darling,  sleep  ! 
It  is  I  who  watch  thee."  "He  giveth  His  beloved  sleeiJ."  The 
mother's  arms  encircle  bu':  one  ;  but  God  clasj^s  every  yearning 
soul  to  His  bosom,  anl  pives  to  it  the  peace  which  passe th  under- 
Btanding,  beyond  Lhc  reach  of  care  or  storm.*  • 

CHAPTER  THE  FIFTEENTH. 

1—5.  (1,  2)  vine  .  .  tree,  the  vine  is  a  symbol  of  the  Jewish 
Church."  The  reference  here  is  to  the  ivood  of  the  tree,  wh.  is 
useless  for  firewood,  and  to  the  carpenter.*  branch,  an  ordi- 
nary branch  of  any  tree.  {?,)  pin,  or  peg.  These  were  driven 
into  walls  of  houses  for  domestic  uses.  (4)  for  fuel,  sometimes 
the  vine-branches  are  bui-ned  for  charcoal,  but  they  do  not  give    close  to  the  fteu^ 


a  "  This  will  com- 
pose your  nunds, 
and  make  you 
give  glory  to 
God  and  acknow- 
ledge His  judg- 
ments to  be 
righteous, 
though  they 

touch  you  very 
nearly  in  the 
destruction  of 
yoiu-  friends  and 
country.  "-/.Ott/A. 

When  afflictions 
have  done  their 
work,  and  have 
a  c  c  o  m  p  1  i  s  h  ed 
that  for  which 
tliey  were  sent, 
then  will  appear 
the  wisdom  and 
goodness  of  God. 
iff  sending  them, 
and  God  will  nob 
only  be  justified 
but  glorified  iu 
them."  —  Mat. 
Henry. 

b  Beecher. 


a   Is, 
l.x.x.'i.  8 


V.  1 ;  Pc. 


6  "  The  branches 
of  the  vine  are 
pruned  every 
spring,  being  cut 


272 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  XV.  6—8; 


«nil,  wlicii  not 
neivled  to  t hatch 
the  top  of  the 
eurth-wall,  are 
biinipil  to  put 
them  out  of  tlio 
way,  as  tliey  are 
too  porous  anil 
litrht  toserveaiiy 
purpose."  —  Yun 
Lemiep. 

"In  tliis  paissafre 
the  Prophet  prives 
us  a  tig.  repre- 
sentation of  man, 
c  o  n  s  i  il  e  r  e  il 
especially  as  the 
object  of  Divine 
care  and  culture. 
He  IS  naturally 
capable  of  yield- 
ing a  precious 
fruit :  ill  tliis 
consists  his  sole 
excellency ;  tliis 
is  the  sole  end  of 
Jiisexistence.and 
if  he  fails  in  this, 
he  is  of  no  use 
but  to  be  de- 
stroyed."-.flo&e;Y 
hull. 

e  Dr.  Tliomas. 

d  Spenser. 

"And  in  tlie 
tliickest  covert  of 
that  shade,  there 
■was  a  pleasant 
arbour,  not  b}- 
art,  but  of  the 
trees'  owno  incli- 
nation inaile, 
which  knitting 
their  raiicke 

braunches  part 
to  part,  with 
wanton  yvie 

twine  entrayl'd 
athwart,  and  eg- 
lantine and  ca- 
prifolc  anioiy?, 
fasliion'd  above 
witliin  their  in- 
most part,  that 
nei  her  Phoebus' 
beams  could 
through  them 
throng,  nor 
iEolus'  sharp 
blast  could  worke 
t  h  e  in  any 
yiroug."~Spi:user. 
p  Ilurdis. 


out  heat  enough  for  cooking  purposes,  and  vine-wood  charcoal  is 
chiefly  used  iu  the  houses  of  the  wealthy  to  heat  the  iandnor,  or 
warming  apparatus.  (5)  is  burned,  as  Jerusalem  was  iu  the 
prophetic  vision. 

J  In-  jjiiraholii'  picture  of  Israel  {rr.  1 — S). — We  infer — I.  That 
God  has  placed  some  sections  of  the  human  family  under  special 
culture.  1.  This  was  the  case  with  the  Jews  :  2.  With  Christen- 
dom :  3.  With  Great  Britain.  II.  That  such  sections  are.  whether 
fruitful  or  unfruitful,  widely  distinguished  from  all  others.  1. 
If  fruitful,  they  are  distinguished  for  valuablcness  ;  2.  If  un- 
fruitful, they  are  distinguished  by  worthlessr.css.  III.  That 
such  distinction  is  recognised  and  retributed  by  God.« 
'frees  chararteriseil. — 

The  sailing  Pine  ;  the  Cedar,  proud  and  tall ; 

The  vine-prop  Elm  ;  the  Poplar,  never  dry  ; 

The  builder  Oak  ;  sole  king  of  forests  all ; 

The  Aspen,  good  for  staves  ;  the  Cypress,  funeral} 

The  Laurel,  meed  of  mighty  conquerors 

And  poets  sage  ;  the  Fir  that  weepeth  still ; 

The  Willow,  worn  of  hopeless  paramours  ; 

The  Yew,  obedient  to  the  bender's  will ; 

The  Birch  for  shafts  ;  the  Sallow  for  the  mill  ; 

The  BIyrrh,  sweet  bleeding  in  the  bitter  wound  ; 

The  warlike  Beech  ;  the  Ash,  for  nothing  ill ; 

The  fruitful  Olive,  and  the  Plataue  round  ; 

The  carver  Holm  ;  the  Maple,  seldom  inward  sound."* 
6 — 8,  (6)  -will  I  give,  as  useless,  and  only  fit  for  the  burning. 
(7)  one  fire,  i.e.  one  form  of  the  Divine  judgment.     (8)  tres- 
pass, or  '■  they  have  perversely  fallen  into  perverse  rebellion." 
Trees  :   their  f/roirf/i  and  age. — 

Than  a  tree,  a  grander  child  earth  bears  not. 

What  are  the  boasted  palaces  of  man, 

Imperial  city,  or  triumphal  arch. 

To  forests  of  immeasurable  extent. 

Which  tmie  confirms,  which  centuries  wa.ste  not? 

Oaks  gather  strength  for  ages,  and  when  at  last 

They  wane,  so  beauteous  in  decrepitude — 

So  grand  in  weakness,  e"en  in  their  decay 

So  venerable — "twere  sacrilege  t'  escape 

The  consecrating  touch  of  time.     Time  watch'd 

The  blossom  on  the  parent  bough  ;  Time  saw 

The  acorn  loosen  from  the  spray ;  Time  pass'd 

While  springing  from  its  swaddling  shell  yon  oak, 

The  cloud-crown"d  monarch  of  our  woods,  by  thorna 

Environ'd,  'scaped  the  raven's  bill,  the  tooth 

Of  goat  and  deer,  the  schoolboy's  knife,  and  sprang 

A  roj'al  hero  from  his  uui'se's  arms. 

Time  gave  it  seasons,  and  Time  gave  it  years, 

Ages  bestow  d,  and  cenairies  grudged  not ; 

Time  knew  the  sapling  when  gay  summer'.s  breath 

Shook  to  the  roots  the  infant  oak,  which  after 

Tempests  moved  not.     Time  hollow'd  in  its  trunk 

A  tomb  for  centuries,  and  buried  there 

The  epochs  of  tlie  rise  and  fall  of  states, 

The  fading  generations  of  the  world, 

The  memory  of  men." 


Cap.  svi.  1—9.] 


EZEKIEL. 


273 


CHAPTER  TEE  SIXTEENTH. 


a  Comp.  Is.  li.  1. 
6  '■  Those  are 
said    to     be   our 

»  .        i  .  -,  T  1    J?     1     ji        Jiarents    iu    the 

1 — 5.    (1,  2)    abominations,    to   understand   and   leel  the  |  Scrijx      dialect, 
grievous  sin  of  her  idolatries.     (3)  'birth.,  lit.  t/nj  cutti/if/  out."    wiiose    mannera 
of .  .  Canaan,  i.e.  it  would  seem,  by  your  manaers,  as  if  you 
had  been  born  iu  Canaan,  as  if  your  "  father  had  been  an  Amorite 
and  your  mother  a  Hittite."*    (4)  salted.  .  .  swaddled,  refer- 
ences to  the  E.  mode  of   treating-  new-born  infants.'^      The  r. 
describes  an  utterly  neglected  infaut.^     (5)  lotlling  .  .  person, 
or  the  contempt  of  thy  life  ;  or  with  rei'ereuce  to  the  unsightly  j  \va.-ilied  in  salted 
appearance  of  such  an  exposed  infant.  water,     clothed, 

.1  cJiarr/c  to  cif>/  mini^iers  (c.  2).— The  charge  here  given  to '  f^^,;^'^'^*!;^^^^^ 
Ezckiel  applies  to  all  city  ministers.  I.  Ezekiel  had  a  commis- !  swalidiing  cloth, 
sion  to  a  corrupt  city.  II.  His  commission  was  to  reveal  the  city  three  or  four 
to  itself.  1 .  Because  the  moral  corruptions  of  a  city  expose  the  j  !^'J^|"i^  Y^'^^'  ^"'J 
population  to  terrible  calamities;  2.  Because  the  city  itself  is,  long,  which 
ignorant  of  its  moral  corruption ;    3.    Because  such  revelation ,  is  linuly  wouud 


we  resemble. 
]\[at.  iii.  7  ;  J  no. 
viii.  44."— Lowlh. 
c  ■•  In  the  East 
at  tlie  present 
day,  as  soon  as  a 
babe  is  born  it  is 


bodies  of  new-born  infants.  It  is  lu'obable  that  they  only  i  f^re  thus  pinioned 
sprinkled  them  with  salt,  or  washed  them  with  salt-water,  which  '  t°ia,t'^ifc  ^".''^^'  t^° 
they  imagined  would  dry  up  all  superfluous  humours.  Galen  1  ne'itiier  hand  or 
'■' JSale   modico    iiu-pcr.w ,   ('itti.s    Ivfanfia    dcnsiur.    f:(ili(li(irq/'e  \  foot."— Van  Len- 

ncp. 

d  Ho.  ii.  3. 


says, 


ivfanfia   dcnsiur 
cddltiir  ;"  that  is,  a  little   salt  being  sprinkled  upon  the  infant, 
its  skin  is  rendered  more   dense  and  solid.     It  is  said  that  the 
inhabitants  of  Tartary  still  continue  the  practice  of  salting  their 
children  as  soon  as  they  are  born./ 

6 — 9.  (0)  polluted,  etc.,  still  regarding  Israel  as  an  untended 
infant,     live,  i.e.  when  so  utterly  uucared  for.  I  took  thee  up.  j  "  Ex.  i.  7. 
and  saved  thy  life,     (7J  caused  .  .  field,  or  ••  I  made  thee  ten  j  fie'i'i"J,te,rat''the 
thousand,  as  the  sprouting  of  the  field.'""     come  .  .  ornaments, '  nianiage  ''^cere^ 
fig.  for  ''thou  becamest  most  beautiful."'      naked  .  .  bare,   i.e.  '  monies    of    the 
nakedness  and  bareness  itself.     God  pr(  sided  over  all  the  growth^  Hindoos,   to  see 
of  the  naked  infant  into  the  beautiful  woman.     (8)  spread  .  . 
thee,*  symbol  of  taking  a  woman  under  a  man"s  protection. 
(9)  oil,  the  symbol  of  health  and  rejoicing. 

The  life  of  souls  the  ordinance  of  God  (r.  6). — I.  Servants  of 
God,  what  then  is  our  office  .'  II.  There  are  souls  dead.  1.  Men 
are  ignorant  of  the  nature  of  their  souls  ;  2.  The  souls  of  men 
are  not  fulfilling  the  end  of  their  being  :  3.  The  souls  of  men  are 
strangers  to  the  peculiar  joys  of  their  being.  III.  Therefore,  as 
the  servants  of  God,  the  cry  of  our  ministry  is,  Live.*" 

Advice  to  one  seehing  .miration. — "  A  person  whom  I  once  knew 
was  roused  from  a  habit  of  indolence  and  supineness  to  a  serious 
concern  for  his  eternal  welfare.  Convinced  of  his  depraved 
nature  and  aggravated  guilt,  he  had  recourse  to  the  Scriptures 
and  to  frequent  prayer  ;  he  attended  the  ordinances  of  Chris- 
tianity, and  sought  earnestly  for  an  interest  in  Christ,  but  found 
no  steadfast  faith,  and  tasted  very  little  comfort :  at  length  he 
applied  to  an  eminent  divine,  and  laid  open  the  state  of  his  heart. 
Short  but  weighty  was  the  answer  :  '  I  perceive,  sir,  the  cause  of 

all  your  distress  ;  you  will  not  come  to  Christ  as  a  sinner  ;  this     _ 

mistake  lies  between  you  and  the  joy  of  religion:  this  detains   money  of  ten  pro- 
ve L.  IX.     O.T.  S 


V.  2.     />.   Henry, 

209. 

e  Dr.  Tlinnias. 

f  Barder. 


amongst  them 
the  same  in- 
teresting custom. 
Tlie  bride  is 
seated  on  a 
throne,  sur- 

rounded by  ma- 
trons, wearing 
her  veil,  1  ec 
gayest  robes,  and 
most  valuable 
jewels.  After  the 
timli  has  been 
tied  round  her 
neck,  the  bride- 
groom  a  p- 
prcaclies  her 

with  a  silken 
skirt  (purchased 
by  hiuisclf),  and 
folds  it  round 
her  severnl  times 
over  tlie  rest  of 
her  clothes.  Tliia 
part  of  the  cere- 


274 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap  xvi,  10-19. 


duc^s      powerful 

emotions  on    all 

pro.sent.' "  —  A'o- 

bt-rls. 

c  J.  Pidsf.ird. 

d  lliTVClJ. 

ti  Van  Letinep. 
b  Oricntiil  uoiiipn 
are  notoriously 
fou'l  of  decking 
with  jewellery, 
not  only  their 
heads,  but  other 
parts  of  their 
boily  a?  well. 
Comp.  Ge.  xxiv. 
22, 17. 

It  is  often  a  large 
ring,  ornamented 
witii  emeralds, 
pearls,  or  botli. 
To  the  European 
taste  it  looks 
very  disfiguring ; 
and  when  of  ex- 
pensive materials 
is  so  tempting 
to  thieves,  tliat, 
as  we  have  some- 
where read,  their 
last  act  when 
escaping  from  a 
house  they  have 
plundered  is 
often  to  twitch 
tlie  ring  out  of 
the  nose  of  some 
sleeping  female, 
and  then  before 
she  has  hiid  time 
to  recover  'from 
the  fright  and 
pain,  vanish 
amid  the  dark- 
ness of  the 
night. 

t>.  10.  I  clothed 
thee  also  with 
broidered  work, 
and  sliod  thee 
with  badger's 
skin,  and  gn-ded 
thee  about  with 
fine  linen,  anil 
1  covered  thee 
with  silk. 
See  on  IOk.  xxv.  5. 
vv.  18,  19.  J.nt\ 
took  est  thy 
broidured  gar- 
men  t  s,  a)id 
coveredst  them  : 
and  thou  hast  sot 
mine  oil  anil 
mine  incense  i'C- 
foic  them.  Jly 
meat  also  which 
I  gave  tliee,  fine 
flour,  and  oil,  and 
lioney.  where- 
with I  fed  thee, 


you  in  the  g-.iU  of  bitterness,  and  take  heed,  0  take  heed,  lest  it 
consign  you  to  the  bond  of  iniiiuity.'  This  admonition  never 
departed  from  the  gentleman's  mind,  and  it  became  the  means 
of  removing-  the  obstacles  of  his  peace."  "* 

10—14.  (10)  badgei''s  skins,  Ex.  xxv.  ,"5.  silk,  Heb. 
Dir.ilii,  the  derivation  of  wh.  is  disputed.  '■  Silk  was  used  for 
clothing-  first  in  the  North  of  China,  thence  it  came  to  Syria  and 
E?ypt  by  way  of  India.""  (11)  ornaments,  wh.  were  highly 
prized  by  brides.  (12)  jewel  .  .  forehead,  in  Is.  iii.  21,  the 
word  is  no.fi'-Jen'd.''  (13)  fine  flour,  etc.,  signs  of  delicate  pro- 
vision and  treatment,  into  a  kingdom,  as  in  the  reigns  of 
David  and  Solomon.  (11)  perfect,  ciu/ip.  ch.  xxvii.  3.  4.  come- 
liness, a  suitable  and  suggestive  word  for  a  bea^itiful  and 
adorned  bride.  But  all  her  grace  must  be  traced  to  the  provision 
and  the  care  of  God. 

Oriuimcntiifoi'  the  nose. — The  nose  jewel  is  a  singular  ornament, 
peculiar  to  the  East,  which  the  Jewish  females  wear,  and  of 
which  the  Asiatic  ladies  are  extremely  fond.  This  ornament 
was  one  of  the  jDresents  which  the  servant  of  Abniham  gave  to 
Rebekah,  in  the  name  of  his  master  :  "  I  put,"  said  he,  '-  the  ear- 
ring upon  her  face  ,"  more  literally,  I  put  the  ring  on  her  nose. 
They  wore  ear-rings  besides  ;  for  the  household  of  Jacob,  at  his 
request,  when  they  were  preparing  to  go  up  to  Bethel,  gave  him 
all  the  ear-rings  which  were  in  their  cars,  and  he  hid  them  under 
the  oak  which  was  by  Shechem.  The  difference  between  these 
ornaments  is  clearly  stated  by  the  Prophet :  "  I  put  a  jewel  on 
thy  nose  and  ear-rings  in  her  ears."  The  nose  jewel,  therefore,  . 
was  different  from  the  ear-ring,  and  actually  worn  by  the  females 
as  an  ornament  in  the  East.  This  is  conlirmed  by  the  testimony 
of  Sir  John  Chardin.  who  says,  '•  It  is  the  custom  in  almost  all 
the  East  for  the  women  to  wear  rings  in  their  noses,  in  the  nostril, 
which  is  bored  low  down  in  the  middle.  The.se  rings  are  of  gold, 
and  have  commonly  two  pearls  and  one  ruby  between  them, 
placed  in  the  ring  :  I  never  saw  a  girl  or  young  woman  in  Arabia, 
or  in  all  Persia,  who  did  not  wear  a  ring  after  this  manner  in  her 
nostril." 

15—19.  (15)  trust,  etc.,  didst  think  too  much  of  thyself, 
and  so  fell  into  temptation,  harlot,  idolatry  is  often  described 
Iw  the  Prophets  as  adultery.  (1(1)  deckedst,  etc.,  with  reference 
to  the  eiforts  of  the  lewd  woman  to  make  herself  attractive, 
like  tilings,  etc.,  i.e.  there  shall  never  anj'thing  happen  again 
so  i-evolting  and  so  dreadful.  (17)  images,  i.e.  idol-images. 
(18)  garments,  wh.  I  had  given  thee  as  my  bride.  (Ut)  sweet 
savour,  or  incense  offered  to  idols  of  the  good  things  I  gave 
thee. 

ITcnthen  idolatry. — The  Hindoos,  in  one  portion  of  their 
idolatrous  worship,  observe  the  following  rites.  The  image  is 
first  anointed  with  giiigelly  '-  oil,'"  which  is  afterwards  washed 
off  with  lime-juice  and  pure  water.  A  composition  made  of  the 
following  artieles  is  then  poured  upon  it  .-  —  Water  of  the  uni-ipe 
cocoa-nut,  rose-water,  milk,  plantains,  "honey,"  rice,  ''flour," 
sugar,  sandal-dust,  powder  of  the  bezoar  stone,  nutmeg,  saffron, 
and  camphor.  Then  the  whole  is  washed  off  with  the  water  of 
unripe  coaoa-nuts.  At  the  offering  of  the  -'incense,"  cakes  are 
presented,  made  of  native  species  of  chickpeas,  rice,   sesame, 


Cap.  xvi.  20-34.] 


EZEKIEL. 


275 


millet,  peas,  beans,  and  muslartl.  The  "  broidered  garment " 
mentioned  by  the  Prophet,  which  is  generally  made  of  silk, 
(though  I  have  seen  one  of  cotton),  is  then  reverently  drawn 
over  the  image.  Who  can  avoid  being  struck  with  these 
resemblances  I  Wi\o  can  avoid  being  appalled  at  the  wickedness 
of  the  Jews  I     See  the  observations  on  2  Chron.  xiv.  5. 

20—24.  (20,  21)  pass  .  .  firo,  to  Moloch,  Je.  xxxii.  So- 
(22)  remembered,  or  thought  on.  naked,  do.  (r.  7,  etc.). 
(2o,  24)  eminent  place,  meaning  a  house  in  which  to  carry 
on  thy  wicked  idolatries  ;   a  heathen  temple. 

Ancient  idolatrij  in  Britain. — In  the  wi'itings  of  the  Rev.  T. 
Maurice,  on  Indian  Antiquities,  when  referring  to  the  Avorshij? 
practised  by  the  British  Druids,  he  remarks  : — '•  The  pen  of  history 
trembles  to  relate  the  baleful  orgies  which  their  frantic  super- 
stition celebrated,  when,  enclosing  men,  women,  and  children  in 
one  vast  wiCker  image,  in  the  form  of  a  man,  and  fdling  it  with 
every  kind  of  combustibles,  they  set  fire  to  the  huge  colossus. 
While  the  dreadful  holocaust  was  offering  to  their  sanguinary 
gods,  the  gi-oans  and  shrieks  of  the  consuming  victims  were 
drowned  amidst  shouts  of  barbarous  triumph,  and  the  air  was 
rent,  as  in  the  Syrian  temple  of  old,  with  martial  music ! 
Ilcligion  shudders  at  such  a  perversion  of  its  name  and  rites, 
and  humanity  turns  with  horror  from  the  guilty  scene."" 

25 — 29.  (2.5)  built,  etc.,  allusion  is  made  in  this  r.  to  the 
rude  manners  of  such  lewd  women.  (2G)  Egyptians,  by 
depending  on   them  rather   than  on   God,   thy    true  Husband. 

(27)  stretclied,  etc.,  in  severe  dealings ;  abridging  thee  of 
necessaries  and  conveniences,  daughters,  or  cities,  lleferences 
may    be     intended    to    the    calamitous    times   of   the    Judges. 

(28)  Assyrians,    in    depending,   as   a    nation,,  on    their   help. 

(29)  land  of  Canaan,  here  prob.  intended  to  include  the 
Phoenician  border  and  Syrian  districts. 

Lcn-d. — "  Lewd  way, "  Ezek.  xvi.  27,  as  the  modern  usage,  but 
Acts  xvii.  5,  "  certain  lewd  {i.e.  common)  fellows  of  the  baser 
sort."  Anglo-Saxon,  Lead  '•  people."  In  early  English,  lede 
(German,  leutc).  Similarly  the  adjective  "vulgar"  has  not 
alwaj'S  been  used  in  an  obnoxious  sense,  as  in  "  vulgar  tongue," 
i.e..  tong-ue  of  the  people,  and  the  Vulgate  Version  is  that 
universally  adoptcdby  the  Romish  communion.  Latimer,  Sermon 
IV.  "  Conv.  of  the  Clergy,"  speaks  of  the  '•  lewd  servant  hiding 
his  master's  money  in  the  ground,"  where  it  seems  to  mean 
'•  vile."  Iludibras  calls  bear-baiting  a  "  lewd,  anti-Christian 
game "  (i.  802-3).  Katherine's  cap  is  called  by  the  mad 
Petruchio  "lewd,"  i.e.  common.-^  7  a  in  in/j  of  tlie  S/n'rn\  Act  iv. 
Sc.  ?>.  "  Lewd  men  (referring  to  Esau)  when  they  think  they 
have  earned  of  God,  and  come  proudly  to  challenge  favour, 
receive  no  answer  but '  Who  art  thou  ? '  "  « 

30 — 34.  (30)  weak,  or  wasted.  Sin  ever  weakens  both 
intellect  and  heart.  (31)  eminent  place,  r.  24.  (32)  wife, 
adultery  being  a  mitch  deeper  sin  than  fornication,  because  it 
involves  inrfaithfiihic.^.'i.  (33)  hirest,  or  bribest.  (3-1)  con- 
trary, manifesting  stronger  wilfulness,  and  more  shameless 
wdckcdness. 

I'rcvention  of  licentionsnesa. — "  A^Tiy  did  you  not  take  the 
arm  of  my  brother  last  night  ? "  said  one  young  lady  to  another. 

g2 


thou  hast  evea 
set  it  before  theia 
for  a  sweet  sa- 
vour: and  thu3 
it  was,  saith  tha 
Lord  God. 
Tlie  Ilev.  Mr. 
Richards,  aa 
American  mis- 
sioiiarj',  relates 
tliat  ill  18j2  a 
Hindoo  was  seen 
to  throw  his  liv- 
ing cliild  into  the 
river,  as  a  sacri- 
fice to  the  Gun- 
ga,  having  first 
violently  forced 
it  from  the  arms 
of  its  -weeping 
mother.  The  maa 
W.1S  apprehend- 
I  ed,  and,  on  his 
I  e  .\  a  ni  i  n  a  t  i  0  n, 
pointed  out  the 
I  Brahniiu  who 
directed  him  to 
do  this  awful 
act,  to  atoue  for 
his  sins! 
a  M'hileci'oss. 

"  A.  just  and  rea- 
sonable modesty 
does  not  only  re- 
couinieiid  elo- 
;  qnenoo,  but  sets 
j  off  every  great 
talent  which  a 
man  can  be  i^os- 
sesseil  of.  It 
heiglitens  all  the 
virtues  which 
it  accompanies. 
Like  the  shades 
in  paintings,  it 
raises  and  rounds 
every  figure,  and 
makes  the  colours 
more  beautiful, 
though  not  so 
glaring  as  they 
woidd  be  with- 
out.''— Addison. 

a  Hall,  B.  iii. 
Cont.  i. 

r.  30.  Dr.  H. 
Ilfimmond,  iv. 
567. 

vi\  30—33.  OrU 
gen,  Op.  iii.  376. 
The  life,  oppor- 
tunities, and 
seeming  enjoy- 
ments of  Colonel 
Gardner  •  were 
such  as  to  secure 
him  the  name  of 
"  The  H.appy 
Rake."  "Wliila 
being  congratu- 
lated by  his  com« 


276 


EZEKIEL 


[Cap.  xvi.  35-43. 


pauioiis,  one  day, 
lie  couM  not  for- 
bear groaning, 
nu'l  saying,  as  a 
dng  entereil  the 
nm'.n,  -  Oli  that  I 
Were  that  dogl " 

a  Le.  XX.  10;  De. 
xxii.  22. 

"jroilesty  is  silent 
■\vlicn  it  vvouM 
bs  improper  to 
speak;  the 
hiiin'ole,  without 
being  calleil 
upon,  naror  re- 
collects to  say 
anything  of  him- 
self."—ira'a/pr. 

All  the  wicked- 
ness you  have 
done  in  j'our  life, 
wa?  first  done  in 
your  heart. 

hR.T.S. 


a  "The  judg- 
ment I  will  exe- 
cute upon  tliee 
sliall  be  for  an 
instruction  to 
other  nations, 
how  they  follow 
thine  ill-prac- 
ticed."— Lowt/i. 

b  "It    Is    not   a 

mitigation  of  the 
peualty  that  is 
here  foretold,  but 
such  an  utter  de- 
struction of  ((// 
the  guilty  tliat 
there  shall  be  no 
need  of  furtlier 
p  u  n  ishment." — 
Calvin. 

c  "Tr.ans.  'I  will 
not  do  what  is 
scandalous  (viz. 
encouraging  tliee 
in  thy  sin  by 
letting  it  pass 
with  impunity; 
upon  all  thine 
aboniinatious.' " 
•~Fuirbairn. 


"  Because  I  know  him  to  be  a  licentious  young  man,"  -was  tho 
answer.  "  Nonsense  1  "  said  the  sister  :  "  if  you  refuse  the  atten- 
tions of  all  licentious  men,  you  will  have  none,  I  can  assure 
you."  "  Very  well,"  was  the  reply,  "  then  I  can  disjiense  with 
them  altogether  ;  my  resolution  on  this  point  is  unalterably 
fixed." 

35—39.  C35,  30)  filthiness,  or  brass  ;  put  perhaps  in  con- 
tempt for  gold.  (;!7)  against  tlice,  fig.  of  the  invas^ion  of  the 
Assyrians,  etc.  (liS)  break  Vv'edlock,  are  unfaitliful  to  marriage 
vows."     blood,  or  destruction  of  thine  inhabitants. 

Infanticide. — Mr.  Ellis,  in  his  Afi.s.sin/iari/  Tou)%  relates  the 
following  shocking  instance  of  infanticide.  A  man  and  his  wife, 
tenants  of  Mr.  Young,  who  has  for  many  years  held,  under  ihe 
king,  the  small  district  of  Kukuwaw,  situate  on  the  centre  of 
Waiakea  Bay,  resided  not  far  from  Maaro's  house.  They  had  one 
child,  a  fine  little  boy.  A  quarrel  arose  between  them  on  one  occa- 
sion respecting  this  child.  The  wife,  refusing  to  accede  to  tlie  wishes 
of  the  husband,  he,  in  revenge,  caught  up  the  child  by  the  head 
and  the  feet,  broke  its  back  across  his  knee,  and  then  threw  it 
down  in  expiring  agonies  before  her.  Struck  with  the  atrocity 
of  the  act,  Mr.  Young  seized  the  man,  led  him  before  the  king 
Tamehameha.  who  was  then  at  Waiakea,  and  rer[nested  that  he 
might  be  punished.  The  king  in'i aired.  '•  To  whom  did  the  child 
he  has  murd-^red  belong  ]  "  j\Ir.  Young  answered  that  it  was  his 
own  son.  '"  Then,"  sai:l  the  king,  '•  neither  you  nor  I  have  any 
right  to  interfere  ;  I  cannot  say  anything  to  him."  * 

40—43.   (40)  stone  thee,   Jno.  viii.  .5—7.    (41)  burn.. 

fire,  coinp.  Ge.  xxxviii.  24  ;  De.  xiii.  IG.  sigllt  .  .  women,  i.e. 
of  other  na'^ions,  as  Syrians,  Philistines,  etc."  (42)  to  rest, 
when  the  fitting  paiiishmeat  has  been  brought  on  thee.* 
(43)  fretted  me,  a  word  suitable  to  a  grieved  and  injured 
husband.  Is.  Ixiii.  10.  lewdness,  the  wickedness  of  spiiitual 
adultery."    Comp.  Le  six.  2'd. 

Prrmnit  qvntifieation  of  pnsunn. — It  is  of  the  nature  of  passion 
to  seize  upon  th?  present  gratification,  utterly  irrespective  of 
conse'^ueuces,  ani  utterly  regardless  of  other  or  more  excellent 
gratificatious,  which  may  bo  obtained  by  self-denial.  He  whose 
passions  are  inflamed  looks  at  nothing  beyond  the  pi-esent  grati- 
fication. Hence  he  is  liable  to  seize  upon  a  present  enjoyment, 
to  the  exclusion  of  a  much  more  valuable  one  in  future,  and 
even  in  such  a  manner  as  to  entail  upon  himself  pnienant  and 
remediless  misery.  And  lience.  in  order  to  be  cnnbled  to  enjoy 
all  the  happiness  of  which  his  present  state  is  capable,  the 
sensitive  partof  man  needs  to  be  combined  with  another,  which, 
upon  a  compfvrison  of  the  present  with  the  future,  shall  impel 
him  towards  that  mode  eitlier  of  gratification  or  of  self-denial 
which  shall  most  promote  his  happiness  u])On  the  whole.  Such 
is  self-love.  We  give  this  name  to  that  part  of  our  constitution 
by  which  we  are  incited  to  do  or  to  forbear,  to  gratify  or  to 
deny  our  desires,  simply  on  the  ground  of  obtaining  the  greatest 
amount  of  happiness  for  ourselves,  taking  into  view  a  limited 
future,  or  else  our  entire  futui-e  existence,  ^\^len  we  act  from 
simple  respect  to  present  gratification,  we  act  from  passion. 
When  we  act  from  a  respect  to  our  whole  individual  h.apjiiness, 
without  regard  to  the  i^rescnt,  only  as  it  is  a  part  of  the  whole;, 


Cap.  xvi.  44—52.] 


EZEKIEI. 


277 


and  without  any  reg'ard  to  the  happiness  of  otheT ,  only  as  it  will  |  <*  ^yuijland. 
coatributa  to  our  own,  we  are  then  said  to  act  from  self-love.'^ 


44—47.  (44)  the  mother,  with  reference  to  the  Ilittite 
mother  (r.  3).  (-15)  sister  .  .  sisters,  i.e.  of  Sodom  and 
Sam'iria.  (4(;  j  elder  sister,  bee.  (he  capital  of  the  more  impor- 
tant kingdom  of  Israel,  and  as  setting  the  example  of  idolatry. 
left  hand,  i.e.  of  one  looking-  eastward.  Samaria  lay  to  the 
north,  her  daiTg'hters,  her  neighbouring  and  dependent  towns." 
(47)  very  little  thin^,  or  loathed  as  a  small  thing.  Judah 
had  even  gone  to  extreme  lengths  in  idolatrous  wickedness. 

Parental  responsih'ditij. — And  what  will  parents  be  able  to  say 
to  God  at  the  day  of  judgment,  for  all  their  neglect  of  their 
children,   in  matter  of  instruction  and   example,   and  restraint 
from  evil  ?     How  will  it  make  your  ears  tingle  when  God  shall 
arise  terribly  to  judgment,  and  say  to  you,  Behold  the  children 
which  I  have  given  you  ;  they  were  ignorant,  and  you  instructed 
them  not ;  they  made  themselves  vile,  and  you  restrained  them 
not.     Why  did  you  not  have  them  instructed  and  trained  up  in 
piety   ami  devotion  ?     Yo.i  have  neglected  this  duty,  and  now 
your  children,  whose  souls  you  have  ruined  by  your  neglect,  will 
follow  you  to  hell,  to   be  an  addition  to  your  torments  there,  j 
AVill  not  your  children  themselves  challenge  you  at  that  day,  and  1 
say  to  you.  one  by  one,  "  Had  j'ou  been  as  careful  to  teach  me  the  I 
good  knowledge  of  the  Lord  as  I  was  capable  of  learning  it,  | 
Lad  you  been  as  forward  to  instruct  me  in  my  duty  as  I  was  ready 
to  have  hearkened  to  it.  it  had  not  been  with  me  as  it  is  this 
dav.     I  had  net  now  stood  here  trembling,   in   fearful   expec- 
tation of  the  eternal  doom   which   is  just  ready   to   be  passed 
upon  me."* 

48—52.  (48)  not  clone  •  .  as  thoii,  yet  ■'Sodom's  sins 
brought  an  awful  Divine  judgment.  (4'.))  idleness,  the  secret 
of  immornlity,  and  the  service  of  formal  religions."  The  fruitful 
land  of  Sodom*'  made  her  people  proud,  wealthy,  idle,  and 
voluptuous,  hand  of  the  poor,  neglect  of  the  poor  and  suf- 
fering i?  a  high  moral  offence  in  the  sight  of  God.  (50)  took 
them  away,  Ge.  xix.  24.  (51)  justified,  i.e.  made  them  appear 
almoi^t  good,  when  set  in  contrast  with  thee.  (52)  bear  .  . 
8hame,  i.e.  the  disgrace  which  an  overwhelming  punishment  j 
will  bring  upon  thee. 

Gradual  {jroivfh  of  paasinii. — 

As  years  enlarged  his  form,  in  moody  hours. 

His  mind  betrayed  its  weakness  with  its  powers ; 

Alike  his  fairest  hopes  and  strangest  fears 

Were  nursed  in  silence,  or  divulged  with  tears  ; 

The  fulness  of  his  heart  repressed  liis  tongue. 

Though  none  might  rival  Javan  when  he  sung. 

He  loved,  in  lonely  indolence  reclined, 

To  watch  the  clouds,  and  listen  to  the  w'ind. 

But  from  the  north  when  snow  and  tempest  came. 

His  nobler  spirit  mounted  into  flame  ; 

With  stern  delight  he  roamed  the  howling  woods, 

Or  hung  in  ecstasy  o"cr  headlong  floocTs. 

Meanwhile,  excursive  fancy  longed  to  view 

The  world,  which  yet  by  fame  alone  he  knew; 

The  joys  of  freedom  were  his  dailj'-  theme, 


I  a  "  The  worship 
of  Jloloch  was 
gener.ally  prac- 
t.iped  by  the  tea 

I  tribes,  whose 
metropolis  was 
famaria;  as  it 
was  by  tlia 
Amorites,  who 
derived  tlieir 
original  from 
Lot,  an  inhabi- 
tant of  Sodom." 
— Zmcth, 

V.  44.  J.  W.  War- 
ier, i.  461. 

"  Wg  oft  by 
lightning  read  in 
darkest  niglits; 
and  b}-  your  pas- 
sions I  read  all 
your  natures, 
though  3'ou.  at 
other  times  cau 
keep  them  dark." 
— Ju/ni  Ci-oicne. 

b  Ahp.  TUlolson. 


a  "  ?atan  finds 
some  mischief 
still  for  iiUe 
hanils  to  do." — 
Watts. 

i  Ge.  xiii.  10. 

r.  49.  J.  IhuMt, 
ii.  S41 ;  n.  Mar- 
viM,  ix.  318. 

rv.  49,  50.  Dr. 
Conant,  v.  1. 

"  We  say  of  a 
man  who  has  no 
wiil-niastcry,'  He 
is  ruled  by  his 
]  assions ; '  they 
govern  him,  not 
he  them.  Cen- 
turies ago  an 
Arab  wrote: 

'  r.iFsion  is  a 
tyrant  whioli 
siays  those  whom 
it  governs.'  It 
is  like  fire,  which 
'iuce  thoroughly 
kindled,  can 
scarcely  ha 
(juenclif  d  ;  crlil.e 
the  torrent, 
which,  wheu  it  il 


278 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xvl.  53-57. 


BwoUen,  can  no 
longer  be  ro- 
Btiaiu'^i'l  witliin 
it.<  banks.  Call  nut 
liim  a  prisumr 
■who  has  been  put 
in  fftters  by  his 
enemy,  but  rather 
liiin  wliose  own 
passions  over- 
jwwor  him  to 
(lest  ruotiou." — 
Joseph  Johnson. 

Passinn  i.s  at  fir.st 
like  a  thiTi  thread; 
by-and-by  it  be- 
comes lilie  a 
cable. 

c  Monlgomery. 


a  "This  is  not  a 
promise  of  re- 
storation, but  a 
dpuuneiatiou  of 
hoijelesi  ruin. 
Wlien  Sodom 
shall  h'i  rebuilt 
an^l  shall  flourish, 
wlien  Sunnria 
shall  be  again  a 
mighty  people, 
then,  but  not  till 
then,  shall  Jeru- 
salem be  re- 
s  to  red." — Spi. 
Coin. 

b  Dr.  Boyd. 

Ahttle  Amoilaan 
boy,  whose  fatber 
posses.seii  i.j  re- 
1  i  g  i  0  n.  and 
neglected  family 
prayer,  spent 
some  time  in  a 
pious  family, 
where  he  was  in- 
structed in  the 
simple  truths  of 
the  Bible.  While 
cue  day  conver.s- 
inz  about  the 
greatness  and 
gooilness  of  God, 
lie  made  this  na- 
tural remark:  — 
I"  \V(i  haven't  got 
any  Co'l  at  my 
papa's  house." 

"  The  passions, 
likd  heavy  bodies 
down  steep  hills, 
ouee  in  motion, 
move  themselves, 
aud     kuuw     uo 


Glory  the  secret'  of  his  mi(lnig:ht  dream  ; 
That  dream  he  told  not ;  though  his  heart  ■would  ache, 
His  home  was  precious  for  hi.s  motlicr  s  sake. 
AVith  her  the  lowly  paths  of  peace  he  ran, 
11  is  guardian  angel,  till  he  verged  to  man  ; 
But  when  her  weary  ej'e  could  watch  no  more, 
When  to  the  grave  her  timelcs.s  corse  he  bore, 
Not  Enoch's  counsels  could  his  steps  restrain. 
He  fled,  and  sojourned  iu  the  land  of  Cain. 
There,  ■n^hen  he  heard  the  voice  of  Jubal's  lyre, 
Instinctive  genius  caught  the  ethereal  fire  : 
And  soon,  with  sweetly-modulating-  skill. 
He  learned  to  wind  the  passions  at  his  will, 
To  rule  the  chords  with  such  mysterious  art. 
They  seemed  the  life-strings  of  the  hearer's  heart ! 
Then  glory's  opening  field  he  proudly  trod, 
Forsook  the  worship  and  the  waj's  of  God. 
Round  the  vain  world  pursued  the  phantom  fame, 
And  cast  away  his  birthright  for  a  uame.<^ 
53—57.  (53)  wlien  I  bring,  i.e.  if  ever  I  do,  which  is  very 
unlikely."     (oi)  that  shame,  in  the  meantime,  and  till  then, 
a  comfort,   as  a  companion   in   suffering   as  well   as   in   siu. 
Sinners  when  themselves  under  punishment  are  consoled  by  see- 
ing other  sinners  punished.     (55)  "«rhen,  etc.,  comp.  note  on  v. 
53.     (5(5)  not  mentioned,    bee.    it  was  utterly  despised,   and 
thought  to  be  an  awfully  wicked  place.     It  was  held  in  utter 
contempt.     (57)  despise  thee,  in  turn,  w^hen  thou  hast  become 
the  object  of  Divine  indignation. 

Comfort  to  Sodom  {rr.  53.  5i). — It  is  mentioned  as  if  a  fault 
that  Jerusalem  w^as  a  comfort  to  Sodom  :  Jerusalem  had.  so  to 
speak,  kept  Sodom  and  Samaria  in  countenance.  The  text  sug- 
gests that  it  is  very  blanreworthy  iu  those  who  profess  to  be 
Christians  to  do  anj'thing  which  may  comfort  a  sinner  in  his 
sinfulness,  and  encourage  him  to  go  on  in  his  evil  ways.  I.  One 
way  is  V,}'  being  as  bad  as  Sodom  itself.  II.  Allowing  sinful 
conduct  to  pass  without  rebuke.  III.  Seeking  the  society  and 
acquaintance  of  an  irreligious  man.  showing  him  that  j'ou  think 
him  a  congenial  spirit,  and  feel  it  pleasant  to  be  with  him.  IV. 
Cherishing  a  worldly  spirit,  being  as  eager  for  worldly  advantage, 
and  unscrupulous  in  the  means  of  attaining  it.  V.  By  never,  in 
any  way,  w'arning  one's  neighbour  that  you  fear  and  know  that 
he  is  not  a  Christian.* 

I'arcntnl  thoiightlci^anrK.t.  —  A  careless  parent  one  evening 
entered  the  late  Eev.  BIr.  M'Cheyue's  house,  and  asked  him  to 
come  with  him  to  baptise  a  dying  child.  He  knew  that  neither 
this  man  nor  his  wife  ever  entered  the  door  of  a  church  :  but  he 
rose  and  went  with  him  to  the  miserable  dwelling.  There  au 
infant  lay,  apparently  dying ;  and  many  of  the  female  neigh- 
bours, equally  depraved  with  the  parents,  stood  round.  Ho  came 
forward  to  where  the  child  was.  and  spoke  to  the  jiarents  of  their 
ungodly  state,  and  fearful  guilt  before  God.  and  concluded  by 
showing  them  that,  in  such  circum.stances.  he  would  consider  it 
sinful  in  him  to  adnriuistcr  baptism  to  their  infant.  They  said, 
"He  might  r'  least  do  it  for  the  s.-vke  of  the  poor  child."  He 
told  them  that  it  was  not  baptism  that  saved  a  soul,  and  that  out 
of  true  concern  for  themselves,  he  must  not  do  as  they  wished. 


Cap.  xvi.  58-63.1 


EZEKIEL. 


279 


The  friends  around  the  bed  then  joined  the  parents  in  upbraiding 
him,  as  having  no  pity  on  the  poor  infant's  soul !  He  stood 
among  them  still,  and  showed  them  that  it  was  they  who  had 
been  thus  cruel  to  their  child  ;  and  then  lifted  up  his  voice  in 
solemn  warning,  and  left  the  house  amidst  their  ignorant  re- 
proaches.'' 

58—60.  (r.S)  borne,  the  consequences  of.  (59)  deal .  .  done, 
God  would  witlidraw  from  His  covenant  of  protection  as  they  had 
withdrawn  from  their  covenant  of  service."  (CO)  remember  .  . 
covenant,  i.e.  by-and-by  call  it  to  mind,  and  return  to  thee  with 
restoring  mercies,  everlasting  covenant,  the  spiritual  one 
of  the  Gospel. 

SolcmnUii  of  parentarje. — "WTien  children  are  born  to  you,  the 
most  solemn  book  is  opened,  so  far  as  you  are  concerned,  that 
ever  is  opened,  except  that  which  relates  to  your  own  soul's  fate. 
The  account  that  begins  to  be  incurred  when  jiarents  rejoice 
because  a  child  is  born  to  them,  is  the  most  solemn  account  that 
ever  is  incurred,  aside  from  one's  own  individual  duty  towards 
God.  I  do  not  mean  that  all  the  misconduct  and  evil  endings  of 
the  child  are  to  come  back  upon  the  laarent.  and  that  there  is  to 
be  in  the  child  no  free-will,  so  that  uo  individual  account  can 
belong  to  him.  For  if  a  parent  has  cleansed  his  skirts  of  his 
children,  the  guilt  of  their  sins  will  rest  on  their  heads,  and  not 
on  his.  But  unless  the  parent  can  show  that  the  child's  mis- 
conduct and  wreck  of  eternity  are  not  attributable  to  any  fault 
of  his,  the  weight  of  the  child's  condemnation  will  be  divided — 
no.  it  will  not  be  divided  ;  it  will  rest  undivided  on  the  child's 
head,  and  undivided  on  the  parent's  head.  It  is  a  responsibility 
assumed  by  every  parent  to  look  after  the  welfare,  temporal  and 
eternal,  of  his  child.  If  God  had  sent  to  him  an  angel,  with  a 
scroll  of  heavenly  writ,  saying,  "  I  send  to  school  to  you  My  well- 
beloved  child  ;  take  it,  teach  it,  and  bring  it  back  to  heaven  ; 
and  let  its  education  be  the  test  of  your  fidelity," — if  God  had 
Gent  to  the  parent  such  a  missive,  his  responsibility  would  not  be 
'greater  or  more  real  than  that  which  is  laid  upon  us  when  we 
undertake  to  bring  up  children.  They  are  not  simply  plaj'things, 
although  they  do  make  playthings.  They  are  not  mere  little 
pleasure- bells,  although  no  bells  ever  ring  so  sweetly.  They  are 
not  instruments  of  music,  and  pictures,  and  flowers  of  dear 
delight  in  our  households,  that  we  may  enjoy  them,  and  that 
they  may  enjoy  themselves.  They  are  not  frolicsome  kittens 
and  singing  birds  for  our  pleasure  and  their  own.  They  are 
God's  immortals.  They  are  sent  forth  to  make  an  earthly  pilgrim- 
age, and  you  are  their  schoolmasters  and  pilots.  It  is  a  solemn 
thing  to  have  such  a  charge  put  into  your  hands.* 

61—63.  (01)  for  daughters,  Gal.  iv.  26."  tby  covenant, 
not  by  any  covenant  of  thy  making,  but  by  sovereign  grace 
alone.  (Gi')  establish,  etc..  Ho.  ii.  19,  20.  know  .  .  Lord, 
not  then  in  judgments,  but  in  .wondrous  restoring  grace.  (03) 
never  .  .  mouth,  in  any  attempted  self-vindications,  all  .  . 
done,  as  detailed  in  this  chap.* 

The  effect  of  GocVa  mere//  on  the  renewed  sonl  (rv.  62,  03). — I. 
Tlie  extent  of  man's  wickedness.  1.  Give  a  brief  summary  of 
the  chapter  ;  mark  how  this  image  was  applicable  to  Judah  and 
Jerusalem ;  to  us  also  it  may  be  applied,     II.  The  exceeding 


grouml    but   the 
bottom."-  Fuller. 


a  De.  xxix.  12, 14. 

Parricide  was  by 
the  PiOmau  law 
punished  in  a 
niucli  severer 
manner  than  any 
otlier  kind  of 
liomicide.  After 
being  scourged, 
the  delinquents 
were  sewed  up  in 
a  leathern  sack 
with  a  live  dog, 
a  cock,  a  viper, 
and  an  ape,  and 
so  cast  into  the 
sea.  Solon,  iu 
his  laws,  made 
none  against  par- 
ricide, conceiving 
it  impossible  that 
any  one  should 
be  guilty  of  so 
unnatural  a  bar- 
barity. 

"  As  rivers,  when 
they  overflow, 
drown  those 
grounds  andruia 
those  husband- 
men which, 
whilst  they  flow- 
ed calmly  betwixt 
their  banks,  they 
fertilised  and  en- 
riched ;  so  our 
passions,  when 
they  grow  exorbi- 
tant and  unruly, 
destroy  those  vir- 
tues to  which 
t  e3'  maybe  very 
serviceablewhilst 
they  keep  within 
their  bounds." — 
Boijle. 

b  Btcclier. 


a  "  In  the  times 
of    the    Apostles 
there  was  a  par- 
ticular deference 
i  paid     to      the 
j  Church  at  Jeru- 
I  salc-m      as      the 
mother     Cliurch 
of  the  Christian 
world." — Lowth. 

b  "Enhancing  the 
grace    of     God, 


280 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xvil.  1—67 


which  has  par- 
doned so  many 
aii'l  so  great  sins. 
Notliing  so  mi-'lts 
into  love  anl 
humility  as  the 
sense  of  the 
riohea  of  Goil's 
pardoning 
grace. " — Fa  usset. 

vv.  62,  63.  M. 
Jacksnn,  ii.  31. 

V.  63.  ir.  Diinlop, 
ii.  201;  A'.  Er- 
skine,  vii.  157;  J. 
Polls,  12  ;  Dr.  W. 
Wilson,  253. 

c  C.  Simeon,  JI/.A. 
It  argues  a  tender 
heart  to  feel  you 
have  a  haril  one. 
4  Dr.  Cuyler. 


a  "The  Heb. 

derived  from  a  ! 
root  meaning 
'  sharp.'  i.f.  cal-  I 
culated  to  sti  iiu-  ! 
late  attention  | 
anil  whet  the  in- 
tellect. "-/'((«wt/.  I 

J>  For  the  figure 
Bee  De.  xxviii. 
49;  Je.  iv.  13; 
Ho.  viii.  1. 

c  The  kindom  of 
Judah  is  no 
longer  likened  to 
an  independent 
cedar  :  in  its  de- 
pressed state  it 
is  only  like  a  de- 
pendent vine. 

"  An  Inilian  once 
brought  up  a 
young  lion,  and, 
finding  him  weak 
anil  huruiless, 
never  atti'nipted 
to  coutnil  hiui. 
Every  day  the 
lion  gained  in 
strength,  and  be- 
came more  un- 
managcahle.until 
at  last,  wlieu  ex- 


riches  of  God's  grace  ;  vile  as  the  Jews  had  been  He  promised  to 
restore  them  to  favour  :  this  j^romise  is  no  doubt  to  be  extended 
to  us.  III.  The  effect  of  this  grace  upon  every  soul  of  man  ;  \t 
is  thought  by  some  calculated  to  puff  up  jjiide  and  conceit  in  ail 
who  receive  it.  But  this  is — 1.  Contrary  to  reason  ;  ■  2.  Contrary 
to  fact,  llemcmber — (I)  Your  covenant  mercies ;  (2)  Your 
covenant  engagements.' 

Ncglcctlnii  salrntion. — Simply  "  neglect  the  great  salvation," 
and  you  will  make  your  everlasting  ruin  sure.  IMany  foolish, 
faithless  parents  have  stood  by  the  grave  of  a  child  which  the^ 
dug  with  their  own  hands.  How  ?  Did  lihey  administer  slow 
poison,  or  strike  an  assassin-knife  through  the  young  heart .'  No  ; 
but  they  killed  their  child  just  as  surely,  by  simple  neglect  of  the 
first  laws  of  health.  Many  a  father,  too,  has  wrung  his  hands  in 
agony  before  a  prison-cell  which  held  a  ruined  son,  or  over  the 
letter  which  told  him  of  a  son's  disgrace,  and  on  those  very  hands 
rested  the  guilt  of  that  boy's  ruin.  Why  ?  Had  they  led  that 
son  into  Sabbath-breaking,  or  theft,  or  profiigac}'  ?  IS'o  :  buc 
they  had  let  the  youth  alone,  and  left  him  to  rush  into  theia 
unrestrained.  Neglect  was  the  boy"s  ruin.  There  is  no  need 
that  the  man  in  a  skiff  amid  Niagara's  rapids  should  row  to'wards 
the  cataract ;  resting  on  his  oars  is  quite  enough  to  send  him  over 
the  awful  yersQ.'^ 


CHAPTER  THE  SEVENTEENTH. 

1—6.  (1,  2)  riddle,  Ju.  xiv.  12.  Here  meaning  a  figurative 
speech,  or  continued  metaphor.  One  requiring  serious  "thought 
to  discern  its  meaning."  (I!)  great  eagle,  representing  Nebu- 
chadnezzar. The  eagle  was  an  Assyi-ian  emblem.*  feathers, 
symbols  of  the  many  nations  of  wh.  the  Bab.  kingdom  was  com- 
posed, divers  colours,  intimating  the  variety  of  language, 
habits,  and  costumes  of  the  peoples  subject  to  Babylon,  highest 
branch,  or  top  shoot ;  i.e.  king  Jeconiah.  (4)'  top,  or  head, 
young"  twigs,  princes  of  the  royal  family,  traffic,  or  com- 
merce. Is.  xliii.  U.  (5)  seed,  i.e.  the  king's  .seed:  ref.  is  to 
Zedekiah.  great  "waters,  fig.  for  the  wealth  with  wh.  Nebuc. 
supplied  Zedekiah.  ((>)  spreading  vine,""  one  not  trained  to  a 
pole,  but  lying  on  the  ground.  Kejit  low  so  as  to  secure  it3 
dependence  on  the  Bab.  king. 

'J7ic  car/If. — The  eagle  is  the  strongest,  the  fiercest,  and  the 
most  rapacious  of  the  feathered  race.  He  dwells  alone  in  the 
desert,  and  on  the  summits  of  the  highest  mountains  ;  and  suffers 
no  bird  to  come  with  impunity  within  the  range  of  his  flight. 
His  eye  is  dark  and  piercing,  nis  beak  and  talons  ai-e  hooked  and 
formidable,  and  his  cry  is  the  terror  of  every  wing.  His  figure 
answers  to  his  nature  ;  independently  of  his  arms,  he  has  a  robust 
and  compact  body,  and  very  powerful  limbs  and  wings  ;  his 
bones  are  hard,  his  flesh  is  firm,  his  feathers  are  coarse,  his  atti- 
tude is  fierce  and  erect,  his  motions  are  lively,  and  his  fiiglit  is 
extremely  rapid.  Such  is  the  golden  eagle,  as  described  by  the 
mo.st  accurate  observers  of  nature.  To  this  noble  bird  the  Prophet 
Ezekiul  evidently  refers,  in  his  parable  to  the  house  of  Israel :  '•  A 
great  eagle,  with  great  wings,  long-winged,  full  of  feathers, 
which  had  divers  colours,  came  unto  Lebanon,  and  took  tha 


Cap.  xvii.  7—15.]' 


EZEKIEL. 


281 


higliest  branch  of  the  cedar."  In  this  parable  a  strict  regard  to 
physical  truth  is  discovered  in  another  respect,  for  the  eagle  is 
kno\Mi  to  have  a  predilection  for  cedars,  which  are  the  loitiest 
trees  in  the  forest,  and  therefore  more  suited  to  his  daring  temper 
than  any  other.  La  Roque  found  a  number  of  large  eagle's 
feathers  scattered  on  the  ground  beneath  the  lofty  cedars  which 
still  crown  the  summits  of  Lebanon,  on  the  highest  branches  of 
which  that  tierce  destroyer  occasionally  perches.'' 

7 — 10.  (7)  anotlier  .  .  eagle,  this  represents  Pharaoh  Hophra, 
king  of  Egypt,  bend  .  .  him,  Zedekiah,  inclined  to  favour  the 
Egyptian  alliance,  furrows,  etc.,  i.e.  "  Erom  the  furrows  w'here 
it  wa,s  planted  to  briug  forth  fruit  for  another,  it  shot  forth  its 
roots  to  him.""  (8;  great  waters,  comp.  v.  5.  {[))  shall  it 
prosper  ?  in  such  manifestly  unfaithful  ways,  he,  i.e.  the  in- 
sulted Nebuchadnezzar,  spring,  or  growth.  (10)  east  wind, 
in  the  E.,  as  with  us,  so  injurious  to  vegetation.'' 

'The  eaijle. — The  rca.son  of  the  figure  must  be  obvious  to  every 
reader  :  the  erect  and  majestic  mien  of  the  eagle  point  him  out 
as  the  intended  sovereign  of  the  feathered  race  ;  he  is  therefore 
the  fit  emblem  of  superior  excellence,  and  of  regal  majesty  and 
power.  Xenophon  and  other  ancient  historians  inform  us  that 
the  golden  eagle  with  extended  wings  was  the  ensign  of  the 
Persian  monarchs.  long  before  it  was  adopted  by  the  Romans  ; 
and  it  is  very  probable  that  the  Persians  borrowed  the  symbol 
from  the  ancient  Assyrians,  in  whose  banners  it  waved,  till 
imperial  Babylon  bowed  her  head  to  the  yoke  of  Cyrus.  If  this 
conjecture  be  well  founded,  it  discovers  the  reason  why  the 
sacred  writers,  in  describing  the  victorious  march  of  the  Assyrian 
armies,  allude  so  frequently  to  the  expanded  eagle.  Referring 
still  to  the  Babylonian  monarch,  the  Prophet  liosca  proclaimed 
in  the  ears  of  Israel,  the  measure  of  whose  iuiijuities  was  nearly 
full  :  '•  He  shall  come  as  an  eagle  against  the  house  of  the  Lord.  ' 
Jei-cmiah  predicted  a  similar  calamity  to  the  posterity  of  Lot : 
"  For  thus  saith  the  Lord,  Behold,  he  shall  fly  as  an  eagle,  and 
shall  spread  his  wings  over  Moab;"  and  the  same  tigure  is 
employed  to  denote  the  sudden  destruction  which  overtook  the 
house  of  Esau  :  "  Behold,  he  shall  come  n-p  and  fly  as  the  eagle, 
and  spread  his  wings  over  Bozrah."  The  words  of  these  inspired 
Prophets  were  not  suffered  to  fall  to  the  ground  ;  they  received  a 
full  accom]ilishment  in  the  irresistible  imijetuosity  and  complete 
success  with  which  the  Babylonian  monarchs,  and  particularly 
Nebuchadnezzar,  pursued  their  plans  of  conquest.  Ezekiel  deno- 
minates him  wuth  striking  propriety,  ''a  great  eagle  with  great 
wings  ; ''  because  he  was  the  most  powerful  monarch  of  his  time, 
and  led  into  the  field  more  numerous  and  better  appointed  armies 
(which  the  Prophet  calls,  by  a  beautiful  figure,  his  wings)  than 
perhaps  the  world  had  ever  seen.'= 

11—15.  (11,  12)  king  of  Babylon,  i.e.  the  great  eagle.  (1.3) 
king's  seed,  i.e.  his  uncle.  Zedekiah.  oath,  of  allegiance,  on 
condition  of  wh.  oath  Zedekiah  was  giVen  the  throne.  (14) 
base,  as  a  dependent  kingdom  :  tiibutary  to  Babylon,  lift 
itself  up,  in  rebellions.  (15)  sending  .  .  Egy^Jt,  cnnqj.  2 
Ki  xxiv.  20;  2  Chr.  xxxvi.  13  ;  Je.  xxxvii.  5 — 7.  prosper,  in 
violating  his  oath  to  Nebuc.  and  sinning  against  God's  commands, 
De.  xvii.  IG. 


cited  by  rngo,  ha 
ll-U  upon  tlie  In- 
diuuaaJ  tiirehim 
to  piecL'S.  I'aision 
rebouibies  that 
lio  u." — liiUical 
Treasury, 

d  Paxlun. 


a  "  Zeilekiah  waS 
courting  tlie 

favuiir  uf  Egypt 
while  he  owed 
his  very  position 
to  tlie  bounty  of 
Assyria."— jS/^i'. 
Cum. 

b  "  The  Prophet 
compares  the 
Clialdoian  army 
to  a  parching 
wind  that  blasts 
the  I'riiits  of  the 
earth,  wiihers 
the  leaves  of  the 
trees,  and  makes 
everytliiiig  look 
naked  and  bare." 
— Lowlh. 

"  All  the  fresh 
leaves  of  her 
siiruuting  shall 
wither."— iroj  ds- 
uorlh. 

'■  Passion  is  the 
great  mover  and 
spring  of  the  soul. 
^V'  h  e  n  men's 
passions  are 
strongest,  they 
may  have  great 
and  noble  eflects ; 
but  they  are  then 
also  apt  to  fall 
into  the  greatest 
m  i  scarriages." — 
a^rat. 

c  Paxtott. 


V.  15.  F.  n.  But' 

Ion,  87. 

•■  Passions  direct- 
eU  to  their  right 
cud  may  fail  in 
their  manner  but 
not  in  their  mea- 
sure. When  the 
suliject  of  our 
hatred  is  siii,  it 


282 


EZEKIEl. 


[Cap.  xvii.  16-21, 


cannot  be  too 
dei>p  :  wlien  the 
object  of  our  love 
Is  Cioil.  it  cannot 
l)Pt(ii)higli.  yUi- 
floratiou  may 
become  a  fault. 
To  be  but  warm 
when  God  com- 
niamU  us  to  be 
hot  is  sinful.  We 
belie  virtue  by 
the  constant  ilul- 
nes-i  of  a  nieilio- 
crity."-/V///((iOT. 

"  When  head- 
strong passion 
gets  the  reins  of 
reason,  the  force 
of  nature,  like  too 
strong  a  gale,  for 
■want  of  ballast, 
oversets  the  ves- 
sel."—//i(/!/""'. 
a  Sigourtteij. 


a  "  This  cere- 
mony was  espe- 
cially used  when 
an  inferior  made 
profession  of  his 
subjection  to  liis 
superior."-J^oi»/A. 

Is.  xli.  13. 

r.  IG.  /.  Weemse, 
i.  152. 

Tlie  conquests  of 
Alexander  the 
Great  could  not 
satisfy  him  ;  for 
■when  he  bad 
conquered  the 
whole  of  one 
known  world,  he 
sat  down  and 
wept  because  he 
knew  of  no  other 
world  to  conquer. 


I  Marslon. 


a  Reckon  with 
him. 

"  Lowliness  is 
young  ambition's 
ladder,  whereto 
the  climber  u))- 
Wards  turns    his 


The  conqueror. — 

Ilistory  hath  spt  her  crown 

Upon  the  conqueror's  head, 
And  bade  the  awestruck  world  bow  down 

Belore  his  banner's  head. 
So  down  the  world  hath  bow'd, 

Upon  her  letter  d  pa^e. 
And  the  wild  homage  of  the  crowd 

Swell'd  on  from  age  to  age. 

What  miseries  mark'd  his  way, 

How  oft  the  orphan  wept, 
How  deep  the  earth  in  sackcloth  lay, 

Faint  trace  her  annals  kept. 
Though  like  a  torrent's  flow 

The  widow's  tears  gush'd  out, 
The  current  of  that  secret  woe 

Quell'd  not  the  victor's  shout. 

The  Gospel's  sacred  scroll 

A  different  standard  shows  : 
Its  plaudit  on  the  humble  soul, 

And  contrite,  it  bestows. 
To  men  of  holy  life 

Its  glorious  crown  is  given. 
Who  nurse,  amid  this  vale  of  strife, 

The  peaceful  germs  of  heaven." 

16—18.  (10)  sliall  die,  comp.  ch.  xii.  13.  (17)  neither, 
etc..  Je.  xxxvii.  7.  mounts  .  .  forts,  as  defences  ;  or  as  modes  of 
attacking  the  Chald;ean  besiegers  of  Jerusalem.  (IS)  despised 
the  oath,  v.  13.  given  his  hand,"  and  so  pledging  his  troth 
and  fealty. 

Unfruit/iiJne.1.1  of  amhition. — I  have  often  been  astonished  at 
the  softness  in  which  other  minds  seem  to  have  passed  their  day  : 
the  ripened  pasture  and  clustering  vineyards  of  imagination  : 
the  mental  Arcadia  in  which  they  describe  themselves  a<  having 
loitered  from  year  to  year.  Yet,  can  I  have  faith  in  this  per- 
petual Claude  Lorraine  pencil — this  undying  verdure  of  the  soil — • 
this  gold  and  purple  suffusion  of  the  sky— those  pomps  of  the 
palace  and  the  pencil  with  their  pageants  and  nymphs,  giving 
life  to  their  landscape  ;  while  mine  was  a  continual  encounter 
with  difficulty,  a  continual  summons  to  self-control .'  A  march, 
not  unlike  that  of  the  climber  up  the  side  of  Etna  ;  every  step 
through  ruins,  the  vestiges  of  former  conflagrations  ;  the  ground 
I  trode,  rocks  that  had  once  been  flame  :  every  advance  a  new 
trial  of  my  feelings  or  my  fortitude  ;  every  stage  of  the  ascent 
leading  me.  like  the  traveller,  into  a  higher  region  of  sand  or 
ashes  :  until,  at  the  highest,  I  stood  in  a  circle  of  eternal  frost, 
with  all  the  rich  and  human  landscape  below  fading  away  in 
distance,  and  looked  down  only  on  a  gulf  of  fire.* 

19 — 21.  (]'.))  mine  oath,  bee.  God  was  working  His  purposes 
through  the  action  of  Nebuchadnozzar.  who  was,  in  some  sense. 
His  representative.  (20)  sjDread  my  net,  comp.  cli.  xii.  13, 
xxxii.  3.  plead  with  him,  or  bring  him  into  judgment."  (21) 
fugitives,  those  belonging  to  him  who  would  try  to  escape : 
ch.  Xli.  1-1. 


Cap.  xvil.  22-24.] 


EZEKIEL. 


283 


Sir  Walter  Ealclgh. — Fuller,  in  liis  Worthies,  gives  the  follow- 
ing account  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh's  first  rise  in  life: — ''This 
Captain  Raleigh,"  he  says,  •'  coming  out  of  Ireland  into  the 
English  Court  in  good  habit  (his  clothes  being  then  a  consider- 
able part  of  his  estate)  found  the  queen  walking,  till  meeting 
with  a  dirty  place,  she  seemed  to  scruple  going  over  it.  Presently 
Raleigh  cast  and  spread  his  new  plush  cloak  on  the  ground, 
whereupon  the  queen  trod  gently,  rewarding  him  afterwards 
with  many  suits  for  his  so  free  and  seasonable  tender  of  so  fair  a 
foot-cloth.  An  advantageous  admittance  into  the  first  notice  of 
a  prince,  is  more  than  half  a  degree  of  preferment.  WTien  Sir 
"Walter  found  some  hopes  of  the  queens  favour  reflecting  on  him, 
he  wrote  on  a  glass  window  obvious  to  the  queen's  eye — 

'  Fain  would  I  climb,  but  fear  I  to  fall.' 

Her  majesty,  either  espying  or  being  showed  it,  did  under  write — 

'  If  thy  heart  fail  thee,  climb  not  at  all.' 

How  great  a  person  in  that  Court  this  knight  did  afterwards 
prove  to  be,  is  scarcely  unknown  to  any."  * 

22—24.  (22)  highest  branch,  many  think  the  reference  in 
this  V.  is  to  Messiah,  tender  one,  conip.  Is.  xi.  1,  liii.  Used 
in  reference  to  the  low  estate  of  the  family  of  David  when 
Messiah  was  born.  (23)  mount,  etc.,  first  reference  to  Mount 
Moriah,  as  a  fig.  of  the  exulted  jDlace  found  for  Messiah,  bring 
forth,  cte.,  indicating  the  gro^\i:h  of  the  Christian  Church  or 
kingdom.     (2f)  trees  .  .  field,  other,  and  worldly  kingdoms." 

ihn-l  of  evrry  n-inr/  (n.  24). — The  cedar  a  royal  tree.  Christ 
the  true  cedar,  and  all  people  are  the  birds  that  lodge  in  its 
branches.  1.  The  young  may  come  ;  2.  The  aged  may  come  ; 
3.  The  very  bad.  the  outrageously  sinful,  may  come  ;  4.  All 
the  dying  may  find  their  nest  in  this  goodly  cedar.* 

I'tin-l  of  erer;/  n-'nifj. — The  cedar  of  Lebanon  is  a  royal  tree.  It 
stands  six  thousand  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  A  mis- 
sionary counted  the  concentric  circles,  and  found  one  tree  thirty- 
five  hundred  years  old — long-rooted,  broad-branched,  all  the 
year  in  luxuriant  foliage.  The  same  branches  that  bent  in  the 
hurricane  that  David  saw  sweeping  over  Lebanon,  rock  to-day 
over  Lhe  head  of  ths  American  traveller.  This  monarch  of  the 
forest.  Vt'ith  its  leavy  fingers,  plucks  the  honours  of  a  thousand 
years,  and  sprinkles  them  upon  its  own  iiplifted  brow,  as  though 
some  great  Hallelujah  of  heaven  had  been  planted  upon 
Lebanon,  and  it  were  rising  up  with  all  its  long-armed  strength 
to  take  hold  of  the  hills  whence  it  came.  Oh !  what  a  fine 
place  for  birds  to  nest  in  !  In  hot  days  they  come  thither — the 
eagle,  the  dove,  the  swallow,  the  sparrow,  and  the  raven.  My 
text  intimates  that  Christ  is  the  cedar,  and  the  people  from  all 
quarter:  are  the  birds  tha',  lodge  among  the  branches.  "  It  shall 
be  a  goodly  cedar,  and  under  it  shall  dwell  all  fowl  of  every 
wing."  As  in  EzokieUs  time,  so  now.  Christ  is  a  goodly 
cedar  :  and  to  Him  are  flying  all  kinds  of  people,  young  and 
old,  rich  and  poor  :  men  high-soaring  as  the  eagle,  those  fierce 
as  the  raven,  and  those  gentle  as  the  dove.  "All  fowl  of  every 
wing."« 


face ;  but  when 
he  ouce  obtains 
the  u  t  most 
rouuri,  he  then 
unto  the  ladder 
turns  his  back, 
looks  in  the 
clouds,  scorning 
the  bare  degrees 
by  which  he  did 
ascend."  — Hhuke- 
speaye. 

"  Strong  passions 
work  wonders, 
when  there  is  a 
greater  strength 
of  reason  to  curb 
XX\en\."— Tucker. 

b  I'crcy  Anec. 


a  "  Christ's  king- 
dom shall  by 
degrees  exalt 
itself  above  all 
the  kingdoms  of 
the  world  ;  and 
shall  at  length 
put  an  end  to 
them,  and  itself 
continue  unto  all 
eteniity."-io!£7/i. 
Da.  iv.  35,  44, 
vii.  27  ;  Lu.  i.  33; 
1  Co.  .\LV.  24. 

I'!'.  22—24.  J. 
Ailing,  Op.  ii.  4, 
139  ;  F.  Allix, 
325  ;  Dr.  It.  Go)- 
dvn,  iv.  2U7. 

r.  24.  Dr.  J.  Owen, 
.w.  415. 

b  Dr.  Talmage. 

"  Wliat  profits  us 
that  we  froni 
heaven  derive  a 
soul  immortal, 
and  with  looks 
erect  survey  the 
stars,  if,  like  the 
brutal  kind,  we 
follow  where  our 
passions  lead  the 
way  ?  "—Drydm. 

c  Dr.  Talmage, 


284 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xviii.  1— 9. 


U  "  It  is  nowhere 
saiil  in  O.  T.  or 
N.  T.  that  God 
visits  tlie  in- 
iquities of  the 
fathers  upon  the 
childreu,  except 
wliore  the  cliil- 
drou  ohstiuatoly 
persist  iu  iiuitat- 
iuf?  the  ini(iuity 
of  tlie  fathers." 
—  Wordsworth. 

v.\.  Dr. R.  Gierke, 
389. 

V.  2.  Dr.  W.  Lan- 
don,  1 10. 

v.  4.  //.  Worth- 
ington,  1G9  :  E. 
G.  Marsh,  115. 

6  G.  in  Homillst. 

"  God  drawetli 
straight  lines, 
but  we  think 
and  call  tliein 
crooked.  Dzek. 
xviii.  2,')." — Uath- 
er/ord. 

"  When  passions 
glow,  tlie  lieart, 
like  heated  steel, 
takes  each  im- 
pression, and  is 
work'd  at  plea- 
sure."— J'OMWi/. 

«  Cheever. 


a  De.  xii.  2;  Eze. 
vi.  13,  xvi.  IG, 
24.  XX.  28  ;  1  Co. 
X.  21. 

"  The  humblest 
trade  has  in  it 
elbow-roi.'u  for 
all  the  cirtues. 
That  ■  huckster 
can  be  true  and 
honest  and  hon- 
ourable :  what 
more  can  Roths- 
child be  ?  The 
excellence  of  a 
circle  lies  in  its 
roundr.ess,  not 
its  bigness.  The 
rim  of  a  three- 
penny bi'„  is  a 
true  circle,  and 
would  not  be 
tueuded,  but  only 


CHAPTER  THE  EIGHTEENTH. 

1 — 4.  (1,  2)  concerning  .  .  Israel,  i.r.  in  reference  to  its 
desolations,  fathers  .  .  edge,  the  present  generation  suffers 
for  the  sins  committed  by  previous  generations."  (;^)  not  .  . 
use,  bee.  God  will  plainly  punish  this  generation  for  their  own 
sins  ;  and  they  will  not  be  able  to  shift  the  blame  on  to  their 
fathers.  (4)  all .  .  mine,  imi^lying  direct  and  individual  dealing 
with  each. 

77/r  entail  of  suffcr'tnq  (v.  2). — I.  The  fact  is  indi.-sputable. 
II.  The  procedure  maybe  vindicated.  II  f.  The  use  of  the  proverb 
shall  cease.  1.  An  acquaintance  with  the  rules  which  guide  the 
Divine  judgment  of  transgressors  shall  prevent  men  from  using' 
this  proverb  ;  2.  The  common  relation  which  all  men  sustain  to 
Him   may  well   prevent  us  from  attributing  iniquity  to  Him  ; 

3.  The  true  spirit  of  penitence  which  a  knowledgt;  of  His  equity 
and  His  love  shall  excite,  shall  in  a  similar  manner  acquit  Him; 

4.  If  any  darkness  yet  seem  to  hover  around  these  truths,  the 
dawn  of  the  last  day  shall  assuredly  dispel  it.* 

An  vnfaitliftd  fatlicr. — A  father  who  had  a  son  in  college 
requested  a  minister  who  was  going  through  the  town  where  he 
was  to  call  on  him  and  converse  with  him  in  reference  to  the 
salvation  of  his  soul.  The  minister  called,  agreeable  to  the  request 
of  the  father,  and  introduced  the  subject  of  religion.  He  alluded 
to  the  feelings  and  request  of  the  father,  who  wished  him  by 
all  means  to  attend  first  to  the  salvation  of  his  soul.  The  young 
man  replied,  "  Did  my  father  send  such  word  as  that .'  "  "  He 
did,'  was  the  reply.  '-Then,''  said  the  young  man,  ''my  father 
is  a  dishonest  man."  "  But  why  do  you  say  he  is  dishonest .'  " 
said  the  minister.  "Because."'  replied  the  student,  "he  has 
often  advised  me,  in  regard  to  the  cotirse  he  would  have  me 
pursue  in  life,  how  to  gain  the  riches,  honours,  and  pleasures  of 
the  world,  but  he  is  not  the  man  that  has  ever  manifested  any 
interest  in  regard  to  the  salvation  of  my  soul,  any  more  than  if 
I  had  no  soul  !  "  « 

5 — 9.  ("))  just,  comprehensive  term  for  all  moral  rightness. 
(G)  eaten  .  .  mountains,  sharing  in  the  sacrificial  feasts  on 
the  high  places,  where  are  the  idol-shrines."  (7)  oppressed, 
etc.,  Ex.  xxii.  25,  2C> ;  De.  xxiv.  12.  given  .  .  hungry,  De.  xv.  7. 
(8)  usury,  Ex.  xxii.  2.5;  Le.  xxv.  36,  87 ;  De.  xxiii.  li)  :  Ps.  xv.  5. 
(il)  truly,  obediently,  faithfully,  and  kindly,  live,  or  preserve 
his  life.     Such  a  man  comes  into  no  Divine  judgment. 

Character — fione  lefore. — A  young  man's  character  was  such 
as  to  excite  universal  disap]irobation.  He  could  no  longer  resist 
the  pressure  of  jiublic  sentiment.  He  disposed  of  his  property, 
and  attempted  to  resume  business  in  a  distant  part  of  the  country. 
But  his  character,  or  rather  his  reputation,  had  gone  before  liim. 
Men  regarded  him  with  suspicion.  He  was  unable  to  secure  the 
confidence  and  countenance  necessary  to  success.  In  this  case 
his  sins  went  before  him  to  his  new  place  of  residence.  The 
sins  of  men  go  before  them  still  further.  They  go  before  tliem 
to  the  judgment,  and  will  be  rcaily  to  meet  tliem  there.  "What 
a    fearful    m  acting  1     How   impossible   to  escape    from  their 


Cap.  xviil.  10-18.1 


EZEKTEl. 


2S5 


Bccusings  and  consequences.  It  is  related  of  a  prisoner  that, 
after  he  had  toiled  for  months  in  constructing  a  mine  from 
his  dungeon,  by  means  of  which  he  hoped  to  escape,  when  at  last 
he  broke  ground  and  let  in  the  light  of  day  which  he  had  so 
fondly  hoped  to  enjoy,  the  first  object  he  saw  was  an  armed 
jailer  waiting  to  arrest  him  !  That  jailer  struck  far  less  dismay 
and  despair  to  the  heart  of  the  prisoner  than  meeting  with  his 
sins  will  strike  to  the  heart  of  the  sinner  at  the  day  of  judg- 
ment.* 

10—13.  (10)  robber,  or  "  breaker  up  of  a  house."  (11)  any  of 
those,  described  in  vv.  5 — 9.  (12)  lifted  .  .  eyes,  in  adoration 
or  supplication.  (13)  blood,  or  death.  ''His  destruction  is 
owing  wholly  to  himself."" 

InconKhtcnc]/  of  'parents. — Parents,  to  do  them  justice,  are 
seldom  sjiaring  of  lessons  of  virtue  and  religion,  in  admonitions 
which  cost  little  and  which  profit  less,  whilst  their  example  ex- 
hibits a  continual  contradiction  of  what  they  teach.  A  father,  for 
Instance,  will,  with  solemnity  and  apparent  earnestness,  warn 
his  sou  against  idleness,  excess  in  drinking,  debauchery,  and 
extravagance,  who  himself  loiters  about  all  day  without  employ- 
ment, comes  hone  every  night  drunk  ;  is  made  infamous  in  his 
neighbourhood  by  sjme  profligate  connection,  and  wastes  the 
fortune  which  should  support,  or  remain  a  provision  for  his 
family,  in  riot,  or  luxury,  or  ostentation.  Or  he  will  discourse 
gravely  before  his  children  of  the  obligation  and  importance  of 
revealed  religion,  whilst  they  see  the  most  frivolous,  and  often- 
times feigned  excuses,  detain  him  from  its  reasonable  and  solemn 
ordinances.  Or  he  will  set  before  them,  perhaps,  the  supreme 
and  tremendous  authority  of  Almighty  God  ;  that  such  a  Being 
ought  not  to  be  named,  or  even  thought  upon,  without  senti- 
ments of  profound  awe  and  veneration.  This  may  be  the  lectui'e 
he  delivers  to  his  family  one  hour,  when  the  next,  if  an  occasion 
arise  to  excite  his  anger  or  his  surprise,  they  will  hear  him  treat 
the  name  of  the  Deity  with  the  most  irreverent  profanation, 
and  sport  with  the  terms  and  denunciations  of  the  Christian 
religion  as  if  they  were  the  language  of  some  ridiculous  and 
long  exploded  superstition.  Now,  even  a  child  is  not  to  be 
imjiosed  upon  by  such  mockery.  He  sees  through  the  grimace  of 
this  counterfeited  concern  forvu'tue.  He  discovers  that  his  parent 
is  acting  a  part,  and  receives  his  admonitions  as  he  would 
hear  the  same  maxims  from  the  mouth  of  a  player.  And 
when  once  this  opinion  has  taken  possession  of  the  child's 
mind,  it  has  a  fatal  effect  upon  the  parent's  influence  in  all 
subjects,  even  those  in  which  he  himself  may  be  sincere  and 
convinced.* 

14 — 18.  (14)  if  he,  i.e.  the  utterly  bad  man,  who  brings 
destruction  down  upon  his  own  head,  considereth,  layeth  it 
to  heart,  not  such  like,  not  any  of  the  evil  things.  (1.5 — 17) 
comp.  vr.  5 — 9.  not  .  .  father,  but  judgment  shall  spend  itself 
on  the  sinful  father."     (18)  his  brother,  i.e.  his  brother-man. 

I'arcnt,^  .tliouhl  iiot  drceire  f/wir  cJiildren — The  fan- ii  and  the 
leopard. — In  a  German  fable  a  doe  warns  her  youthful  offspring 
to  beware,  as  she  skips  abcut  the  forest,  of  that  dangerous  animal 
the  leopard.  '•  And  what  is  the  leopard  like .' "'  inquires  the 
fawn.     '•  Oh,  it  is  a  dreadful-looking  monster  ;  its  eyes  glare  and 


magnified,  if 
swelled  till  it 
equalled  in  size 
the  tire  of  a  cart- 
wheel, or  dilated 
till  it  toiiclied 
the  outline  of  a 
plauet."-6;  Coley. 

b  Dr.  Jeffers. 


a  "  ITpon  his  own 
head,  but  not  ou 
the  heads  of  his 
children,  if  they 
do  not  imitate 
liim."  —  ^Yords• 
uoi-lh. 

A  house  took  tire. 
The  mother  was 
busiest  of  all 
saving  her  trin- 
kets. The  fire 
spread  rapidly. 
The  mother,  try- 
ing to  enter  the 
house  a  second 
time,  was  stop- 
ped. She  shrieked 
in  anguish  ;  for 
her  babe  lay  ia 
its  cradle  in  the 
burning  build- 
ing. At  what  a 
cost  had  she 
i-aved  lier  trifles! 
Should  she  not 
have  rescued  tlie 
child  first  ?  Is 
not  this  true  of 
our  children's 
souls  now  in 
danger  of  eternal 
fire? 

"A  man's  own 
heart  must  ever 
be  given  to  gain 
that  of  another." 
— GoldsmL.h. 

b  Paley. 


a  It  is  never- 
theless true  that 
1  ereditary  dis- 
al.ilities  do  fol- 
low on  parental 
wrong  -  doings ; 
but  rather  on 
parental  rii-eiand 
immii7-alitU'st\ian. 
(Ill  such  acts  of 
unkiudness,     in* 


285 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  STTiii.  19-26. 


justice,  and  iilol- 
atry  sis  are  dealt 
with  by  Kzekiel. 

1'.  14.  D.  .S.  Dey- 
ling,  iii.  5U7. 

"  Govern  ynur 
passions.or  other- 
wise tbey  will 
govern  you." — 
Horace. 


m  2  Ki.  xiv.  6  ; 
3  Clir.  XXV.  4 ; 
Je.  xxxi.  29. 

h  Je.  xxxi.    34  ; 

Am.  viii.  7. 

c  1  Ti.  ii.  4  ;  2  Pe. 
iii.  9. 

V.  20.  /.  Jlinks, 
343. 

V.  23.  D.  Featley, 
"in  ;  T.  Mimlon, 
V.  1008  ;  /'.  Dit- 
snulov,  117  ;  S. 
Roberts,  ii.  221. 

"  No  man's  body 
is  as  strong  as 
liis  appetites,  but 
Heaven  has  cor- 
rected the  bound- 
lessness of  his 
voluptuous  de- 
sires by  stiiitina: 
his  strenptth  and 
contracting  his 
capacities." — Til- 
loison. 

d  Dr.  Burns. 


a  Comp.  2  Pe.  ii. 
21. 

"  Such  a  one 
sins  against  a 
clearer  light  and 
greater  convic- 
tions, and  witlial 
is  guilty  of  the 
greatest  ingrati- 
tude, in  doing 
despite  unto  the 
Spirit  of  grace." 
—hnclh. 

b  '•  It  was  really 
their  way  tliat 
was  unequal, 
since  living  in 
Bin  they  expected 
to  be  dealt  with 
as  if  they  were 
jigliteous.  Goil's 
way  was  invari- 
ably to  deal  with 


its  jaws  drop  blood."  The  fa,wn  goes  off  to  roam  the  wood, 
and  in  the  course  of  her  rambles  espies,  at  some  distance  ia 
the  long  grass,  a  graceful  creature  with  beautifully  spotted 
hide  ;  its  movements  are  elegant  and  even  playful  ;  its  asjject 
betrays  no  sanguiuaiy  stain  nor  fiercejae.'-'s  of  purpose.  "  \Vell, 
this  cannot  be  the  leopard,"  says  the  fawn  ;  "  this  is  not  tho 
creature  which  my  parent  described.  I  must  go  and  make 
acquaintance  with  it."  She  accordingly  advances  to  meet  the 
new-found  friend,  and — but  one  need  not  stop  to  mention  the 
result.  How  often  do  well-meaning  but  unwise  parents  deceive 
their  children  to  their  destruction  I 

19 — 23.  (19)  "wYiy  ?  i.e.  is  it  not  a  common  proverb  that 
the  son  bears  the  father's  iniquity  .'  The  Jews  appeal  to  their 
own  experience,  wlien,  etc.,  implying  that  if  the  Jews  of  that 
generation  had  done  right,  they  would  not  have  been  punished 
for  their  ./?/('//(";■.?'  sins  of  the  previous  generations.  (I'O)  soil, 
ctG.,  comp.  De.  xxiv.  lii."  (21)  turn  .  .  sins,  then  he  shall  not 
be  dealt  with  on  the  ground  of  the  forsaken  sins,  but  on  the 
ground  of  the  new  obedience.  (22)  not  be  mentioned,  being 
forgiven  they  shall  be  forgotten.*  (23)  any  pleasure,  the 
frequency  of  prophetic  denunciation  might  produce  such  an 
impression." 

God's  conduct  to  the  jJOfiteritj/  of  the  n'iched  (r.  20). — I.  See  if, 
and  in  what  sense,  children  bear  the  evils  of  their  parents' 
iniquities.  1.  The  mind  and  body  exert  a  remarkable  influence 
on  each  other ;  2.  Children  are  greatly  influenced  by  the  position 
their  parents  occupy  ;  3.  They  are  powerfully  influenced  by  their 
parents'  example  ;  4.  They  partake  directly  of  the  evil  doings 
of  their  parents.  II.  Does  God  inflict  this  penalty  ui^on  them 
for  the  parents'  sins?  Ezekiel  says  '•  Xo."  1.  It  would  be 
opposed  to  goodness  and  mercy  :  2.  To  justice  ;  3.  To  fact ; 
4.  To  individual  responsibility.  III.  To  reconcile  the  teachings 
of  Moses  (Ex.  xx.  5)  and  Ezekiel — 1.  God  punishes  rebellious 
parents;  2.  Children  hating  Him  learn — (1)  God's  government 
is  the  reflection  of  His  goodness  and  holiness  :  (2)  Every  man 
is  individually  accountable  ;  (3)  Men  will  hs  judged  according 
to  their  circumstances  ;  (4)  Jesus  is  a  universal  Saviour  for  all 
sinners.'' 

24—28.  (24)  righteous,  etc.,  this  is  the  answering  side  of 
the  truth  of  God's  dealings  declared  in  re.  21,  22."  turneth 
away,  in  utter  apostasy.  Ileference  is  not  to  the  temporary 
failures  and  fallings  of  the  godly,  mentioned,  taken  into 
account  as  a  mitigation  of  sentence.  C2'>)  not  equal,  or 
weighed  out,  balanced  ;  properly  adjusted  to  the  several  ca.ses.* 
(2r.)  his  iniquity,  i.e.  you  need  go  no  further  for  explanation 
than  the  fact  of  his  own  sin. 

The  .'^mlter  .vnitten  (r.  2.")). — Take  in  conjunction  with  this  text 
Acts  viii.  3,  xiv.  12,  ix.  1.  xxiii.  12  ;  Gal.  i.  13  :  2  Cor.  xi.  23, 
xxvi.  10.  xvi.  23  ;  Gal.  vi.  7.  All  these  experiences  were  under- 
gone by  the  same  person.  The  persecutor  was  persecuted,  etc. 
By  these  facts  we  are  taught — I.  That  a  man's  life  comes 
back  upon  him.  II.  That  a  man's  Christian  experience  mu.«t  be 
affected  by  the  unchristian  life  he  has  lived.  We  see — 1.  That 
the  distribution  of  penalties  is  (Jod's  work,  not  man's  :  2.  That 
under   all  the  apparent  confusion   of  human    life   there   is  » 


Cap.  xix.  1—4.] 


EZEKIEL. 


287 


principle  of  justice  ;  3.  That  the  greatest  sufferings  may  be  borne 
witla  patience  and  hopefulness.'-' 

27 — 30.  (27)  turneth,  in  penitence  of  heart  that  makes  him 
alter  his  conduct.  (L\Sj  considereth,  see  v.  U.  (29)  not 
equal,  V.  2.5.  (oOj  every  one  .  .  ways,  and  surely  no  principle 
of  judgment  can  be  better  than  this,  repent,  the  inward 
feeling  of  penitence,  turn  yourselves,  the  corresponding 
outward  act.  This  call  intimates  that,  if  thus  strictly  judged, 
the  whole  nation  would  be  found  guilty. 

Practical  intention  of  the  CtosjjcI  {r.  27). — The  text  presents  a 
prospect  of  the  possibility  of  .salvation  in  the  use  of  proper 
means.  I.  The  first  step  to  salvation  is  here  described  to  be 
the  relinquishment  of  former  evil  practices.  II.  The  next  step 
is  to  do  tliat  which  is  lawful  and  right.'' 

31,  32.  (31)  make  . .  heart,  set  yourselves  on  the  endeavour 
to  cherish  other  feelings  and  wishes.  The  '"new  heart"  indi- 
cates a  religion  that  is  spirit  mil.  not  ceremonial.  The  effort  to 
renew  our  own  heart  will  surely  drive  us  to  seek  the  new  heart 
from  God,  who  alone  can  give  it  by  His  Spirit."  Comp.  Ps.  li. 
1—5.  10,  11.    (32)  no  pleasure,  r.  23. 

ScJf-dcfttriiction  (y.  31). — I.  The  nature  of  eternal  death.  1.  A 
state  of  conscious  existence ;  2.  A  state  of  deprivation  ;  3.  A 
Btate  of  hideousness.  II.  The  question  proposed.  1.  There  is  no 
necessity  for  it  in  the  nature  of  God  ;  2.  There  is  no  necessity 
in  the  will  of  man  ;  3.  There  is  no  necessity  on  account  of  our 
circumstances.* 

The  garden  of  God. — 

Christ  in  His  heaveulj'  garden  walks  all  day. 
And  calls  to  souls  upon  the  world's  highway. 
"Wearied  wath  trifles,  maimed  and  sick  with  sin,, 
Christ  by  the  gate  stands,  and  invites  them  in. 

"  How  long,  unwise,  will  ye  pursue  your  woe  1 
Here  from  the  throne  sweet  waters  ever  go  ; 
Here  the  white  lilies  shine  like  stars  above  ; 
Here  in  the  red  rose  burns  the  face  of  Love. 

"  "Tis  not  from  earthly  paths  I  bid  you  flee, 
But  lighter  in  My  ways  your  feet  will  be  : 
'Tis  not  to  summon  you  from  human  mirth, 
But  add  a  depth  and  sweetness  not  of  earth. 

"  Still  by  the  gate  I  stand  as  on  ye  stray  ; 
Turn  your  steps  hither  ;  am  not  I  the  Way  ? 
Tlie  sun  is  falling  fast,  the  night  is  nigh ; 
Why  will  ye  wander  ?     "WTierefore  will  ye  die? 

"  Look  on  My  hands  and  side,  for  I  am  He  ; 
None  to  the  Father  cometh  but  by  Me  ; 
For  you  I  died  ;  once  more  I  call  you  home  : 
I  live  again  for  you — 3Iy  chikken,  come  I  " 


CHAPTER  THE  NINETEENTH. 

1 — 4.  (1)  lamentation,  a  mournful  ditty  suitable  for  a  funeral, 
princes  of  Israel,  those  of  the  house  of  Judah.  Some  think 
there  is  special  reference  to  Zedekiah.'    Others  refer  to  Jehoahaz 


different  men  ;io« 
cording  to  tlieir 
lie&'-rti."  -  Fa  usset. 
c  Dr.  Parker. 

V.  27.  Dr.  A.  Lit- 
tUloH,  22  ;  Or.  B. 
W'hkhcule,  i.  303 ; 
Dr.  M.  Hole,  i.  7 ; 
II'.  Fa  rill  g ton, 
185  ;  J.  IJerrey, 
4  ;  Dr.  li.  Parkin- 
son, i.  241  ;  H.  ir. 
Kcans,  219;  Dr. 
li.  IK.  ywr,  i.  2ti7; 
/•;  Arnold,  46. 
i'.28.  Ji. /a.  Cotton, 
40. 
a  J.  E.  Golding. 

a  Je.  x.-^.xu.  39  ; 
Eze.  xi.  19, 
x.\xvi.  2G. 

"Altliongh  Gcd 
'  uorlis  iu  us  to 
will  and  to  do,' 
and  is  tlie  first 
mover  in  our  re- 
generation, yet 
we  must  worli  to- 
gether with  His 
grace,  at  least 
willingly  receive 
it,  and  not 
quench  or  I'esist 
its  motions." — 
Loiclh. 

I'.Sl.  Dr.U.lJam- 

niiiiij,iv.bi)b ;  Dr. 
T.Pierce,VI5;  W. 
Dunlup,  ii.  18. 

b  ir.  W.  Whythe. 

A  bear  once  en- 
tered a  saw-mill, 
sat  down  ou  the 
log'  which  was 
moving  close 
under  the  saw, 
and  began  to 
cat  the  sawyer's 
dinner.  Souu  he 
I'elt  a  nip  at  his 
tail,  and  gave  a 
growl;  then 
another,  which 
so  aroLised  his 
bear-nature,  that 
he  turjied  and 
hugged  tlie  great 
saw  till  he  was 
sawed  in  two. 

c  Fahjiuie. 


a  Uitzig,  Ewald. 


283 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xlx.  5—0. 


t  Spk.  Com. 

c  Ge.  xlix.  9;  Ku. 
sxiii.  'il. 

d  Arab  name  for 
a  linn  is  "  the 
couchor." 

e  2  Ki.  xxiii.  33. 

/  "  Tliere  is  an 
allusion  to  the 
custom,  wlientlio 
news  arrives  that 
a  lion  or  other 
savage  beast  is 
conniiitting  mis- 
chief, of  assem- 
bUiig  on  all  sides 
to  seize  ami  slay 
it." — ilkhaelis. 

g  Vs.  XXXV.  7, 
xciv.  13. 

"It  is  folly  to 
pretenJ  that  one 
ever  wholly  re- 
covers from  a 
disappointed  pas- 
s  i  o  n.  Such 
■wounds  always 
leave  a  scar. 
There  are  faces  I 
can  never  look 
upon  without 
emotion,  there 
are  names  I  can 
never hearspoken 
without  almost 
starting." — Lowj- 
fdlow. 
h  Beecher. 

a  "  Or  he  learned 
and  practised  all 
the  methods  of 
tyranny  and  op- 
pression.  "  • — 
Loulh. 

"  Passion  Itself  is 
very  figurative, 
and  often  bursts 
out  into  meta- 
pliors ;  but,  in 
touching  the 
pathos,  the  poet 
must  be  psrfectly 
■well  acquainted 
with  the  emo- 
tions of  tlie 
human  soul,  and 
carefully  distin- 
guish between 
those  .metajjliors 
which  ristf  glow- 
ing from  the 
heart,  and  those 
cold  conceits 

Wlii';h  are  engen- 
dered     in      the 
fancy."' — Gold- 
smil/i. 
"  Our      passions 


and  Jehoiadiiu.  as  a  warniiio-  to  Zcdekiah.''  (2)  thy  mother,  the 
laud  or  Jinlali,  as  the  luiLivo  couucry  of  tho  princes  addrcssad. 
lioness,'-'  bf  o.  tierce  at  catching-  prey  ;  iu  allu.siou  to  her  heaihenish 
practices,  lay  .  .  lions,''  fig.  ot  her  corrupting  intercourse  with 
heathen  nations.  (.'})  one  .  .  whelps,  riz.  Jehoahaz."  learned 
.  .  prey,  alluding  to  this  king  following  the  evil  and  idolatrous 
practices  of  his  pre  lecessors.  (i)  nations,  e.-^p.  Egypt.-/  pit, 
hunters  pit,  arranged  for  securing  wild  animals,*'  2  Ki.  xxiii.  33  ; 
Je.  xxii.  11. 

True  patriof.'i. — The  men  and  women  that  are  patriots — who 
are  they  /  Mothers  who  are  bringing  up  their  children  in  the 
nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord— they  are  writing  better 
declarations  of  indeiieudence  than  ever  Thomas  Jefferson  in- 
scribed. Humble  fathers  who  are  trainirig  their  children  in 
essential  manliness,  in  self-reliance,  iu  independence,  making 
them  ashamed  to  beg.  and  proud  to  rely  upon  their  own  resources 
— they  are  patriots.  They  are  lovers  of  our  country.  The  humble 
schoolmistress  that  gathers  her  summer  brood  and  pours  her 
refined  life  into  the  bosom  of  these  rustics — she  is  a  patriot.  The 
.schoolmaster,  who  stands  nearer  to  the  work  of  God  in  the  world, 
and  in  our  age,  than  even  the  minister  himself  does— he  is  the 
patriot.  The  editor,  that  is  taking  knowledge,  and  giving  to  it 
multiform  wings,  and  setting  it  flying  round  and  rouud  the 
world — he  is  the  patriot.  Those  men  who  augment  the  sub- 
stantial qualities  of  manhood  —the  ijreachers  of  the  Gospel,  the 
humble  missionary,  the  colporteur,  the  devoted  Christian  in  eveiy 
neighbourhood — those  men  are  working  for  the  spiritual  develop- 
ment of  man — they  are  God's  truest  patriots.  They,  of  eveiy 
name,  everywhere,  who  make  men  larger,  are  working  for 
liberty  ;  and  they  who  are  demoralising  men,  and  making  license 
turn  into  lust  and  bi'lluiue  appetites,  are  the  devil's  instruments, 
and  are  working  for  bondage  and  for  despotism.* 

5 — 9.  (5)  another,  riz.  Jehoiachin,  2  Ki.  xxiv.  6.  He  was 
put  on  the  throne  by  the  consent  of  the  people.  (G)  catch  .  . 
prey,  followed  the  same  idolati-ous  course  as  his  p]-cdecessor.<» 
(7)  knew,  i.e.  he  claimed  as  his  own.  desolate  palaces,  lit. 
n-'ido)vs,  or  widowed  palaces  :  those  from  wh.  he  had  turned  out 
the  occupants.  Je.  xxii.  l.'i.  1(!.  (S)  nations,  here  the  Chaldaians. 
For  the  fate  of  Jehoiachin  see  2  Ki.  xxiv.  10 — 12.  (li)  voice  . . 
mountains,  as  a  lion  seeking  her  prey. 

I^ii/wr/il  .fi'mion  far  Cruiinvcll. — On  the  death  of  Oliver  Crom- 
well, a  funeral  sermon  was  preached  at  Christ  Church,  Dublin, 
before  the  lord  deputy,  hy  his  cha})lain.  Dr.  Harrison,  from  these 
words:  "And  all  Judah  and  Jerusalem  mourned  for  him,"  2 
Chron.  xx.  2-1.  '•  This  is  a  lamentation,  and  shall  bo  for  a  lamen- 
tation," Ezek.  xlx.  14.  The  sermon,  which  was  full  of  the  praises 
of  Cromwell,  was  afterwards  published  by  one  Edward  Matthews, 
under  the  title  of  Thvctii  Jlijhcrnici ;  or,  Ireland  Si/iiipathi.'^hifj 
iritli  Enqhind  and  Scotland  in  a  .vtd  Ltnnrntafion  far  /wr  Jasinh. 
The  sermon  was  dedicated,  in  the  mo-t  fulsome  language,  to 
Richard  Cromwell,  by  PMward  IMatthews.  '•  Divine  I'rovidence,'' 
he  says,  "  made  it  my  lot  to  hear  this  sermon  pathetically  delivered 
by  that  pious  divine.  Dr.  Harrison,  in  a  full  fluent  manner,  ex- 
tracting tears  from  the  eyes,  and  sigh.s  from  the  hearts  of  the 
hearers.  I  moved  the  doctor  for  the  printing  thereof,  being  so 
precious  a  piece,  touching  so  unparalleled  a  person,  that  it  waa 


Cap.  XX.  1—0.] 


EZEKIEL. 


289 


more  fit  to  be  made  public,  than  perish  in  oblivion  ;  who  in  a 
modesfc  manner  termed  it  a  sudden  imperfect  and  unpolished  col- 
lection of  scattered  thoug-hts  and  notes,  which  brevity  of  time, 
and  burthen  of  spirit,  would  not  permit  him  more  completely  to 
compile.  The  usefulness  of  the  piece,  replete  with  so  many 
observations,  tog-ether  with  the  desire  of  erecting  all  lasting 
monuments  that  might  lead  to  the  eternising  ot'  the  bles.sed 
memory  of  that  thrice-renowned  patron  and  pattern  of  piety, 
your  royal  father  (whose  pious  life  is  his  never-perishing  pyramid, 
every  man's  heart  being  his  tomb,  every  good  man's  tongue  an 
epitaph),  hath  emboldened  me,  in  all  humility,  to  present  it  to 
your  highness  as  a  lively  effigy  to  mind  you  of  his  matchless 
virtues.  And  as  the  learned  author  intended  it  not  so  much  for 
the  eye  or  ear,  as  for  the  heart ;  not  for  only  reading,  but  practice 
principally  ;  so  may  your  highness  i^lease  to  make  use  thereof  as 
a  pattern  of  imitation  for  piety  and  reformation  in  the  nations."  '" 

10—14.  (10)  thy  mother,  the  land  of  Judah.  Jehoiachin 
is  here  addressed.  vine  .  .  blood,  p'betical  reference  to  the 
infant  before  it  was  wa  '\ed  ;  the  people  were  planted  in  Canaan 
A\hen  but  an  infant  nation,  full  of  hranches,  the  people 
multiplied  under  God's  blessing."  (II)  sceptres,  Ge.  xlix.  10. 
(12)  east  ..  fruit,  Ho.  xiii.  15.  (i:;)  wilderness,  that  of 
Babvlon.  (U)  fire  .  .  out,  comj).  Ju.  ix.  15.  Allusion  is  to 
Zedekiah. 

Sceptres. — The  allusion  here  is  evidently  to  the  sceptres  of  the 
ancients,  which  were  no  other  than  walking-sticks,  cut  from  the 
Btems  or  branches  of  trees,  and  decorated  with  gold,  or  studded 
with  golden  nails.  Thus  Achilles  is  introduced  as  swearing  by  a 
sceptre,  which  being  cut  from  the  trunk  of  a  tree  on  the  moun- 
tains, and  strij^ped  of  its  bark  and  leaves,  should  never  more 
produce  leaves  and  branches,  or  t^proiit  again.  Sucli  a  one  the 
Grecian  judges  carried  in  their  hands.     See  Homer,  //.  i.  i;31.* 


CIIAriER  THE  TJFENTIETIL 

1 — 4,   (1)  elders,   as  oh.  viii.   1,  xiv.   1.     (2,  3)   not  "be 

inquired,  i.e.  not  pay  any  heed  to  your  inquiries."     (4)  judge, 
i.e.  jilead  in  their  behalf.     Addressed  to  Ezekiel. 

Teich.f  of  formal  i.fiii. — In  'Mrs.  GraxA's  Letters  from  the  Moun- 
tnin;f  (180(1).  is  the  following  anecdote  of  the  then  Duchess  of 
Gordon.  "The 'duchess  said  that  on  Sunday  she  never  saw  com- 
pan}'.  nor  played  cards,  nor  went  out :  in  England,  indeed,  she 
did  so.  because  every  one  else  did  the  same,  but  she  would  not 
introduce  those  manners  into  this  country  (Scotland).  I  stared 
at  these  gradations  of  piety  growing  warmer  as  it  came  north- 
ward, but  was  wise  enough  to  stare  silently."  The  tricks  of 
formalism  and  hypocrisy  are  evermore  the  same.  Man  is  regarded 
more  than  God.  '\Vhat  Mrs.  Grundy  may  say  has  far  more  influ- 
ence with  many  than  what  the  Lord  may  say.  This  is  miserable 
meanness  and  rank  impiety.* 

5  —  9.  (5)  lifted  .  .  hand,  the  sign  of  swearing,  known, 
by  My  judgments  and  deliverances."  I  .  .  God,  i.e.  I  am  the 
God  you  should  serve,  and  I  alone.    (6)  espied,  observed  and  i 

VOL,  IX.    O.T,  T 


never  wholly  die, 
but,  in  the  last 
cantos  of  life's 
romantic  epos, 
they  rise  up 
again  and  do 
battle,  like  some 
of  Ariosto's 
heroes,  who  have 
already  been 

quietly  interred, 
and  oufrht  to  be 
turned  to  dust." 
— Long/ellotp. 

b  Percy  Artec. 


a  "  The  conntry 
of  Judoea,  from 
whence  the  royal 
family  have  their 
orig-inal,  was  like 
a  fruitful  vine  ia 
a  floui-ishing  con- 
dition."—Xow/A. 

"  The  metaphor 
of  tlie  binod  is  less 
harsh  in  the  Heb. 
bee.  tlie  juice  of 
a  vine  is  called  in 
Scr  pture  its 
blood.  Ge.  xlix. 
ll."-}Vordsicort/t. 
V.  12.  Joji.  Ed- 
Kards,  ii.  36. 

6  Burder, 


a   "  Because    y« 

inquire  with    an 

evil     temper,    a 

cavilling     spirit, 

and  a  murmuring 

I  tone,     and     not 

I  with   penitential 

I  meeknes.s,       and 

;  self  -  abasement 

'  for  your  sin,  and. 

I  with  liumblesub- 

I  mission    to    the 

I  will    of   God," — 

I  Wordsworlfi. 

j  »■?).  1— 3.  H.Good- 

I  loin,  iii.  106. 
I 

f.  3.    R.  Warner, 

iii.  147. 

6  Spiu-geon. 


a    Ex.  iii.  8,  iTk 
31. 


290 

h  "  Ood's  name 
means  tho  sum 
total  of  His 
perfections  ;  to 
manifest  these. 
His  gratuitous 
^biercy  abounding 
above  their  sins, 
yet  without 
wrong  to  His 
justice,  and  so  to 
set  forth  His 
glory,  was  ami  is 
the  ultimate  end 
of  His  dealings." 
— Faussel. 
C  Dr.  Dillon. 


».  12.  Bp.  D.  Wil- 
ton, 118. 

a  J.  D.  Hull,  M.A. 

V.  12.  Though  a 
few  passages 
might  be  cited 
where  the  word 
"Sabbath"  is  per- 
haps used  in  a 
general  sens;,  in- 
cluding <  :  Sab- 
tatical  years,  and 
other  festivals, 
which  were  signs 
of  the  relations 
between  Jehovah 
an'l  His  people, 
and  distinguish- 
ed them  from  Vna 
Gentiles  around, 
yet  there  is  here 
a  particular  re- 
ference to  the 
geventh-day  Sab- 
bath .which  stood 
par  fxcelli'iice  in 
a  different  posi- 
tion from  all  the 
other  .  celebra- 
tious. 


a  Vs.  Ixxviii  38. 
"  Compassion  is 
an  emotion  of 
which  we  ought 
never  to  be 
ashamed.  Grace- 
ful, particularly 
In  youth,  is  the 
tear  of  sympathy, 
and  the  heart 
that  melts  at  the 
tale  of  woe.  We 
should  not  per- 
mit ease  and 
ialu'jrence  to 
contract  our 

aUectious,      aud 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  XX.  10-17. 


chose,  as  specially  suitable  for  them,  glory,  or  the  fairest 
flower  of  all  lands.  (7)  cast,  etc.,  though  Mo.-es  gives  no 
positive  record  of  the  Israelites  having-  taken  up  with  Egyptian 
idolatries,  inclination  towards  such  is  implied  in  the  readiness  of 
the  people  to  worship  the  golden  calf.  (8;  then  I  said,  i.e. 
even  while  they  were  in  Egypt  I  thought  of  destroying  them, 
(9)  my  name's  sake,*  the  honour  of  wh.  was  pledged  in  the 
covenant  with  the  patriarchs. 

The  7wr/i  n-ruuf/ht  hij  God  for  His  nnmr\'i  sale  (v.  9). — There 
are  three  questions  to  be  answered  from  the  text-.  "Who  ?  ^Vhat  ? 
Why  ?  I.  "Who  it  is  that  is  said  to  work  ?  II.  "What  is  it  that 
lie  hath  wrought  ?     III.  "Why  is  it  that  He  hath  wrought .'« 

10—13.  (10)  caused  . .  Egypt,  Ex.  xiii.  IS.  (11)  statutes, 
as  ©n  Mt.  Sinai,  Ex.  xs.  man  do,  Le.  xviii. ;")  :  Ilo.  x.  H  ;  Ga.  iii. 
12.  (12)  sabbaths,  Ex.  xx.  8,  xxxi.  13,  xxxv.  2:  De.  v.  12. 
(13)  polluted,  Ex.  xvi.  27.  I  said,  etc.,  comp.  Nu.  xiv.  29, 
xxvi.  6j. 

The  iSaMmfh  Go(l\'!  imtfUnt'wn  and  rjift  to  man  (r.  12). — "We 
observe— I.  That  the  Sabbath  is  God's  institution  ;  the  appoint- 
ment is  coeval  with  creation,  obviously  it  was  no  Hebrew  insti- 
tution, kept  in  abeyance  during  the  sojourn  in  Egypt,  re-enacted 
by  an  express  law,  made  additionally  binding  by  words  and 
example  of  our  Lord.  II.  That  the  Sabbath  is  God's  gift,  man 
not  made  of  iron,  the  body  needs  it,  the  mind  needs  it,  above  all 
the  soul  needs  it.  III.  The  ends  for  which  the  Sabbath  was 
given.  1.  To  be  a  sign  between  a  nation  and  Him  ;  2.  To  be  the 
means  of  sanctifying  a  nation." 

Sahhath-iveaJung. — An  Oriental  legend  tells  us  that  while 
Solomon  was  on  j  on  his  way  to  pay  a  visit  to  the  Queen  of 
Sheba  he  came  to  a  valley  in  which  dwelt  a  peculiar  tribe  of 
monkeys.  Upon  inquiring  into  their  history  he  learned  that  they 
were  the  posterity  of  a  colony  of  Jews,  wlio,  settiling  in  that 
region  many  years  before,  had.  by  habitually  profaui  ng  the 
Sabbath,  degenerated  into  the  brutes  ho  found  them.  This  story 
though  having  no  foundation  in  fact,  nevertheless  involves  a 
truth,  but  it  d  ^  not  illustrate  the  -hole  truth  as  to  the  effects 
of  Sabbath-breaking  ;  for  while  in  this  world  it  sinks  the  human 
soul  and  body  nearly  to  a  level  with  brute  life,  in  the  world  to 
come  it  sinks  both  >  a  perdition  where  to  take  the  lowest  jilaco 
in  the  lowest  rank  of  brute  being  would  bo  an  honoi.r  and  a 
hapi^iness  which  the  despairing  spirit  will  be  denied  the  jileasure 
of  hoping  to  enjoy,  even  to  the  latest  futurity. 

14—17.  (14)  name's  sake,  as  ?•.  9.  (].".)  not  bring  them, 
i.e.  the  very  people  who  came  out  of  Egypt :  only  thf^ir  descen- 
dants entered  Canaan.  (K!)  he  went,  they  hankered  after 
the  idolatries  of-  Egypt,  which  seemed  to  them  connected  with 
plenty  of  food.  (17)  make  an  end,  even  in  the  judgments  I 
brought  upon  them  I  remembered  mercy." 

Legend  of  conipasition. — One  day.  on  going  into  the  church,  St. 
Giles  found  a  poor  sick  man  extended  upon  the  pavement,  and 
thereupon  took  oil  his  mantle,  and  spread  it  over  him  ;  when  the 
man  was  immediately  healed.  This  and  other  mir.aeles  having 
attracted  the  veneration  of  the  people.  St.  Giles  fled  from  hi3 
country,  and  turned  hermit  ;  he  wandered  from  one  solitude  tc 
another  until  he  came  to  a  retired  wilderness,  near  the  mouth  ol' 


Cap.  XX.  18—26.] 


EZEKIEL.' 


291 


the  Rhone,  about  twelve  miles  to  the  south  of  Nismes.  Here  lie 
dwelt  in  a.  cave,  by  the  side  of  a  clear  spring-,  living  ujion  the 
herbs  and  fruits  of  the  forest,  and  upon  the  milk  of  a  hind  which 
had  taken  uja  its  abode  with  him.  Now,  it  came  to  pass  that  the 
king  of  France  (or.  according  to  another  legend.  AVamba.  king  of 
the  Goths)  was  hunting  in  the  neighbourhood  ;  and  the  hind, 
pursued  hj  the  dogs,  fled  to  the  cavern  of  the  saint,  and  took 
refuge  in  his  arms.  The  hunters  let  fly  an  arrow,  and,  following 
on  the  track,  were  surprised  to  find  a  venerable  old  man  seated 
there,  with  the  hind  in  his  arms,  which  the  arrow  had  pierced 
through  his  hand.  Thereupon  the  king  and  his  followers,  per- 
ceiving that  it  was  a  holy  man,  prostrated  themselves  before 
him,  and  entreated  forgiveness.* 

18—22.  (18)  their  children,  when  the  fathers  had  fallen 
by  the  judgments  in  the  wilderness.  The  Bk.  of  Deuteronomy 
contains  these  gracious  Divine  pleadings,  (li).  20)  hallow,  or 
separate,  keep  holy."  (21)  the  children  rebelled,  trying  in 
each  fresh  generation  the  patience  of  God.  (22)  withdrew  my 
hand,  from  inflicting  the  meditated  judgment. 

The  Sabbath  (v.  20).— I.  The  design  of  the  Sabbath.  1.  An 
emblem  of  creation  ;  2.  A  memorial  of  redemption  ;  3.  A  cove- 
nant sign  ;  4.  A  foretaste  of  heaven.  II.  Its  necessity.  1. 
Physical  need  ;  2.  Moral  influence.  III.  Its  duties.  1.  To  God  ; 
2.  To  ourselves  ;   3.  To  our  families  ;   4.  To  others.* 

'The  Sabbath. — The  Rev.  Samuel  Kilpin,  on  descending  from 
the  pulpit  one  Sabbath  morning,  was  politely  requested  by  a 
stranger  to  dine  with  him  at  an  inn.  He  rei^lied,  '•  Dine  with 
you,  sir,  at  an  inn  in  Exeter  on  a  Sabbath-day  !  No,  sir,  not  if 
you  would  give  me  the  city.  A  minister  who  has  to  address  souls, 
on  subjects  connected  with  eternity,  dine  at  an  inn  with  company 
on  the  Sabbath-day  !  No,  sir,  except  from  necessity,  I  never  sit 
with  my  family,  but  at  a  short  meal,  on  the  Sabbath.  I  have  to 
preach  to  myself  as  well  as  to  others — excuse  my  firmness,  I  feel 
obliged  by  your  kindness." « 

23—26.  (23)  scatter  them,  Le.  xxvi.  33  ;  De.  iv.  27,  xxviii. 
C4.  (24)  eyes  .  .  idols,  comjj.  r.  16.  (25)  statutes  . .  good, 
better  rend.  Jii'IffJiients.  as  in  second  sentence.  Reference  is  not 
to  rules  of  life,  or  commands,  but  to  Divine  dealings  as  punish- 
ments. (2())  polluted  .  .  gifts,"  i.e.  by  leaving  them  un- 
restrained to  all  the  evil  practices  of  their  idolatry. 

Ancient  enijievor.^. — From  among  the  long  list  of  those  in 
power  who,  in  the  first  ages  of  the  Christian  Church,  persecuted 
the  believers  in  Christ,  and  who  were  signally  punished  for  their 
opposition  to  the  truth,  we  may  mention  the  following : — Nero 
■was  driven  from  his  throne,  and,  perceiving  himself  in  danger  of 
death,  became  his  own  executioner  ;  Domitian  was  killed  by  his 
own  servants  ;  Hadrian  died  of  a  distressing  disease,  which  was 
accompanied  with  great  mental  agony  :  Severus  never  prospered 
in  his  affairs  after  he  persecuted  the  Church,  and  was  killed  by 
the  treachery  of  his  son  ;  Maximinus  reigned  but  three  years, 
and  died  a  violent  death  :  Decius  was  drowned  in  a  marsh,  and 
his  body  never  found  ;  Valerian  was  taken  prisoner  by  the 
Persians,  and,  after  enduring  the  horrors  of  captivity  for  several 
years,  was  flayed  alive  ;  Diocletian  was  compelled  to  resign  his 
empii-e,  and  became  insane  ;  Maximianue  Herculeus  wt;s  deprived 
t2 


wrap  us  np  in 
a  selHjh  enjoy- 
ment ;  but  we 
should  accustom. 
oir.<elvost)  think 
of  the  distresses 
of  liuman  life,  of 
the  solitary  cot- 
tage, the  dying 
p.iient.  anil  th3 
weeping  orphr.u. 
Nor  ought  we 
ever  to  sport  with 
pain  and  distress 
in  any  of  our 
amusements,  or 
treat  eyen  the 
m  vinest  insect 
wiih  wanton 
cruelty." — /Hair, 
b  Mrs.  Jameson. 


a  "  The  pollution 
of  the  Sabliath 
consisted  in  fail- 
ing to  make  the 
day  holy  in  deed 
as  well  as  in 
name  by  earnest 
worship  and  true 
heart  service." — 
^■ijjl:  Com. 

V.  20.  /.  Mede,  I. 


V.  22.  T.  ikon,  T. 
445. 

b  TF.  W.  Whythe. 

e  'Whitecross. 


a  "1  judicially 
gave  them  up 
to  pollute  them- 
selves. Their  own 
sin  I  made  their 
pu  nishmeut." — ■ 
FiHisxpl. 

"  God  sometimes 
makes  sin  to  be 
its  own  punish- 
ment, and  yet 
He  is  not  the 
author  of  sin ; 
and  there  needs 
no  more  to  make 
men  miserable 
than  to  give  them 
up  to  their  own 
vile  appetites  an  1 
passions.  Let 

them  be  put  into 
the  hand  of  their 
own  counsels, 
and  they  will 
ruin  themselves 
and  mal.e  them- 
selves desolate." 
—Mat.  ilisiiry. 


292 


E7.EKIEL. 


ICap.  XX.  '2,1 -Z^ 


of  his  grovernmont,  aud  ptranp-led  :  ^raximanns  Galerius  was  sud- 
denly and  awfully  removed  by  death  ;  and  .Severus  committed 
suicide.     '•  The  way  of  transgressors  is  hard."'* 

27 — 29.  ''27)  in  this,  which  the  Prophet  proceeds  to  state, 
viz.,  the  defiling'  of  the  sacred  land  of  covenant  and  jiromise 
with  such  self-willed  idolatries,  blasphemed,  or  grievously 
insulted.  (28)  lifted  .  .  hand,  or  put  forth  ]\Iy  power,  pro- 
vocation, etc.,  reference  is  to  the  meat-offering :  see  ch. 
xvi.  1!).  "  Beiup:  offered  to  idols,  it  became  abominable,  and  was 
turned  into  a  provocation."  drink  offerings,  Le.  xxiii.  18. 
(2',))  Bamah,  or  hUjh  place.  Ezekiel  says  the  very  name  shows 
that  it  was  not  the  place  appointed  by  God.^ 

Jy.-<tice  in  princrx. — In  the  rci^n  of  Theodosius  the  emperor,  a 
violent  sedition  arose  at  Antioch,  because  he  had  exacted  a  new 
kind  of  tribute  from  the  people.  In  the  heat  of  the  commotion 
the  populace  broke  oown  the  statue  of  the  Empress  Placilla.  who 
was  lately  dead.  The  emperor  in  a  great  rage  sent  forces  against 
the  city  to  sack  It.  When  the  herald  came  and  told  this  to  the 
citizens,  one  Macedonius,  a  wise  monk,  sent  to  the  herald  an 
answer  after  this  manner  :  •"Tell  the  emperor  these  words. — That 
he  is  not  only  an  emperor,  but  also  a  man  :  therefore  let  him  look 
not  only  on  his  empire,  but  also  on  himself  ;  for  he,  being  a 
man,  commands  also  those  who  are  men  ;  let  him  not,  then,  use 
men  so  barbarously,  who  were  made  in  the  image  of  God.  lie  is 
angry,  and  that  justly,  becaiise  the  brazen  image  of  his 
wife  has  been  contumeliou.sly  used  ;  and  shall  not  the  Xing' 
of  heaven  be  angry  to  see  His  glorious  image  in  man  con- 
tumeliously  handled .'  O  wliat  a  difference  there  is  betwixt 
the  reasonable  soul  and  the  brazen  image  !  We.  for  this  image, 
are  able  to  set  up  a  hundred :  but  he  is  not  able  to  set  up  a  single 
hair  of  these  men  again,  if  he  kill  them."  These  words  being 
told  the  emperor,  he  suppressed  his  anger,  and  drew  back  his 
forces.' 

30 — 32.  (30)  are  ye,  this  appeal  is  addressed  to  the  exiles. 
Notwithstanding  all  the  warnings  of  men,  they  persisted  in 
following  the  evil  example  of  their  fathers.  "  The  particle  of 
interrogation  often  implies  a  negative."  (.31)  offer  .  .  gifts, 
r.  26.  through  the  fire,  not  merely  as  a  sj-mbol,  but  in  fact 
burning  them  to  death.  It  is  singular  to  find  this  custom 
retained  by  the  exiles,  inquired  of,  r.  3.  (32)  as  the 
heathen,"  such  a  resolve  indicated  a  repudiation  of  their  rights 
and  privileges  as  Jehovah's  people. 

The  pngnntsm  of  the  heart  (r.  32). — Look  at  it — I.  As  an  evil 
to   which  the   godly  are   liable.     1.  The  force  of  early  habits  ; 

2.  Of  social  influence  ;  3.  Of  Satanic  agency.  II.  As  an  evil 
against  which  the  godly  should  struggle — 1.  By  the  growth  of 
heavenly  sentiments ;  2.   Hy  closer  fellowship  with  the  Divine  ; 

3.  By  a  moral  conquest  over  spiritual  foes  ;  i.  By  a  translation 
into  the  heavenly  world.* 

33 — 38.  (33)  mighty,  etc.,  sisrns  of  judgmrnt  and  severe 
dealing."  (31)  the  people,  better,  the  peoples  ;  the  various 
nations.  (3o)  wilderness,  here  used  figuratively  to  describe 
,  the  time  of  exile,  trial,  and  discipline,  which  should  be  to  them 
nn?l  forbearnn'^^^^  I  ''^'^i^t  the  wildemess-time  had  been  to  the  people  on  Iheir  coming 
bub  viu  govern  '  out  of  Ei^'-ypt,     (30,  37J  under  the  rod/  a  metaphor  from  Ui© 


V.  21.  W.  Reading, 
iL517. 

(  R.  T.  S. 


a  There  is  here 
a  play  upon  the 
•wonls,  Jlii,  sig- 
nifying "  gc," 
anil  nvih,  "tr/ial." 
Baniali,  or,  What 
go  thoy  to  ? 
Comp.  E.x.  xvi. 
15. 

"  Tlie  name  Bn- 
tnnh  was  a  brand 
of  the  Divine 
displeasure,  and 
a  memorial  of 
the  people's 
guilt."-^V^i-.  Com. 
"  Instead  of  the 
word  Misbrfirh, 
tlie  name  which 
God  appropriated 
to  His  own  altar, 
the  plafe  is 
usually  called 
Bamali,  a  name 
■taken  from  an 
idoliitrous  cus- 
tom."—Z,oir(A. 

r.  27.  W.  Nind, 
ii.  338. 


a  "  Puch  was 
Israel's  infatu- 
ated resolve.  But 
God  mercifully 
interposed  to  pre- 
vent its  execu- 
tion, by  dispers- 
ing them,  as  He 
liad  mercifully 
delivered  them 
from  Egyptian 
idolatry,  by 
bringing  theu\ 
into  the  wilder- 
ness." —  Words- 
worth. 

V.      32.      R.    n. 
Froudr,   Rim.  ii. 
173;  J.  Randall, 
382. 
b  Dr.  Tliomas. 

«  "  I  -will  no 
longer  try  to 
reclaim  you  by 
the    gentle    me 


Cap.  XX.  39—49.] 


EZEKIEL. 


293 


shepherd,  and  meaning-,  to  be  gathered  into  the  flock.  Le.  xxvii. 
32.'-'  The  shepherd  takes  account  of  the  condition  of  each  sheep 
as  the  flock  passes,  one  by  one.  under  his  rod.  bond,  or  obliga- 
tions and  responsibilities.  (88)  ]3urge  you,  etc.,  "  the  election 
of  the  good  involves  the  rejection  of  the  bad."  ■* 

Cunvi'rsUm  :  in  its  Cdniiiu-nocincnt  and  irrofjvcus  (i^.  37). — I.  In 
its  commencement  God  accomplishes  it  in  a  variety  of  ways. 
1.  By  the  dispensations  of  His  [irovidence  ;  2.  By  the  conversion 
of  .'-ome  pious  friend  ;  3.  By  the  public  ministry  of  the  Word  ; 
4.  By  the  secret  operation  of  His  Spirit  upon  the  soul.  II.  In 
its  progress  — 1.  He  reveals  that  covenant  to  us  ;  2.  He  enables 
us  to  lay  hold  on  it ;  3.  He  confers  upon  us  all  the  blessings. 
Eemarks:— (1)  How  sovereign  God  is  in  the  dispensations  of  His 
mercy  ;  (2)  How  mysterious  are  His  dealings  with  the  children 
of  men  ;  (3)  How  you  may  best  answer  all  the  purposes  of 
His  gi'ace.« 

I'dxn'iiuj  under  the  rod. — It  was  the  custom  among  the  Jews  to 
select  the  tenth  of  their  sheep  (see  Le.  xxvii.  32)  after  this 
manner.  The  lambs  were  separated  from  the  dams,  and  enclosed 
in  a  sheep-cote  with  only  one  narrow  way  out.  The  dams  were 
left  immediately  without.  On  opening  the  gate  their  young 
instantly  hastened  to  join  their  mother,  when  a  man,  placed 
at  the  entrance,  with  a  rod  dipped  in  ochre,  touched  every  tenth 
lamb,  and  so  marked  it  Avith  his  rod,  and  said,  '•  Let  this  be  holy 
in  the  name  of  the  tenth."  The  passage  in  Ezekiel,  divested  of 
its  flgurative  form,  appears  to  have  this  signification,  that  God 
would  deliver  a  remnant  of  His  peo]ile  who  were  then  in  captivity 
in  Babylon  ;  that  He  would  take  ];articular  notice  of  them,  and 
count  them  one  by  one,  as  a  she2)herd  does  his  sheei) ;  and, 
marking  them  for  His  own  peculiar  service,  bring  them  into  the 
privileges  of  the  covenant  which  He  had  made  with  them./ 

39—44.  (39)  go  ye,  serve,  this  is  evidently  spoken  in 
irony ;  indicating  that  God  prefers  the  open  idolater  to  the 
secret  hypocrite.  Be  not  half  and  half,  naming  My  name,  and 
serving  your  idols  at  the  same  time.  (40)  holy  mountain, 
where  God"s  temple  was.  all  of  them,  both  those  of  Judah 
and  of  Israel,  firstfruits,  or  chief.  (41)  be  sanctified,  or 
honoured,  Je.  xxxiii.  9.  (42)  know,  or  fully  experience  and 
realise.  (43)  remember,  call  to  mind,  and  on  account  of  past 
doings  humble  yourselves  in  the  dust.  (44)  my  name's  sake," 
the  supreme  reason  for  the  Divine  action  is  the  necessity  for 
upholding,  in  the  view  of  men,  the  Divine  honour. 

A  .vveet  savour  (v.  41). — 1.  Such  are  the  merits  of  the  Great 
Redeemer ;  2.  There  was  sweet  savour  in  His  active  life ; 
3.  So  too  in  His  passive  obedience  ;  4.  For  the  sake  of  these 
two  things  the  Lord  accejits  ns  :  5.  None  can  be  accepted 
withoiit  Christ ;  but  having  received  His  merit,  you  oinnot  be 
unaccepted.* 

45—49.  (4.5)  moreover,  this  is  properly  the  beginning-  of 
a  new  prephecy,  and  so  should  have  commenced  ch.  xxi. 
(•U'>)  south,  so  J"uda3a  is  situated  in  relation  to  the  place  where 
Ezekiel  was  in  the  north  of  Babylonia,  drop  thy  word,  De. 
xxxii.  2  :  Is.  Iv.  10."  forest  .  .  field,  fig.  for  land  of  Israel : '' 
perhaps  bee.  the  stately  buildings  of  a  city  resemble  the  tall 
iortst  trees.    (47)  fire,  fig.  for  the  destruction  wrought  b/  the 


you  as  masters 
do  ill  servauts,  by 
strijies  and  cor- 
rections, and  by 
this  7iieans  cure 
.vou  of  yi  ur  han- 
kering after  the 
heathen  customs 
and  idolatries."^ 
Louih. 

b  "  Lord,  \vave 
again  Thy  chas- 
tening  rod,  till 
every  idol  throne 
crumble  to  dust, 
and  Tliou.  0  God, 
reign  in  our 
liearts  alone."— 
KMe. 

c  Je.  xxxiii.  13. 

d  Eo.  xi.  7—11. 

V.  35.  B.  Bed^ 
dojHP.  ii.  30;  if. 
£.  misun,  317. 

e  C.  >Sim(on,  Af.A. 

/  Visitor, 


a  "His  reasons 
were  all  fetched 
from  Himself. 
Had  He  dealt 
with  them  'ac- 
cording to  their 
wicked  ways  and 
corrupt  doings,' 
He  would  have 
left  them  to  be 
scattered  and 
lost,  but  He  re- 
covered and  re- 
stored them  for 
the  sake  of  His 
own  name,  not 
only  tliat  It 
might  not  be 
roUuted.  but  that 
He  might  be 
s  a  n  c  t  i  H  e  d  ia 
them  before  the 
heathen."  —  Mat. 
Ileiin/. 
b  Dr.  T/iomas. 

a  "The  gift  of 
prophecy  is  com- 
pared to  raiu, 
or  the  dew  of 
henven,  which 
m  a  k  e  s  every- 
thing fruitful. 
Such  is  the  bene- 
fit of  sound  doc- 
trine wherever  it 
is  received."  -^ 
Lowch, 


294 


F.ZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xxi.  1—7, 


b  "  Judah  anil 
Jerusalem  are 
Cixlled  forests,  not 
only  bee.  tliey 
hail  been  full  of 
people,  as  a  wood 
of  ti-ees.  but  bee. 
they  had  been 
empty  of  fruit, 
fir  fruit  trees 
grow  not  in  a 
forest.  T  hose 
that  sliould  have 
been  as  tlie  gar- 
den of  the  Lord 
had  become  like 
B  forest." — Mai. 
Henry. 

e  Mat.  xiii.  14, 15. 
d  G.  liruuks. 


a  "The  Prophet 
is  not  now  touch- 
ing the  question 
as  to  the  e.\tent 
to  which  the 
righteous  suffer 
with  the  wicked. 
That,  as  a  m.atter 
of  fact,  national 
udgment  in- 
volves the  inno- 
cent in  the  tem- 
poral ruin  of  the 
guilty,  there  is 
no  doubt.  The 
equity  of  God  is 
vindicated  by  the 
ruin  being  only 
temporal."  —  Spk. 
Com. 

b  Eze.  XX.  47. 

vv.  1,  2.     Dr.  T. 
Morion,  400. 


e  JR.  Ball 


a  Job  xl.  IG  ;  Ps. 
Ixvi.  1 1,  l.\i.K. ; 
Is.  xxi.  3. 
"  Now  wliat  a 
sullen-blooded 
fool  was  this,  at 
sulks  with  earth 
and  heaven  1 
Could  he  not  out- 
weep  liis  passion 
like  a  blustering 
day  and  be  clear- 
skied  thcre- 
»fter  ?" 
~-A.  Smith. 
"In  man  or  wo- 
man, Vmt  far 
most  in  man. and 
most  of  all  in 
tuuu  that  minis- 


Chaklaeans.  all  faces,  or  all  tlie  surface  of  the  country. 
(48)  not  .  .  quenclied,  until  its  full  mission  of  destruction  i3 
wroug-ht  out.  (4 'J)  parables,  or  in  metaphors  wh.  we  cannot 
understand." 

I'rcachcr.i  {v.  49). — I.  The  charge  broujrht  ajrainst  the  preachers 
of  the  Oosi'cl.  1.  That  they  ])rcach  what  is  unreal  ;  2.  \\  hat  is 
uniutelli<,nble  :  3.  ^Vhat  is  allegorical.  II.  Some  of  the  state- 
ments of  prcachei's  of  the  Gospel  on  which  this  charge  against 
them  is  founded.  1.  Those  which  relate  to  the  natural  condition 
of  mankind  :  2.  To  the  evidences  of  conversion  ;  3.  To  the 
happiness  of  religion ;  4.  To  the  future  punishment  of  the 
finally  impenitent.'' 


CHAPTER   THE  TIFENTY-FIRST. 

1—5.  (1,  2)  Jerusalem,  comp.  sotiih,  ch.  xx.  46.  holy 
places,  i.e.  the  temple  and  its  surrounding  buildings.  (.3)  nay 
sword,  wh.  is  the  king  of  Bab.ylou.  righteous,  etc..  in  a 
general  calamity  wh.  would  affect  all  classes.     Comp.  ch.  xx.  47." 

(4)  south.  .  .  north,  i.e.  from  one  end  of  the  land  to  the  other.* 

(5)  not    return,   i.e.    into    its    sheath    until    its    mission   is 
accomplished. 

I'retty  preaching. — I  am  tormented  with  the  de.sire  of  writing 
better  than  I  can.  I  am  tormented,  say  I,  with  the  desire  of 
preaching  better  than  I  can.  But  I  have  no  wish  to  make  fine, 
pretty  sermons.  Prettiness  is  well  enough  when  prettincss  is  in 
place.  I  like  to  see  a  pretty  child,  a  pretty  flower :  but  in 
sermons  prettiness  is  out  of  place.  To  my  ear  it  should  be 
anything  but  commendation,  should  it  be  said  to  me,  "  You  have 
given  us  a  pretty  sermon."  If  I  were  put  upon  trial  for  my 
life,  and  my  advocate  should  amuse  the  jury  with  tiopes  and 
figures,  or  bury  his  arguments  beneath  a  profusion  of  flowers  of 
his  rhetoric,  I  would  say  to  him,  '•  Tut,  man,  you  care  more  for 
your  vanity  than  for  my  hanging.  Put  yourself  in  my  place, 
speak  in  view  of  the  gallows,  and  you  will  tell  your  story  plainly 
and  earnestly."  I  have  no  objections  to  a  lady  winding  a  sword 
with  ribbons,  and  studding  it  with  roses  as  she  presents  it  to  her 
hero-lover  ;  but  in  the  day  of  battle  he  will  tear  away  the 
ornaments,  and  use  the  naked  edge  on  the  enemy.' 

6,  7.  (G)  sigh,  i.e.  give  irablic  indication  of  your  intense 
grief  and  concern,  breaking  .  .  loins,  as  if  utterly  bowed 
down  by  the  weight  of  troubles.  '-The  loins  are  the  seat  of 
strength."  "  The  breaking  of  the  loins  is  a  fig.  for  the  utter 
prostration  of  the  strength.  (7)  tidings,  of  the  peril  and  woe 
of  Jerusalem,     melt,  etc.,  ch.  vii.  17. 

Crying  in  the  irronfi  place. — I  remember  (says  Foster,  in 
speaking  of  Eobert  Hall),  at  the  distance  of  many  years,  with 
what  vividness  of  the  ludicrous  he  related  an  anealote  of  a 
preacher  long  since  deceased,  of  some  account  in  his  day  and 
connection.  He  would,  in  preaching,  sometimes  weep,  or 
seem  to  weep,  when  the  people  wondered  why,  as  not  perceiving 
in  what  he  was  saying-  any  cause  for  such  emotion  in  the  exact 
Y)laces  where  it  occurred.  After  his  death  one  of  his  hearers, 
happening  to  inspect  some  of  his  manuscript  sermons,  exclaimedi 


Cap.  xxi.  8—17.] 


EZEKIEL. 


295 


"  I  have  found  the  explanation  ;  we  used  to  wonder  at  the  good 
doctor's  weeping  with  so  little  reason  sometimes  as  it  seemed. 
In  his  sermons  there  is  written  here  and  there  on  the  margins, 
'  Cry  here.'  Now  I  really  believe  the  doctor  sometimes  mis- 
took the  place,  and  that  was  the  cause  of  what  appeared  so 
unaccountable.' ' 

8—13.  (8,  0)  a  sword,  r.  2.'»  furbished,*  or  brightened, 
made  every  way  ready  for  immediate  war.  (10)  glitter,  and 
to  excite  alarm.  contemneth,  etc.,  trans.  "  The  sceptre  of 
my  son  contemneth  all  wood.' <^  (11)  handled,  and  put  at 
once  to  its  use.  (12)  cry  and  howl,  com  p.  the  sighing  of 
the  Prophet,  as  a  kroker  on,  with  the  howling  of  those  who 
actually  suffered,  sniite  .  .  thigh,  one  of  the  natural  expres- 
sions of  exceeding  distress.  (13;  trial,  or  time  of  trial,  the 
rod,  or  sceptre.  Here  a  fig.  for  the  prince,  then  reigning,  who 
was  of  David's  house.'' 

Ttrn  2)re<iclic):f — llcr.  G.  -Wlilte field. — When  visiting  America 
the  llev.  G.  Whitetield  often  stood  on  the  outside  steps  of  the 
court-house  in  Philadelphia,  and  ^jrcachcd  to  thousands  who 
crowded  the  streets  below.  On  one  of  these  occasions  a  youth 
pressed  as  near  to  his  favourite  preacher  as  possible  ;  and,  to 
testify  his  respect,  held  a  lantern  for  his  accommodation.  Soon 
after  the  sermon  began,  he  became  so  absorbed  in  the  subject, 
that  the  lantern  fell  from  his  hand,  and  was  dashed  to  i^ieces  ; 
and  that  part  of  the  audience  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the 
speaker's  station  were  not  a  little  discomposed  by  the  occurrence. 
Some  years  after,  Mr.  Whiteiield,  in  the  course  of  his  fifth  visit  to 
America,  about  the  year  1754,  on  a  journey  from  the  southward, 
called  at  St.  George's,  in  Delaware,  where  Mr.  Kodgers  was  then 
settled  in  the  ministry,  and  spent  some  time  with  him.  In  the 
cours3  of  this  visit,  Mr.  Rodgers,  riding  one  day  with  his  visitor 
in  a  close  carriage,  asked  him  whether  he  recollected  the  occur- 
rence of  the  little  boy  who  ^^'as  so  much  affected  with  his 
preac'ning  as  to  let  the  lantern  fall.  Mr.  Whitefield  answered, 
"  Oh  yes  1  I  remember  it  well,  and  have  often  thought  I  would 
give  anything  in  my  power  to  know  who  that  little  boy  was, 
and  what  had  become  of  him."  Mr.  Eodgers  replied  with  a 
smile,  "  I  am  that  little  boy."  Mr.  Whitefield,  with  tears  of  joy, 
Btarted  from  his  seat,  clasped  him  in  his  arms,  and  with  strong 
emotions  remarked  that  he  was  the  fourteenth  person  then  in  the 
ministry  whom  he  had  discovered  in  the  course  of  that  visit 
to  America,  of  whose  hopeful  conversion  he  had  been  the  instru- 
ment.'— JJr.  Stauntnn. — Dr.  Staunton  was  called  the  searching 
preacher.  Once,  when  preaching  at  Warborough,  near  Oxford, 
a  man  M-as  so  much  affected  w^ith  his  first  prayer,  that  he  ran 
home  and  desired  his  wife  to  get  ready  and  come  to  church,  for 
there  was  one  in  the  pulpit  who  prayed  like  an  angel.  The 
woman  hastened  away  and  heard  the  sermon,  which,  under  the 
Divine  blessing,  was  the  means  of  her  conversion,  and  she 
afterwards  proved  an  eminent  Christian.-^ 

14 — 17.  (14)  third  time,  to  express  the  violence  of  the 
threatening  judgment.  Let  its  stroke  be  repeated  again  and 
again.  '•  Doubled  "  means  "  multiplied,"  or  "  repeated."  sword 
.  .  slain,  or  by  which  many  are  slain,  privy  chambers, 
indicating  the  "sack"  of  the  city.     (15)  point,  or  ''whirling 


ters  and  serves 
the  altar,  in  my 
sciul  I  loathe  all 
affectation ;  'tid 
my  perfect  scoru; 
object  of  my  im- 
placable dis- 
gust."— Cowpcr, 

a  De.  xxxii.  41. 

"  The  faithful 
servant  of  God 
saw  God  arming 
Himself  as  a 
miglity  man  for 
the  war,  and  the 
glittering  sword 
of  vengeance  in 
His  hand,  and  ha 
calls  aloud  to 
hit  countrymea 
all  at  ease,  with 
awakeuiiig  thun- 
ders, "A  swoi-d,' 
etc. "  — J/f  C'luyne. 
b  Fr.  fourbir ; 
It.  forhire ;  Gar. 
f  u  rb  a  u,  to 
cleanse. 

c  Revised  English 
Bible. 

"  The  trees  of 
Judah  Blight  ba 
consumed  ;  bub 
they  imagined 
that  the  rod,  or 
sceptre,  in  the 
hands  of  the 
King  of  Judah, 
\v  h  o  m  the  y, 
adopting  God'3 
words,  call  His 
Sou,  would  ba 
indestructible."  — 
Wordsworth.  \ 

d  "  What  horrors 
will     not     arise 

,  when  the  sword 
shall  cut  down, 
without  regard, 
the  ruling  scep- 
tre o  Judah  ?" — 
Karlsruhe  Trans. 
of  Bible. 

IT.  9,10.  J.H.B. 
Mountain,  345  ; 
R.  M.  McCheyne, 
Hem.  31G  ;  A'.  A. 
Huckling,  315. 
e  R.  T.  S. 

/  Whitecross. 


"  If  yon  always 
I'-^e  with  those 
who  are  lame, 
you  will  yourself 
learn  to  Uuip."— 
Eioiii  t/ie  Latin.  ' 


296 


^EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xxl.  18—24! 


a  Fairbdirn. 

t  Henderson. 

e  "  In  its  scnb- 
bnrti,  that  tlic 
eilfre  ]i:ny  not  be 
blunt  when  it  is 
presentlj'  drawn 
forth  to  strilie." 
—Fitussel, 

d  Ges'mius. 

t  Grotius. 

"  Brfice  thyself 
together;  string 
together  all  thy 
nerves ;  concen- 
trate all  thy 
force.  God  ad- 
dresses the  sword, 
and  gives  it  a 
comnjission  to  go 
forth  as  a  mighty 
man,  or  as  a 
powerful  army 
with  all  its  forces 
nerved  together 
ngainst  Jerusa- 
1  e  m."  —  }y'oiUs- 
xcoiih. 

/  Roherts. 


a  Je.  xxvii.  2,  3. 

For  Eabbah  or 
Ruhbitlh,  see  2 
Sa.  xii.  20 ;  Je. 
xlix.  2 ;  Eze.  xxv. 
6. 

Submission  to 
God  implies  that 
■we  justify  Him 
in  everything 
that  He  does— 
that  we  approve 
all  that  God  does 
— that  we  cleave 
to  God  in  the 
•midst  of  all. 

b  Job  Caryl. 


oNo-xriii.  23. 

»  «  The  Chal- 
dseans  niarl;»'d 
upon  tlie  arrows 
tl  e  names  of  the 
places  they  had 
in  view,  or  the 
alternatives  they 
Bubinitted  to  this 
d  e  t  e  r  111  iiiatiou. 
They  then  drew 
the  arrows  from 
the  quiver  at  a 
Teutiue,  au(i  the 


glance  of  the  sword:""  naked,  bared,  sword.*  ruins,  lit. 
'•  stumbliujj-blocks."  wrapped/ or  draivn;  'prepared  to  flash 
forth,  drawn  for  slaughter;"  s-harpcned.''  (Ki)  go  ..  hand, 
"  Unite  th.y  forces  on  the  right  hand.'"'  (17")  smite  hands,  as 
an  expression  of  indignation. 

"  iimitc  iJiy  hands  tixjcthcr.'' — To  smite  the  hand.s  together,  m 
the  East,  amounts  to  an  oath !  In  the  seventeenth  verse,  Lhe 
Lord  says,  in  reference  to  Jerusalem,  "  I  will  also  smite  ]My  hands 
together,  and  I  will  cause  My  fury  to  rest :  I  the  Lord  have  said." 
By  the  solemn  smiting  of  hands  it  was  shown  the  word  had 
gone  forth,  and  would  not  be  recalled.  When  a  priest  delivers  a 
message  to  the  people,  when  he  relates  anything  which  he  pro- 
fesses to  have  received  from  the  gods,  he  smites  his  hands 
together,  and  says,  "True."  Does  a  Pandarum.  or  other  kind  of 
religious  mendicant,  consider  himself  to  be  insulted,  he  smites 
his  hands  against  the  individuals,  and  pronounces  his  impreca- 
tions upon  them,  crying  aloud,  "  True.  true,  it  will  all  come  upon 
you."  Should  a  person,  when  speaking  of  anything  Avhieh  is 
certain  to  happen,  bo  doubted  by  others,  he  will  immediately 
smite  his  hands.  "  Have  you  heard  that  Muttoo  has  been  killed 
by  a  tiger?"  "No!  nor  do  I  believe  it."  The  relater  will  then 
(if  true)  smite  together  his  hands,  which  at  once  confirms  the 
fact.  '■  Those  men  cannot  escape  for  any  great  length  of  time, 
because  the  king  has  smitten  his  hands  :  "  meaning,  he  has  sworn 
to  have  them  taken.  Jehovah  did  smite  i±is  hands  together 
against  Jerusalem./ 

IS — 20.  (18,  19)  two  ways,  these  were  to  be  marked,  as  on 
a  map — one  leading  to  Jerusalem,  the  other  to  Ammon.  (20^  to 
Rabbath,  dc,  it  seems  that  Zedekiah  invited  the  Ammonites 
to  an  alliance  in  opposition  to  the  Chalda^ans  :"  this,  however, 
would  only  draw  down  destruction  on  both. 

Vi'aiis  of  God  711  i/Ktrr ions. — God  hath  ways  and  judgments 
which  man  cannot  reach  unto.  Some  of  His  ways  are  acted,  as 
we  say,  above  board  :  they  are  done  in  a  clear  light :  he  that  runs 
may  see  and  read  them,  and  God  in  them  ;  he  that  runs  may 
read  love  written  upon  some  of  them  in  letters  of  gold,  or  with 
beams  of  light.  And  he  that  runs  may  read  wrath  written  upon 
others  of  them  in  letters  of  blood,  or  with  streams  of  darkness, 
and  the  very  shadows  of  death  ;  but  some  ways  of  God  are  so 
curtained  about  and  veiled,  so  hidden  and  obscured,  that  wo  can- 
not perceive  them.  Though  all  the  ways  of  God  are  ways  of 
light,  yet  matiy  of  them  are  in  the  dark  to  man.  "  0  how  un- 
searchable are  His  judgments,  and  His  ways  past  finding 
out.'* 

21 — 24.  (21)  parting  .  .  way,  i.e.  where  the  roads  divided, 
one  leading  to  Ammon,  and  one  to  Jerusalem.  He  was  uncertain 
which  to  attack  first,  divination,  "  the  common  word  fo/  any 
kind  of  superstitious  omen.""  arrows  bright,  or  he  shook  his 
arrows.*  images,  or  teraiihim.'  looked  .  .  liver,  or  entrails 
of  auim.ils  offered  for  sacrifice.  Particular  appearances,  wh. 
Avere  really  due  to  the  auinial's  freedom  fr.  disease,  Wi  re  regarded 
as  ho)iefiil.  (22)  for  Jerusalem,  i.e.  to  settle  whether  he 
should  go  fir.«t  to  Jerusalem,  appoint  .  .  rams,  ch.  iv.  2.  (2;i) 
unto  them,  i.r.  to  the  Jews,  sworn  oaths,  of  fealty  to 
Babylon.     Prob,  Nebuc.s  auger  at  theii-  unfaithfuluesa  decided 


"Cap;  xxi.  25-32.] 


EZEKIEL. 


297 


his  going  first  to  Jerus.     (24)  taken  .  .  hand,  or  fall  into  the 
hands  of  the  Bab.  king. 

Uirinaf  1(1/1  hi/  arruirs. — "  He  made  his  arrows  bright."  This 
was  for  the  jiurpose  of  divination.  Jerome  on  this  passage  says 
that  '■  the  manner  of  divining  by  arrows  was  thus  :  They  wrote 
on  several  arrows  the  names  of  the  cities  they  intended  to  make 
■war  against,  and  then  putting  them  pmmiscuously  all  together 
into  a  quiver,  they  caused  them  to  be  drawn  out  in  the  manner 
of  lots,  and  that  city  whose  name  was  on  the  arrow  first  drawn 
out.  was  the  first  they  assaulted."  A  method  of  this  sort  of 
divination,  different  from  the  former,  is  worth  noticing.  Delia 
Valle  says  :  '•  I  saw  at  Aleppo  a  Mohammedan,  who  caused  two 
persons  to  sit  upon  the  ground,  one  opposite  to  the  other,  and 
.gave  them  four  arrows  into  their  hands,  which  both  of  them 
held  with  their  points  downward,  and  as  it  were  in  two  right 
lines  united  one  to  the  other.  Then,  a  question  being  put  to  him 
about  any  business,  he  fell  to  murmur  his  enchantments,  and 
thereby  caused  the  said  four  arrows  of  their  own  accord  to  unite 
their  points  together  in  the  midst  (though  he  that  held  them 
stirred  not  his  hand),  and.  according  to  the  future  event  of  the 
matter,  those  of  the  right  side  were  placed  over  those  of  the  left, 
or  on  the  contrary.''  Tliis  practice  the  writer  refers  to  diabolical 
influence.  The  method  of  divination  practised  by  some  of  the 
idulatrous  Arabs,  but  which  is  prohibited  by  the  Koran,  is  too 
singular  to  be  unnoticed.  "  The  arrows  used  by  them  for  this 
purpose  were  like  those  with  which  they  cast  lots,  being  without 
heads  or  feathers,  and  were  kept  in  the  temple  of  some  idol,  in 
whose  presence  they  were  consulted.  Seven  such  arrows  were 
kept  at  the  temple  of  Mecca  ;  but  generally  in  divination  they 
make  use  of  three  only,  on  one  of  which  was  written.  My  Lord 
hath  commanded  me  ;  on  another.  My  Lord  hath  forbidden  me  ; 
and  the  third  was  blank.  If  the  first  was  drawn,  they  looked  on 
it  as  an  approbation  of  the  enterprise  in  question  :  if  the  second, 
they  ma.de  a  contrary  conclusion  :  but  if  the  third  happened  to 
be  drawn,  they  mixed  them,  and  drew  over  again,  till  a  decisive 
answer  was  given  by  one  of  the  others.  These  divining  arrows 
were  generally  consulted  before  anything  of  moment  was  under- 
taken, as  when  a  man  was  about  to  marry,  or  about  to  go  a 
journey,  or  the  like."'' 

25—27.  (2.j)  profane,  -wicked,  we  should  say  profanely. 
The  word  used,  however,  means  "pierced  through.""  (20) 
diadem,  for  he  shall  no  longer  be  king.  (27)  overturn,  etc., 
repeated  to  increase  the  solemnity,  whose  right  it  is,  coiitp. 
Ge.  xlix.  10.  There  can  be  no  full  and  satisfactory  reference  of 
this  expression  save  to  Messiah. 

Crotvnn  (v.  2G). — I.  Some  of  the  crowns  that  will  at  death  be 
taken  oif, — of  wealth,  of  nobility,  etc.  11.  Some  of  the  crowns 
that  will  not  be  taken  off, — of  character,  of  life,  etc. — Social 
chanfjes  suhserrient  to  the  liiiKjilom  of  Cliriat  (v.  27). — I.  Join  in 
a  protest  against  the  passion  for  mere  change  and  commotion. 
II.  There  are  things  that  a  good  man  will  wish  might  be  over- 
turned. 1.  False,  pernicious  religion  ;  2.  Military  despotisms  ; 
3.  Etc.,  etc.* 

28 — 32.  (28)  Ammonites,  r.  20.  reproach,  or  scorning  of 
Judah,     (29)  see  vanity,  or  indulge  false  confidences  of  their 


one  that  first 
came  firth  wilh 
one  of  the  nuirkg 
upon  it,  was  re- 
gan.led  not  only 
as  supplying 
tlie  re.-punse  re- 
quireil,  but  as 
nuuiifesfing  tlie 
will  of  tlie  puds, 
and  lis  conveying 
an  assurance  of 
success  iu  the 
enterprise  in 

view."— A'('«o. 

"  The  method  of 
obtaining  an 

omen,  by  sliaking 
lots  together  in 
a  helmet,  was 
faiiiiliar  to  the 
ancient  &reeks." 
— Spk.  Com. 

c  Ge.  xxxi.  19. 

i:  22.  J.  C.  Die- 
leric,  Ant.  653. 

It  does  not  sup- 
pose insensibility 
to  the  atHictions 
under  -which  we 
are  called  to  cul- 
tivate it.  It  does 
not  supiKise  that 
we  are  not  to 
employ  the 
m-aiis  wliich  are 
within  ouri)ower, 
with  a  view  to 
the  iirevention  of 
evil.  Nor  is  prayer 
to  God  against 
1  evil  inconsistent 
with  submission 
to  Him  under  it. 

d  Burder. 


a  "  To  Ezekiera 
idealising  view 
Zedaldah  was  the 
grand  victim 
'pierced  through' 
by  God's  sword 
of  judgments,  as 
his  sons  were 
slain  before  his 
eyes,  which  were 
then  put  out,  and 
he  was  led  a  cap- 
tive in  chains  to 
Babylon."-  Faut- 
set. 

V.  26.   W.  A.  But- 

ler,  ii.  luc, 


b  J.  Foster. 


298 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xxil.  1-4, 


a  All  image  taken 
from  the  smelt- 
ing of  metals. 

b  '•  .lastly  is  tlioir 
name  blotteil  out 
wliu  wouM  liave 
Israel's  name  for 
ever  lost." — Mat. 
Henry. 

"  Superstition  is 
a  word  so  often 
useil.that  the  evil 
whicli  it  desig- 
nates lias  passed 
for  innocent 
and  playful  ab- 
errations of  ig- 
norance. Were 
1  to  attempt  its 
description,  1 
would  s.ay  that 
superstition  is 
the  restless  effort 
of  a  guilty  but 
blind  conscience 
to  find  rest,  and 
peace,  and  good, 
by  uiiautlioriseil 
propitiations  and 
ceremonies;  ami 
the  horrid  nature 
of  these  pro))i- 
tiations,  and  the 
multitude  of 

these  ceremonies, 
equally  prove  the 
strong  feeling  of 
distress  in  the 
soul,  and  the  in- 
efficiency of  the 
means  used  to 
remove  it." — R. 
Watson. 


a  2  Ki.  xxi.  16; 
Eze.  xxiii.  37,  45, 
xxiv.  6.  9. 
h  "  Instead  of  de- 
riving advantage 
from  her  bloody 
sacrifice  to  idols, 
she  only  thereby 
brought  on  her- 
self the  time  of 
herpunishmeot." 
— Fmisset. 
e  Ltiirlh. 

The  most  agree- 
able of  all  com- 
panions is  a 
simple,  frank 
man,  without 
any  high  pre- 
tensions   to    an 


security,  upon  the  necks,  i.e.  casting-  thy  slain  in  heaps, 
have  an  end,  or  reach  its  doom.  (:)0)  shall . .  sheath?  w.  4, 
o.  in  the  place,  i.e.  thou  ehalt  be  destroyed  in  thy  land,  not 
carried  captive.  (31)  blow  ..  wrath,"  .stp  ch.  xxii.  liO — 22. 
brutish,  or  burning.  (32)  no  more  remembered,  ch.  xxv. 
10.     They  should,  as  a  nation,  be  consigned  to  oblivion.* 

Atiinum. — It  was  prophesied  concerning-  Ammon,  '•  Son  of  man, 
set  thy  face  again.st  the  Ammonites,  and  i)rophcsy  against  them. 
I  will  make  Kabbah  of  the  Ammonites  a  stable  for  camels,  and  a 
couching-place  for  flocks,  liehold,  I  will  stretch  out  ]\Iy  hand 
upon  thee,  and  deliver  thee  for  a  spoil  to  the  heathen  ;  I  will  cut 
thee  off  from  the  people,  and  cause  thee  to  perish  out  of  the 
countries  ;  I  will  destroy  thee.  Tiae  Ammonites  shall  not  be 
remembered  among  the  nations.  Eabbah,  the  chief  city  of  the 
Ammonites,  shall  be  a  desolate  heap.  Ammon  shall  be  a  per- 
petual desolation."  "Ammon  was  to  be  delivered  to  be  a  spoil 
to  the  heathen — to  be  destroyed,  and  to  be  a  perpetual  desolation." 
"  All  this  country,  formerly  so  populous  and  flourishing,  is  now 
changed  into  a  vast  deaert."  Ruins  are  seen  in  every  direction. 
The  country  is  divided  between  the  Turks  and  the  Arabs,  but 
chiefly  possessed  by  the  latter.  The  extortions  of  the  one  and 
the  depredations  of  the  other,  keep  it  in  perpetual  desolation,  and 
make  it  a  spoil  to  the  heathen.  '■  The  far  greater  part  of  the 
country  is  uninhabited,  being  abandoned  to  the  wandering  Arabs, 
and  the  towns  and  villages  are  in  a  state  of  total  ruin.'  ''At 
every  step  are  to  be  found  the  vestiges  of  ancient  cities,  the 
remains  of  many  temples,  puVilic  edifices,  and  Greek  churches." 
The  cities  are  desolate.  '■  JMany  of  the  ruins  present  no  object 
of  any  interest.  They  consist  of  a  few  walls  of  dwelling-houses, 
heaps  of  stones,  the  foundations  of  some  public  edifices,  and  a 
few  cisterns  filled  up  :  there  is  nothing  entire,  but  it  appears 
that  the  mode  of  building  ^^'as  ver^^  solid,  all  the  remains  being 
formed  of  large  stones.  In  the  vicinity  of  Ammon  there  is  a 
fertile  plain  interspersed  Tf\ith  low  hills,  which,  for  the  greater 
part,  are  covered  with  ruins." 


CHAPTER  THE  TWENTY-SECOND. 

1—4.  (1,  2)  judge,  or  pronounce  judgment  on.  Comp.  ch.  xx. 
4,  xxiii.  3(5.  bloody  city,  lit.  "  city  of  bloods.""  show  her, 
or  make  her  to  know.  (3)  time  may  come,  ch.  vii.  7.*  (4) 
unto  thy  years,  i.e.  thy  years  of  visitation  and  judgments. 
'•  Thou  hast  filled  up  the  measure  of  thine  iniquities,  aiid  brought 
the  time  of  vengeance  upon  thyself." '•  reproach,  etc.,  De. 
xxviii.  37. 

I^uddcn  judgment. — A  sad  catastrophe  befell  the  town  of  Pieurs, 
in  Italy,  in  the  year  1618.  It  was  situated  beneath  Mount  Conto, 
and  on  the  very  site  of  a  buried  town,  whose  fate  might  have 
given  forewarning.  A  gay,  laughter-loving,  thoughtless  little 
town  it  was  ;  and  as  the  sun  set  on  the  4th  of  September,  the 
people  lay  down  to  rest,  or  pursued  their  festivities  far  into  the 
night,  without  a  dream  of  danger  :  but  in  the  darkness  of  that 
night  JMount  Conto  fell  and  destroyed  them  all.  A  great  roar 
was  heard  far  over  the  country  ;  a  shock  felt,  as  of  an  earthquake, 


Cap.  xxii.  5—12.] 


EZEKIEL. 


and  then  a  solemn  stillness  followed.  In  the  morning,  a  cloud 
of  dust  and  vapour  hung  over  the  valley,  and  the  bed  of  the 
river  was  dry.  All  the  excavations  that  have  been  made  have 
failed  to  discover  a  single  vestige  of  the  inhabitants  or  their 
dwellings.  The  cathedral,  with  its  gold  and  jewels,  the  churches, 
liouses,  and  hovels,  the  priests,  peasants,  and  nobles,  there  lie  at 
rest  till  the  great  day.  In  such  a  fearful  ruin  shall  those  perish 
who,  having  lived  under  the  very  shadow  of  Christ's  salvation  all 
their  lives,  receive  at  last  the  heavy  doom  of  those  who,  having 
had  the  offer,  have  yet  '"rejected  so  great  salvation."'' 

5—8.  (5)  those,  i.e.  those  countries."  infamous,  or  defiled 
in  name.  (6)  princes,  including  the  king's  family,  and  the 
chief  officers,  to  their  power,  or  up  to  the  measure  of  their 
ability,  each  was  guilty  of  violence  and  bloodshed.''  (7)  light .  . 
mother,  so  transgressing  the  foundation-law  of  social  morality.*' 
stranger,  who  should  have  been  the  object  of  kindly  hosi^itality 
and  charity.  (8)  holy  things,  those  connected  with  sacred 
worship. 

Bndiis. — President  Davis,  in  his  sermons,  remarks: — How 
astonishing  was  the  rigid  justice  of  Brutus  the  elder,  who,  in 
spite  of  all  the  passions  of  a  father,  passed  sentence  of  death 
upon  his  own  sons  for  conspiring  against  the  liberty  of  their 
country.  'WTiile  these  j^ouths  stood  trembling  and  ^-eeping  before 
him,  and  hoping  their  tears  would  be  the  most  powerful  defence 
"with  a  father  ;  while  the  senate  whispered  for  the  moderation  of 
the  punishment,  and  that  they  might  escape  with  banishment ; 
while  his  fellow  consul  was  silent :  while  the  multitude  trembfed, 
and  expected  the  decision  with  horror  ;  the  inexorable  Brutus 
rose,  in  all  the  stern  majesty  of  justice,  and  turning  to  the  lictors, 
who  were  the  executioners,  said  to  them,  "  To  you,  lictors,  I 
deliver  them."  In  this  sentence  he  persisted,  inexorable,  not- 
withstanding the  weeping  intercession  of  the  multitude,  and  the 
cries  of  the  young  men.  calling  upon  their  father  by  the  most 
endearing  names.  The  lictors  seized  them,  stripped  them  naked, 
bound  their  hands  behind  them,  beat  them  with  rods,  and  then 
struck  off  their  heads  ;  the  inexorable  Brutus  looking  on  the 
bloody  spectacle  with  unaltered  countenance.  Thus  the  father 
was  lost  in  the  judge  ;  the  love  of  justice  overcame  all  the  fond- 
ness of  the  parent ;  private  interest  was  swallowed  up  in  regard 
for  the  public  good  and  the  honour  and  security  of  government. 
This,  perhaps,  is  the  most  striking  resemblance  of  the  justice  of 
Deity  that  can  be  found  in  the  history  of  mankind.  But  how 
far  short  does  it  fall !  How  trifling  were  the  sufferings  of  these 
youths  compared  with  those  of  the  Son  of  God  !  They,  too.  were 
criminals  ;  He  was  holy  and  free  from  sin.  How  insignificant 
the  law  and  government  for  which  they  suffered,  to  that  of  the 
Divine  !  How  small  the  good  of  the  public  in  the  one  case  to 
that  of  the  other  !  <>■ 

9—12.  (9)  carry  tales,  to  slander  others  ;  or  to  bear  false 
■v\'itness  so  as  to  bring  others  into  judgment."  (10)  in  thee,  etc., 
comp.  ch.  xviii.  6.  01)  committed  abomination,  reference 
is  to  sins  related  to  the  social  and  moral  relationships,  which  are 
carefully  defined  in  the  laws  of  Moses.  (12)  taken  gifts,  etc., 
Ex.  xxiii.  8  ;  De.  xvi.  19. 

Extortion  Qv.  12). — There  is  surely  no  part  of  the  world  worse 


299 

oppressive  great- 
ness ;  one  who 
loves  life,  and 
understands  the 
ute  of  it  ;  obhg- 
iug  alike  rt  all 
hours ;  above  all, 
of  a  golden  tem- 
per, and  stedfast 
as  an  anchor. 
For  such  a  one 
we  gladly  ex- 
change the  great- 
est genius,  the 
most  brilliant 
wit,  the  pro- 
foundest  thinker. 
d  Cheever. 


a  Eze.  xvi.  57. 
b  Eze.  ix.  9,  xvL 
38,  xxiii.  37,  45. 
c  De.  xxvii.  16. 
"  When  the  brave 
man  gives  his 
shattered  arm  to 
the  surgeon's 
knife,  will  may 
prevent  even  the 
quiver  ot  an  eye- 
lid ;  but  no  will 
and  no  courage 
can  reverse  his 
sensations,  or 
prevent  the 
operation  from 
inflicting  pain. 
When  the  heart 
is  raw,  and  smart- 
ing from  recent 
bereavement,  let 
there  be  the 
deepest  and 
most  reverential 
submission  to  the 
highest  will,  is  it 
possible  not  to 
wince  ?  Can  any 
caut  demand  for 
submission  ex- 
tort the  profes- 
sion that  pain  is 
pleasure  ?"  —  F. 
ir.  liober-tson. 
"  He  who  comes 
from  the  kitchen 
smells  of  its 
smoke ;  he  who 
adheres  to  a  sect 
lias  something  of 
its  cant ;  the  col- 
lege air  pursues 
the  student."— 
Lnralpi: 
d  R.  T.  S. 


a  Le.  xLc  16L 


800 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xxii.  13-23. 


h  HdberU. 


a  Eze.  xxi.  14, 17. 

b  "  TIioii  Shalt  by 
thine  own  fault 
forfeit  the  privi- 
leges of  a  holy 
na  t  i  o  n." — Spk. 
Com. 

V.  14.  Jnn.  Ed- 
wards,  ii.  78. 

"  I  warn  every 
aspirant  for 
wealth  ag-ninst 
the  infernal 
canker  of  selfl^h- 
iiess.  It  will 
eat  out  the 
heart  with  the 
fire  of  hell,  or 
bake  it  harder 
than  a  stone. 
The  heart  of 
avaricious  okl 
age  stands  like  a 
bare  rock  in  a 
bleak  wilderness, 
and  there  is 
no  rod  of  au- 
thority, nor  in- 
cautaliou  of 

pleasure,  which 
can  draw  from  it 
one  crystal  drop 
to  quench  the 
raging  thirst  for 
B  a  t  i  sfaction." — 
Beeclier. 

CR.T.S. 


»  Also  Isa.  iv.  4 ; 
Je.  vi.  2'J ;  Zee. 
siii.  9. 

vv.  17—19.  C. 
Benson,  Ilids. 
Ln.  335 ;  Dr. 
Owen,  xvii.  493. 
"  Great  vices  are 
the  proper  ob- 
jects of  our  de- 
testation, smaller 
faults  of  our 
pity;  but  .affec- 
tation appears  to 
be  the  only  true 


than  the  East  for  usury  and  extortion.  A  rich  man  will  think 
nothing  of  demanding  twenty  per  cent,  for  hi.s  precious  loan. 
Does  a  person  wish  to  buy  or  sell  an  article  :  does  he  want  to 
avoid  any  office  or  duty,  or  to  gain  a  situation,  or  place  any 
person  under  an  obligation  :  he  cannot  think  of  doing  the 
one  or  the  other,  without  giving  himself  into  the  hands  of  the 
extortioner.'' 

13—16.  (13)  smitten  my  hand,  as  an  expression  of  my 
indignation."  (H)  can,  otc,  ch.  xxi.  7.  (1.5)  consume,  by 
the  fires  of  national  calamity.  (  KJ)  shall  take,  better,  ''Thou 
shalt  be  profaned  by  thyself  in  the  sight  of  the  heathen."*  "2so 
longer  enjoy  the  privileges  of  a  city  called  by  My  name." 

Lord  Chief  Baron  Siinjfhe. — In  the  year  1772.  says  a  respectable 
writer.  I  spent  the  summer  in  London,  and  being  upon  a  visit  to 
a  family  at  Ware,  in  Hertfordshire,  we  one  day  went  to  Hertford, 
it  being  the  summer  assizes.  Lord  Chief  Baron  Smythe  presided 
on  the  bench,  whom  I  had  heard  much  of  a.s  being  a  godly  and 
spiritual  man,  as  well  as  an  upright  and  judicious  judge.  The 
first  day  he  sat  at  nisi  pi-ii/.s-,  and  I  thought  him  very  sensible 
and  knowing,  or,  what  the  lawyers  call,  learned  in  his  profession  : 
but  the  next  morniftg  he  had  to  try  three  criminals  ;  I  forget 
the  offences,  but  they  were  all  capital,  and  the  prisoners  were 
tried  separately,  and  found  guilty.  The  venerable  judge,  in 
passing  the  sentence  of  the  law  ujDon  them,  was  very  solemn. 
He  stated  to  them  separately  the  aggravation  of  the  particular 
crime  of  each,  and  the  necessity  that;  the  laws  of  the  country, 
and  the  seciTrity  of  the  people,  should  be  maintained  by  the 
punishment  of  the  offenders,  "  which  punishment,"  he  added,  "  I 
am  now  to  denounce  upon  you.  This  it  is  painful  for  me  to  do, 
but  it  is  a  duty  imposed  upon  me  by  my  office  to  pronounce — • 
That  you  bq  taken  from  hence  to  the  ])lace  from  whence  you 
came,"  etc.  His  subsequent  address  affected  the  audience,  how- 
ever it  might  the  criminals.  '•  Prisoners  !  so  we  sec  that  the  law 
worketh  wrath  against  transgressors,  and  the  Divine  law  on  ua 
and  all  mankind  as  sinners,  who  have  come  short  of  the  glory  of 
God.  But  God,  ^^•ho  is  rich  in  mercy,  hath  provided  a  glorious 
salvation,  in  which  you  and  I  may  find  abundant  relief.  He  sent 
His  own  Son  to  seek  and  save  the  lost,  and  to  give  Himself  a 
sacrifice  for  sin,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  Him  should  not 
perish,  but  have  everlasting  life.  The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  the 
Son  of  God,  clcanseth  from  all  sin.  I  am  a  sinner  like  you  ;  but, 
pleading  that  blood,  I  found  mercy  ;  and  therefore  recommend 
that  blood  to  you.     Go  ye,  and  do  likewise." « 

17—22.  (17,  18)  dross,  camp.  Is.  i.  2.5  ;  Mai.  iii.  ?,."  (19.  20) 
midst  of  the  furnace,  Jerusalem  would  be  like  the  furnace 
for  the  piu-ii'ying  away  of  the  national  dross.  (21)  blow  upon 
you,  to  raise  high  the  heat.  (2i')  my  fury,  or  Divine 
vengeance,  which  is  like  a  purifying  fire. 

Ijjipocrisy. — The  shops  in  the  square  of  San  Marco  were  all 
religiously  closed,  for  tlie  day  was  a  high  festival :  we  were  much 
disappointed,  for  it  was  our  last  day,  and  we  desired  to  take  away 
with  ns  some  souvenirs  of  lovely  Venice  ;  but  our  regret  soon 
vanished,  for  on  looking  at  the  shop  we  meant  to  patronise,  we 
readily  discovered  signs  of  traffic  within.  AVc  stepped  to  the  side 
door,  and  found,  when  one  or  two  other  customers  had  been  served. 


Cap.xxili.  1—4.] 


EZEKIEL. 


301 


that  we  might  pu-rchase  to  our  heart's  content,  saint  or  no  saint. 
After  this  fashion,  too.  many  keep  the  laws  of  God  to  the  eye. 
but  violate  them  in  the  heart.  The  shutters  are  up  as  if  the 
man  no  more  dealt  with  sin  and  Satan  ;  but  a  brisk  commerce  is 
going  on  behind  the  scenes.  From  such  deceit  may  the  Spirit  of 
truth  pi'eserve  us.* 

23—26.  (23.  24)  rained  upon,  Is.  v.  6  ;  Am.  iv.  7.  Temporal 
End  spiritual  blessings  are  withheld  from  the  rebellious  land. 
(2.'))  prophets,  i.e.  the  false  prophets,  who  agreed  to  encourage 
the  people  to  resist  the  Bab.  king,  by  wicked  assurances  and 
promises,  devoured  souls,  by  their'  deceits,  taken  the 
treasure,  making  gain  of  their  evil  prophesyings.  (20) 
violated,  or  offered  violence  to,  by  misinterpreting  it." 

Ihjpocrmj  easji,  but  dangcrouti. — The  counterfeit  will  always 
have  some  admirers,  from  its  cheapness  in  the  market.  One 
must  dig  deep  in  dark  mines  for  gold  and  silver  ;  the  precious 
treasure  must  be  brought  from  far  across  the  seas  ;  it  must  be 
melted  down  ;  it  must  pass  through  many  assays,  and  the  dies 
must  be  worked  with  ponderous  engines  before  the  coin  can  be 
produced  ;  all  this  to  the  sluggish  many  is  a  heavy  disadvantage. 
Hush  !  hearken  !  steal  silently  upstairs  ;  the  spirit  of  Deceit  in- 
vites you  to  her  chamber  ;  a  little  jilaster  of  Paris,  a  fire,  a 
crucible,  molten  lead,  the  mould,  and  there  is  your  mone3%  sir, 
without  troubling  Peru,  Potosi,  California,  or  the  Mint.  Slink 
out  and  change  your  tine  new  shillings,  and  your  fortune's  made 
without  the  ignoble  waste  of  sweat  and  labour.  But  be  qiiiet, 
for  a  detective  may  be  near,  a  coarse-minded  minion  of  unpoetic 
law,  who  may  cruelly  block  iip  your  road,  or  even  lead  you  into 
prison.  Short  cuts  to  wealth  have  brought  many  to  the  hulks  ; 
and.  let  me  add,  there  are  short  cuts  to  godliness  which  have 
brought  many  to  perdition  !  * 

27—31.  (27)  princes,  etc.,  Mic.  iii.  11;  Zep.  iii.  3.  (28) 
untempered  mortar,  ch.xiii.  10.  (2^')  oppression,  or  deceit. 
(30)  hedge,  or  wall,  gap,  or  breach.  Ps.  cvi.  23.  "  This  was 
a  proof  of  the  general  corruption,  that  there  was  among  them  no 
faitliful  servant  to  stand  in  the  gap,  and  build  up  the  hedge."" 

Stand  in.  the  gate  {r.  30). — A  man  having  lost  all  his  children, 
and  in  complaining  of  his  forlorn  condition,  says,  "  Alas  !  I  have 
not  any  one  to  stand  in  the  gate  ;  my  enemies  can  now  enter 
when  they  please  to  tear  and  devour  me."  "  In  the  gate,  in  the 
gate,  no  one  stands."  * 

CHAPTER  THE  TJFENTY-THIED. 

1 — 4.  (1,2)  two  women,  r/z.  Samaria  and  Jerusalem."  Israel 
and  Judah  were  branches  of  the  same  stock.  (3)  in  Egypt, 
ch.  xvi.  7,  XX.  8.  (4)  Aholah,  meaning,  "Her  tent  or  taber- 
nacle," and  applied  to  Samaria,  which  had  a  temple  and  worship, 
but  not  Jehovah's.  Aholibah,  denotes,  "My  tabernacle  is  in 
her."  It  is  applied  to  Jerusalem. 
A  virtvnils  yvoman. — 

Thou  asketh  what  hath  changed  my  heart, 
And  where  hath  fled  my  youthful  folly  1 
I  tell  thee,  Tamar's  virtuous  art 
Hath  made  my  spirit  holy. 


source     of     the 
ridiculous."— 
Fielding, 
b  Sinu-ijeon. 


a  Le.  X.  10. 
V.  24.  Alf.rander 
Shivik.%  280  #. 
"  The  kite  is  a 
bird  ■vvliich  de- 
lights in  the  free 
air,  and  soars 
aloft,  as  if  it 
would  fain  ap- 
proach to  heaven. 
All  the  wliile, 
however,  it  keeps 
its  sliarp  eye  con- 
tinually directed 
to  the  earth,  if 
haply  it  may 
tliere  spy  some 
prey  to  seize. 
And  like  it  are 
liypocrites ;  they 
love  to  speak  of 
heavenly  and 
spiritual  things ; 
they  goto  church 
and  take  the 
holy  supper ; 
they  read,  and 
pray,  and  sing ; 
but,  neverthe- 
less, their  heart 
ret.ainsits  earthly 
inclination,  and 
they  seek  that 
whicli  istemporal 
more  than  that 
which  is  eternal." 
—  Gollhold. 
b  Spuffjeon, 


a  Spk.  Com. 
b  Roberti. 


a  Je.  iii.  7,  8, 10. 
"  Continency  ia 
that  moral  virtue 
by  which  we  re- 
strain concupi- 
scence. There  is 
this  distinction 
between  chastity 
and  continencj' : 
chastity  requires 
no  effort,  because 
it  may  result 
from  constitu- 
tioo,       whereas 


30-2 


[Cap.  xxiii.  5— 8, 


(xmtinency  ap- 
piNvrs  to  be  the 
coiisoqupiice  of  a 
victory  gaiiiL'.l 
ovor  ourselves. 
The  term  is  must 
usually  applied 
to  men  ;  as  chas- 
tity is  to  women." 
—a.  Hack. 
"  Paltry  affecta- 
tion, strained 
allu-ions,  and 
disgu.-itin.i^ffnery, 
are  easily  attain- 
ed by  those  who 
choose  to  wear 
them  ;  they  are 
but  too  fre- 
quently the 
badges  of  ignor- 
ance or  of  stuiji- 
dity,  whenever 
it  woulil  endea- 
vour to  please." 
—  doltlxmilh. 
b  William  Knox. 


a  "  Not  like  the 
humbler  natives, 
rilling  on  mules, 
asses,  or  camels." 
—  Wordmcorth. 

"When  that 
monster  -taming 
Hercules  over- 
came .all  in  the 
Olympics, Jupiter  I 
at  last,  in  an  un- 
known shape, 
wrestled  with 
him:  the  victory 
was  uncertain, 
till  at  length 
Jupiter  descried 
himself,  and  Her- 
cules yielded. 
No  striving  with 
supreme  powers : 
we  must  submit 
ourselves  unto 
the  mighty  hand 
of  God,  acknow- 
ledge our  of- 
fences, call  to 
Hi 'II  for  mercy. 
If  He  strike,  as  it 
is  with  them 
that  arc  wounded 
with  tlio  spear  of 
Achilles.Ueidone 
must  help." — 
Burton. 

"  Affectation  in 
any  ijurt  of  our 
carriage,  is  light- 
ing up  a  cnu'lle 
to  our  defects, 
uad   never   lulls 


Her  eye — as  soft  and  blue  as  even, 

When  day  and  nijrht  are  calmly  meeting' — 

Beani.s  ou  my  heart  like  lig-ht  from  heaven, 
And  purihes  its  beating. 

Tlie  accents  fall  from  Tamar's  lip 

Like  dewdrop.s  from  the  rose-leaf  dripping, 

V\Tien  honey-bees  all  crowd  to  sip. 
And  cannot  cease  their  sipping". 

The  shado-n-y  blush  that  tints  her  cheek, 

For  ever  comiDq",  ever  going, 
May  well  the  spotless  fount  bespeak 

That  sets  the  stream  allowing. 

Her  song  comes  o'er  my  thrilling  breast. 
E'en  like  the  harp-string's  holiest  measures. 

When  dreams  the  soul  of  lands  of  rest 
And  everlasting  pleasures. 

Then  ask  not  what  hath  changed  my  heart, 
Or  where  hath  fled  my  youthful  folly — 

I  tell  thee,  Tamar's  virtuous  art 
Hath  made  my  spirit  holy.* 

5 — 8.  ('))  when  .  .  mine,  while  she  was  mine  :  before  the  days 
when  the  separate  worship  was  set  up.  doted  .  .  lovers,  i.e. 
her  foreign  alliances.  (G)  blue,  or  purple.  Garments  dyed  with 
the  expensive  purple  dye.  horses,<*  these  were  scarce  in  Judasa. 
(7)  defiled  herself,  her  idolatry  being  figured  as  spiritual 
immorality.  (8)  left  she,  but  added  new  idolatries  to  those 
brought  from  Egypt. 

Jjii/c— Blue  was  a  sky  colour  in  great  esteem  among  the  Jews, 
and  other  Oriental  nations.  The  robe  of  the  ephod,  in  the 
gorgeous  dress  of  the  high  priest,  was  made  all  of  blue  :  it  was  a 
prominent  colour  in  the  sumptuous  hangings  of  the  tabernacle  ; 
and  the  whole  people  of  Israel  were  required  to  put  a  fringe  of 
blue  upon  the  border  of  their  garments,  and  on  the  fringe  a 
riband  of  the  same  colour.  The  palace  of  Ahasuerus,  the  king  of 
Persia,  was  furnished  with  curtains  of  this  colour,  on  a  pavement 
of  red,  and  blue,  and  white  marble  :  a  proof  it  was  not  less 
esteemed  in  Persia  than  on  the  Jordan.  And  from  Ezekiel  we 
learn  that  the  Assyrian  nobles  were  habited  in  robes  of  this 
colour  :  "  She  doted  on  the  A.ssyrians.  her  neighbours,  which  were 
clothed  with  blue,  captains  and  rulers,  all  of  them  desirable  young 
men."  It  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  vicissitudes  in  the 
customs  of  the  East,  that  this  beautiful  colour,  for  many  ages 
associated  in  their  minds  with  everything  splendid,  elegant,  and 
rich,  should  have  gradually  sunk  in  public  estimation,  till  it 
became  connected  with  the  ideas  of  meanness  and  vulgarity,  and 
confined  to  the  dress  of  the  poor  and  the  needy.  In  modern 
times,  the  whole  dress  of  an  Arabian  female  of  low  station  con- 
sists of  drawers,  and  a  very  large  shift,  boih  of  blue  linen,  orna- 
mented with  some  needlework  of  a  dilforcnt  colour.  And  if 
credit  may  be  given  to  Thevenot,  the  Arabs  between  Egypt  and 
Mount  Sinai,  who  \e:A  a  most  wretched  life,  are  clothed  in  a  long 
blue  shirt.  To  solve  this  difficulty,  Mr.  Harnicr  supposes  that 
"the  art  of  dying  blue  was  discovered  in  countries  more  to  the 
east  or  south  than  Tyre  ;  and  that  the  dye  was  by  no  means 


Cap.  sxiii.  9—17.] 


EZEKIEL. 


303 


become  common  in  the  days  of  Ezekiel,  though  some  that  were 
em])loyed  in  the  construction  of  the  tabernacle,  and  some  of  the 
Tyriaus  in  the  time  of  Solomon,  seem  to  have  possessed  the  art 
of  dying  with  blue.  These  blue  cloths  were  manufactured  in 
remote  countries  ;  and  to  them  that  wore  scarcely  anything  but 
woollens  and  linens  of  the  natural  colour,  these  blue  calicoes 
formed  very  maguihcent  vestments.  It  does  not  appear,  how- 
ever, that  the  Jews  ever  Avore  garments  wholly  of  this  colour ; 
and  perhaps  they  abstained  from  it  as  sacred  and  mj-sterious, 
than  which  none  was  more  used  about  the  tabernacle  and  the 
temple,  in  the  curtains,  veils,  and  vestments,  belonging  to  these 
sacred  edifices.''  * 

9—12.  (9)  hand  . .  Assyrians,  2  Ki.  xvii.  23."  (10)  naked- 
ness, those  carried  into  captivity  were  usually  stripped  bare, 
famous,  or  infamous.  A  byword  among  women.  Spoken  of 
as  a  striking  example  of  the  judgments  that  came  upon  the 
idolatrous.'  (11)  sister  Aliolibah,  v.  4.  inordinate  love, 
passionate  and  wilful  service  of  the  idols.  (12)  doted  .  . 
neighbours,  Ahaz  began  the  alliance  with  Assyria,  and 
encouraged  the  ado^jtion  of  the  Assyrian  idolatries.'  horse- 
men, V.  6. 

)Sj)irif  of  a  bitter  love. —  By  pride 

Angels  have  fallen  ere  thy  time  :  by  pride- 
That  sole  alloy  of  thy  most  lovely  mould — 

The  evil  spirit  of  a  bitter  love. 

And  a  revengeful  heart,  had  power  upon  thee. 

From  my  first  years,  mj'  soul  was  filled  with  thee 

I  saw  thee  midst  the  flowers  the  lowly  boy 

Tended,  unmarked  by  thee — a  spirit  of  bloom, 

And  joy,  and  freshness,  as  if  Spring  itself 

Were  made  a  living  tiling,  and  wore  thy  shape  I 

I  saw  thee,  and  the  passionate  heart  of  man 

Enter 'd  the  breast  of  the  wild-dreaming  boy  ; 

And  from  that  hour  I  grew — what  to  the  last 

I  shall  be— thine  adorer  !     Well,  thir  love. 

Vain,  frantic,  guilty,  if  thou  wilt,  became 

A  fountain  of  ambition  and  bright  hope  ; 

I  thought  of  tales  that  by  the  winter  hearth 

Old  gossips  tell — how  maidens  sprung  from  kings 

Have  stoop'd  from  their  high  sphere  ;  how  Love,  like  Death, 

Levels  all  ranks,  and  laj-s  the  shepherd's  crook 

Beside  the  sceptre.     Thus  I  made  my  home 

In  the  sof c  palace  of  a  fairy  future  1  "* 

13 — 17.  (13)  defiled,  in  heart  and  purpose,  one  way,  and 
that  a  bad  way.  '■  Both  alike  forsaking  God  for  heathen  confi- 
dences." (U)  men  pourtrayed,  pictures,  or  bas-reliefs,  repre- 
senting deified  heroes,  vermilion,  or  red  ochre."  Vermilion 
seems  to  have  been  the  peculiar  colour  of  the  Chaldjeans,  as 
purple  was  of  the  Assyrians.  (15)  girdles,  these  were  the  mark 
of  dignity,  and  to  this  part  of  the  dress  much  care  was  given, 
dyed  attire,  or  --in  ample  dyed  turbans:"  lofty  and  richly 
adorned  head-dresses.  ( J  G)  doted,  this  word  indicates  a  kind  of 
love  that  is  merely  passionate  and  foolish.  (17)  alienated,  i.e. 
she  soon  gra-y  weary  of  the  alliance,  and  turned  from  Babylon  to 
Egypt.* 


to  make  us  be 
taken  notice  of, 
eitlier  as  want- 
ing sense  or 
wanting  sin- 
cerity."—iocAe. 

b  Paxton, 


a   "  God     made 

these  very  As- 
syrians tlie  exe- 
cutioners of  His 
judgments  upon 
the  ten  tribes : 
many  of  tliem 
being  carried 
away  by  Pul,  1 
Chr.  V.  25,  26 ; 
afterward  by 
Tiglath  -  Pileser, 
2  Ki.  .w.  29  ;  and 
at  length  tlie 
whole  country 
was  subdued  and 
depopulated  by 
Slialiiianeser,  3 
Ki.  xvii.  6." — 
Louth. 

h  "  'The  report  of 
her  infamy  went 
abroad  to  all 
women,'  i.e.  to 
all  provinces."— 
Kimchi. 

c2  Ki.  xvi.  7,  11; 
2  CUr.  .x.\viii.  18 
—  23;  Isa,.  vii.  20, 
Ivii.  9. 

d  E.  B.  Lylton. 


a   "  In    striking 

agreement  with 
this  r.  is  the 
fact  that  the 
As.syrian  sculp- 
tures lately  dis- 
covered hare 
painted  and 
coloured  bas- 
reliefs,  red,  blue, 
and  black."  — 
f'aussd. 

b  2  Ki.  xxiv.  Tj 
,  Je.  xsLsvii.  S,  7. 


304 


'EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xxiii.  18—27, 


"  All  affectation 
is  vain  an  1  riili- 
culoua  ;  it  is  the 
a  1 1 0  m  p  t  of 
poverty  to  appear 
rich."— id  fu  to-. 

e  lioberU 


a    French,    par 
amour,     by     or 
with  love. 
b  Fausset. 

"Tlielanp:naf?eof 
the  Propliot  liere 
is  very  strong, 
and  some  readers 
may  recoil  from 
it  with  horror 
and  aversion.  It 
was  doubtless  de- 
signed to  excite 
Buoh  feelings  as 
these,  and  has  a 
seasonable  and 
solemn  warning, 
especially  for 
times  lilvG  our 
own,  when  there 
seems  to  be  a 
growing  ten- 
dency towards  a 
sensual  religion, 
In  lieu  of  a 
spiritual  one; 
and  to  the  scenic 
pompof  crea'^ure- 
woishipand  idol- 
atry. "  ^  Words- 
tcorth. 

"  Affectation  is  a 
greater  enemy  to 
tlie  face  than  the 
small  pox." — ,67. 
Ecremond. 

c  Jo7ison. 


a  EicaJd. 

h  Pekod  moans 
the  land  of  visi- 
tation. Slwn,  a 
cry  for  help.  Noa 
is  a  male  camel, 
anil  stands  for 
Babylon  as  Ju- 
dah's  paramour. 

V.  2t.  J.  C.  Die- 
Uric,  Ant.  6G3. 

"Of  all  the  adult 
male  criminals  in 
London,  not  two 
in  a  hundred 
htivo  entered 
tipoa  a  course  of 
Ciime  who  Uavo 


Yermilioyi.—  lihe  nature  of  those  imag-es.  and  the  practices,  may 
be  seen  from  the  context,  and  the  portraying  was  of  the  colour 
of  vermilion.  In  the  Hindoo  temples  and  vestibules,  figures  of 
the  most  revolting  descriptions  are  portrayed  on  the  vlls  :  there 
the  sexes  are  i)aiated  in  such  a  way  as  few  men  of  discretion 
would  dare  to  describe.  In  some  temples  there  are  s;one  figures 
in  such  positions  as  hell  itself  could  only  have  suggested  :  and, 
recollect,  these  are  the  places  where  men,  women,  and  children 
assemble  for  worship." 

18—21.  (18)  my  mind,  i.e.  God's.  (19)  calling  to  remem- 
brance, "  mark  the  danger  of  suffiiring  the  memory  to  dwell  on 
the  pleasure  felt  in  past  sins."'  (20j  paramours,"  or  lovers  of 
either  sex  :  the  word  was  formerly  used  both  iii  a  good  and  bad 
sense,  but  now  only  in  a  had  sense,  horses,  '•  The  horse  waa 
made  by  the  Egyptians  the  hieroglyphic  for  a  lustful  person."* 
(21)  lewdness,  or  lastfulness. 
Love:  its  pur  if  ij. — 

It  is  a  flame  and  ardour  of  the  mind, 

Dead  in  the  proper  corpse,  quick  in  another's  : 

Transfers  the  lover  into  the  loved. 

That  he  or  she  that  loves,  engraves  or  stamps 

The  idea  of  what  they  love,  first  in  themselves  ; 

Or,  like  to  glasses,  so  their  minds  take  in 

The  forms  of  their  beloved,  and  them  reflect. 

It  is  the  likeness  of  affections. 

Is  both  the  parent  and  the  nurse  of  love. 

Love  is  a  spiritual  coupling  of  two  souls, 

So  much  more  excellent  as  it  least  relates 

Unto  the  body  ;  circular,  eternal  ; 

Not  feign'd  or  made,  but  born  :  and  then  so  precious, 

As  nought  can  value  it  but  itself  :  so  free, 

As  nothing  can  command  it  but  itself. 

And  in  itself  so  round  and  liberal, 

As,  where  it  favours,  it  bestows  itself. 

But  we  must  take  and  understand  this  love 

Along  still  as  a  name  of  dignity, 

Not  pleasure. 

True  love  hath  no  unworthy  thought,  no  light, 

Loose,  unbecoming  appetite,  or  strain  ; 

But  fix'd,  constant,  pure,  immutable."^ 

22—27.  (22)  raise  .  .  lovers,  i.e.  the  Babylonians,  whose 
alliance  had  been  given  up  for  the  sake  of  Egypt.  These  would 
become  the  agents  for  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem.  (23)  Pekod, 
and  Shoa,  and  Koa,  poss.  names  of  Chaldasan  tribes."  Or 
these  may  be  the  names  of  the  great  captains.  Or  they  may  be 
titles  or  degrees  of  honour.  Or  symbolical  names  of  Babylon.* 
(21)  chariots,  or  warlike  equipment.  (2.3)  jealousy,  God 
here  speaks  as  a  grieved  husband  coneorniug  an  unfaithful  wife, 
nose  .  .  ears,  this  was  an  Egyptian  form  of  punishment  for  an 
adulteress.  (2G)  fair  jewels,  JI(h.  "  instruments  of  thy  deck- 
ing."    (27)  thus,  i.e.  by  severe  and  terrible  judgments. 

Varied  pvninhnirnf.t  of  .tin. — Men's  sins  carry  with  them  a 
punishment  in  this  life.  Different  sins  are  differently  punished. 
The  degrees  of  punishment  are  not  always  according  to  our  esti- 
mate of  the  culpability.     Many  sins  againi;t  a  man's  body  go  on 


Cap.  xxiil.  28-35] 


EZEKIEL. 


305 


in  tlie  body,  reproducing  their  penalties  from  year  to  year,  and 
from  ten  years  to  ten  years.  And  the  ignorant  crime,  or  the 
knowing  crime,  committed  when  one  is  yet  in  his  minority,  may 
repent  itself  and  repent  its  bitterness  and  its  penalty  when  one 
is  hoary  with  age.  Mere  repenting  of  sin  does  not  dispossess  the 
power  of  all  sins.  There  are  transgressions  that  throw  persons 
out  of  the  pale  of  society.  There  are  single  acts,  the  penalties  of 
which  never  fail  to  reassert  themselves.  There  are  single  wrongs 
that  are  never  healed.  This  great  transgression  that  seemed  in 
the  commission  without  any  threat  and  without  any  danger, 
pursued  this  man  through  all  his  early  life,  and  clear  down  until 
lie  was  an  old  man  and  returned  from  his  exile.  And  even  then 
he  was  quit  of  it  only  by  one  of  those  great  critical  transitions 
which  take  place,  or  may  take  place,  in  the  life  of  a  man.  with- 
out which  he  would  have  gone  on,  doubtless,  expiating  still  his 
great  wrong." 

28—31.  (28")  deliver  tliee,  or  hand  thee  over,  alienated, 
r.  18.  (29)  take  .  .  lal)Our,  i.i'.  the  fruits  of  thy  labour. 
naked,  as  female  captives  were  served.  (30,  31)  thy  sister, 
Aholah.  or  Samaria. 

Tn-o  old  autliors  on  sin. — God  needs  no  other  light  to  discern 
our  sins  by.  but  the  light  of  His  own  face.  It  peereth  through  the 
darkest  places  ;  the  brightness  thereof  enlighteneth  all  things, 
discovers  all  things ;  so  that  the  sins  that  are  committed  in 
deepest  darkness  are  all  one  to  Him,  as  if  they  were  done  in 
the  face  of  the  sun.  For  the.v  are  done  in  His  face,  that  shines 
more,  and  from  which  proceeds  more  light,  than  from  the  face 
of  the  sun.  So  that  this,  it  ought  to  make  us  the  more  fearful 
to  oiierid  ;  He  sees  us  when  we  see  not  Him.  and  the  light  of  His 
countenance  shines  about  us  when  we  think  ourselves  hidden  in 
darkness." — Sorrow  for  siii.  the  more  it  is  for  sin,  as  it  is  against 
God.  is  the  move  ingenuous,  the  more  evangelical,  the  more 
genuine  act  of  saving  repentance.  The  more  it  is  for  sin.  as  sin 
is  prejudicial  to  us.  the  less  ingenuous,  the  less  evangelical,  and 
a  less  evident,  a  less  comfortable  sign  of  repentance  unto  life. 
There  are  two  sure  characters  of  ingenuous  Gospel  sorrow  :  when 
it  proceeds  from  our  love  to  God,  when  we  mourn  for  of- 
fending Him  because  we  love  Him.  Now  these  are  not.  or  not  so 
visible,  in  any  sorrow  for  sin  as  that  which  mourns  for  sin  as  it 
is  against  God.  The  other  springs  rather  from  self-love,  when 
we  bewail  sin  becatise  it  is  against  us  ;  hurtful,  dangerous, 
damnable.* 

32—35.  (32)  deep  and  large.  Is.  li.  17  ;  Ee.  xiv.  9.  10.  it 
containeth  mucli,  i.e.  the  cup  of  judgment.  {?>?>)  filled  witli 
drnnkcnness,  God's  judgments  are  often  compared  to  a  cup  of 
intoxicating  liquors."  {'.\\)  suck  it  out,  so  as  to  drain  every 
drop,  slierds,  or  pieces.*  (;5."J)cast.  .  back,'' as  if  determined 
not  to  see  me  :  a  sign  of  contempt  and  aversion. 

77//"  most  (ilarnii/if/.tin.i. — If  I  wei'e  called  to  point  out  the  most 
alarming  sins  to-day — those  which  are  most  widespread  in  tin  ir 
ravages,  most  deceitful  in  their  influence,  and  most  ^  oul-destroying 
in  their  uliimate  effects — I  would  not  mention  drunkenness 
with  all  its  fearful  havoc,  nor  gamliling  with  its  crazed  victims, 
nor  harlotry  with  its  hellish  orgies  :  but  the  love  of  money  on 
the  ]"iart  of  men,  and  the  love  of  display  on  the  part  of  women. 

Vol.   IX.     O.T.  U 


livpit  an  honest 
life  up  to  tlie  age 
of  twenty  ;  al- 
most all  who 
enter  upon  a 
course  of  crime 
do  so  between 
the  ages  of  eight 
ami  sixteen."  — 
Eit/-l  of  iShaftes- 
bury. 

"  A  liypocrite  is 
good  in  notliing 
but  sight." — ■ 
Pericles. 

c  II.  W.  Beecher. 


"  By  the  death  of 
Christ  we  are 
greatly  stirred 
up,  both  to  a 
caution  against, 
and  a  detestation 
of,  .«in  :  for  that 
must  needs  be 
deadly  wh.  could 
be  healed  no 
other  way  than 
by  the  deatl\  of 
Clirist.  Who, 
therefore,  seri- 
ously considering 
that  his  sins 
could  be  no 
otiier  ways  ex- 
piated than  by 
the  death  of  the 
Son  of  God  Him- 
self, would  not; 
tremble  to  tread 
as  it  were  this 
most        precious 

I  blood  under  foot 
by  dail3-  sinning  I 
•2  Cor.  V.  14  ; 
1  Pet.  i.  19  :  Heb. 

!  ix.  14,  2S.  X.  4,  5." 

i  — y.'/'-  Diinniint. 

!  a    Willuun   lirud- 

I  .■iliiuc  (1021). 

I  b  Da  rid  Ciurkson 
(1U50J. 


a  .Te.  XXV.  15, 
xlviii.  2G  ;  Hab. 
ii.  16. 

b  "  Thou  shalt 
behave  thy=eif  as 
drunken  people 
(In.  who  first 
tlirow  away,  or 
break  in  pieces, 
the  cup,  and 
tlien  are  aiigry 
with  themselves 
as  the  cause  of 
their    own    iiii» 


3oa 


EZEKIBL. 


[Cap,  xxiii.  36-44. 


fortune  s."  — 
Lvtrtli. 

c  1   Ki.    xiv.   9 ; 
No.  ix.  2G. 

<i  Crosby. 


a  "  On  the  very 
day  tliat  tliey 
had  burned  ths-ir 
Cliildron  to  JIo- 
locli  ill  tlie  valli'y 
of  Oehenua,  tliey 
shaiiiolessly  and 
hypocritically 
presented  thetii- 
s^dved  as  wor- 
Bliippers  in  Je- 
hovah's temple." 
— Fa  Ud'set. 

"  The  mixture  of 
the  worship  of 
Jehovali  and  of 
false  gols  was 
characteristic  of 
tlie  tirjie.aud  was 
thoroughly  hea- 
then :  Jehovah 
being  placed  as  it 
were  in  the  list 
of  <leitips,  not 
ao':nowledged  as 
the  One  God." — 
iSpk.  Cum. 

vv.  37—39.  Jon. 
Edwards,  ii.  185. 

"  We  are  never 
rendered  so  ridi- 
culous by  quali- 
ties which  we 
have,  as  by  those 
which  we  aim 
at,  or  affect  to 
have." — From  '.he 
French. 

b  Whilecross. 


a  "  This  Kohl 
consists  ot  a 
collyrium  of  an- 
timony, or  otlier 
substance,  con- 
sidered beneficial 
to  the  eye  as 
Well  as  oriia- 
moiital,  which  is 
kept  in  a  small 
bottle,  and  ap- 
plied with  a 
probe  of  silver, 
ivory,  or  wood  to 
the  edjjes  of  the 


While  open  vice  sends  its  thousiands.  these  fashionable  and  favoured 
iudulgenccs  send  their  ten  thousauds  to  perdition.  They  sear 
the  conscience,  encrust  the  soul  with  au  impenetrable  shell  of 
worldlincss,  debauch  the  affections  from  eveiy  high  and  heavenly 
object,  and  make  man  or  woman  the  worshipper  of  self.  "While 
dniug  all  this,  the  poor  victim  is  allowed  by  public  opiuiou  to 
think  himself  or  herself  a  Christian  :  while  the  drunkard,  the 
gambler,  or  the  prostitute  is  not  deceived  by  such  a  thought  for 
a  moment.'' 

36—39.  C^C,)  judge,  cnmj}.  ch.  xx.  4.  xxii.  2.  (37)  pass  .  . 
fire,  this  Moloch  worship  was  regarded  as  the  very  height  of 
their  idolatrous  iniquity.  (38)  same  day,  i.e.  at  the  very  time 
of  making  their  offerings  :  see  r.  oi)."  (3'.))  profane  it,  by  the 
hypocritical  show  of  W' orshipping  Me,  when  their  hearts  were  gone 
after  their  idols. 

Sahhath-hrcuhing. — An  active  and  skilful  young  minister, 
while  engaged  under  circumstances  of  the  mo.st  promising  kind 

in  the  village  of  J ,  was  told  of  a  miller  who,  with  more  thau 

usual  of  the  bravery  of  profanene.ss,  had  repelled  eveiy  attempt 
to  approach  him  on  the  subject  of  religion,  and  had  daunted  all 
the  hopes  and  efforts  of  the  few  serious  persons  in  this  vicinity. 
Among  other  practices  of  sinful  daring,  he  uniformly  kept  hia 
windmill,  the  most  striking  object  in  the  hamlet,  going  on  the 
Sabbath.  In  a  little  time,  the  clergyman  determined  to  make  an 
effort  for  the  benefit  of  the  hopeless  man.  He  undertook  the 
office  of  going  for  his  flour  the  next  time  himself.  '•  A  fine  mill," 
said  he,  as  the  miller  adjusted  his  sack  to  receive  the  flour  :  "  a 
fine  mill,  indeed,  one  of  the  completest  I  have  ever  seen.'  Thia 
was  nothing-  more  than  just — the  miller  had  heard  it  a  thousand 
times  before  ;  and  would  firmly  have  thought  it,  though  he  had 
never  heard  it  once  !  but  his  skill  and  judgment  were  still 
gratified  by  this  new  testimony,  and  his  feelings  conciliated 
even  towards  the  minister.  '•  But  O  !  "  continued  his  customer, 
after  a  little  pause,  "  there  is  one  defect  in  it  !  "  "  What  is  that  1 " 
carelessly  asked  the  miller.  "Avery  serious  defect,  too."  '•  Eh," 
replied  the  miller,  turning  up  his  face.  '•  A  defect  that  is  likely 
to  counterbalance  all  its  advantages.''  "  Well,  what  is  it.'  "  said 
the  miller,  standing  straight  up,  and  looking  the  clergyman  in 
the  face.  The  minister  went  on — "  A  defect  which  is  likely  to 
ruin  the  mill  I  "  '•  What  is  it  ?  "  rejoined  the  miller.  "  And  will 
one  day.  no  doubt,  destroy  the  owner."'  '•  And  can't  you  say  it 
out .' "  exclaimed  the  impatient  miller.  "  It  goes  on  the  Sab- 
bath !  "  pronounced  the  minister,  in  a  firm,  and  solemn,  and 
monitory  tone.  The  astonished  man  stood  blank  and  thunder- 
struck, and  remained  meek  and  submissive  under  a  remonstrance 
and  exhortation  of  a  quarter  of  an  hour's  length,  in  which  the 
danger  of  his  state  and  practice,  and  the  call  to  repentance 
towards  God,  and  faith  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Chrst,  were  fully  pro- 
posed to  him.* 

40 — 44:.  (40)  -wash  tliyself,  etc.,  those  were  the  usual  pre- 
parations made  by  an  Eastern  bride  for  her  husband's  coming, 
paintedst  thine  eyes,  with  Kohl."  '•  Orientals  admire  eye- 
brows that  meet  over  the  nose,  presenting  the  appearance  of  a 
bow  ;  and  wlien  nature  has  denied  them  this  ornament,  they 
imitate  it  by  artificial  paint."    <,41)  stately  bed,  or  had  some 


Cap.  xxiv.  1—5.' 


EZEKIEL. 


307 


couch,  or  divan,  table,  fig.  for  the  idol  altar.  (42)  Sabeans, 
Job  i.  15.  The  word  may  mean  '•  drunkards.''  (43)  now  com- 
mit, or  still  keep  on  in  these  wicked  ways,  even  with  so  old  an 
adulteress.     (44)  Aholall,  etc.,  ch.  xxiii.  4. 

T lie  sting  of  death  la  sin. — I  once  met  a  little  boy  in  Wales, 
crying-  bitterly  at  his  father's  door,  afraid  to  go  in.  I  asked  him 
what  was  the  matter.  He  told  me  that  his  mother  had  sent  him  out 
clean  in  the  morning,  but  that  he  had  got  into  the  water  and 
made  his  clothes  dirty.  So  he  feared  to  go  in.  because  his  father 
would  punish  him.  We  have  soiled  our  characters  by  sin,  and 
therefore  it  is  that  we  fear  death — dread  the  meeting  with  our 
Father.* 

45 — 49.  (45)  righteotis  men,  the  Chaldasans  as  instruments 
of  God's  righteous  judgments.  Ref.  may.  however,  be  to  the 
Prophets,  who  are  sometimes  said  to  execute  the  judgments  which 
they  foretell.  (4())  removed,  into  captivity.  (47)  stone  them, 
this  was  the  Mosiac  puni.'^hment  of  the  adulteress."  (48)  thus, 
by  great  judgments.  (4!>)  bear  the  sins,  I.e.  the  proper  pun- 
ishment of  the  sinful.  "  God  is  known  by  the  judgment  which 
He  executeth." 

Madness  of  sinners. — A  recent  traveller,  relating  the  incidents 
of  his  voyage  to  India,  writes  :—"  Flocks  of  greedy  albatrosses, 
petrels,  and  Cape  pigeons,  crowded  around  the  ship's  stern.  A 
hook  was  baited  with  fat,  when  upwards  of  a  dozen  albatrosses 
instantly  rushed  at  it.  and  as  one  after  another  was  being  hauled 
on  deck,  the  remainder,  regardless  of  the  struggles  of  the  captured, 
and  the  vociferations  of  the  crew,  kept  swimming  about  the  stern. 
Not  even  did  those  birds  which  were  indifferently  hooked  and 
made  their  escape,  desist  from  seizing  the  bait  a  second  time." 
Thus  to  the  letter  do  ungodly  men  rush  at  the  baits  of  Satan  ; 
they  see  others  perish,  but  remain  careless,  and  even  when  they 
are  aU  but  destroyed  themselves  they  persist  iu  their  infatuation.* 


CHAPTER  THE  TJFENTY-FOURTH. 

1 — 5.  (1)  ninth  year,  of  Jehoiachim's  captivity.  (2)  this 
same  day,  i.e.  though  Ezekiel  is  far  away  fr.  Jerus.,  he  is  to 
tell  his  fellow-exiles"  that  on  the  very  day  when  he  spoke  to 
them.  Nebuc.  had  commenced  the  siege."  (.3)  parable,  or 
illustrative  teaching,  pot,  or  caldron  for  boiling  flesh.  Comp. 
the  fig.  ch.  xi.  :}.'  (4)  good  piece,  or  choice  piece."  Ironically 
reminding  them  of  their  boast  that  they  are  the  choice  members 
of  the  community.  (5)  bones,  i.e.  make  the  strong  men  of 
Jerus.  themselves  to  be  fuel  for  burning  the  city.  The  poor  of 
the  city  are  represented  by  the  hones. 

77ie' hoilinfj  caldron  (r.  1). — From  the  vision  and  its  finst 
fulfilment  we  gather — I.  That  the  sins  of  any  city  are  an  offence 
tr)  God.  They  are— 1.  Seen  by  Ilim  :  2.  With  aiiger.  II.  That 
the  sins  of  any  city  will  ensure  its  doom.  1.  History  illustrates 
thi^  :  2.  Prophecy  predicts  tliis  :  3.  The  law  of  causation  involves 
thi^.  III.  That  the  sins  of  any  city  concern  everv  individual 
inhabitant.  1.  They  bring  sorrow  on  all  :  2.  They  give  a 
mission  to  all.  Learn  : — (1)  Seek  to  evangelise  the  entire  city,  so 
U  2 


eyelids,  for  tlia 
inirpose  of  black- 
ening them,  iuul 
thus  enliaueiiig 
the  1  rightiie^s  of 
the  eye,  which  is 
usually  large, 
shaded  by  long 
lashes,  and  de- 
ciiledly  the  finest 
feature  of  Orien- 
tal women."  — 
Vnii  Liiinep. 
b  Rev.  T.  Junes. 

ale.  XX.  10 ;  De. 
xxii.  22  ;  Jno. 
viii.  5. 

"  Sin  is  an  in- 
tolerable burder^ 
(Isa.  i.  3)  ;  such 
as  i^resseth  down 
(Htb.  xii.  1)  ;  a 
burden  it  is  to 
God(Amosii.  ]3); 
to  Christ  it  was 
wlien  it  made 
Him  sweat  wateB 
and  ■  lood  ;  to  thq 
angels  when  it 
brake  their  backs 
and  sunk  them 
into  hell,  to  men, 
under  whom  the 
very  earth  groan- 
eth,  the  a.xletree 
thereof  is  ever 
ready  to  crack, 
etc.  It  could  not 
bear  Korah  and 
his  company,  and. 
spewed  out  the 
Canaanites,  etc." 
— Jv/iit  Tnqip, 
b  Spurgeon. 


a  2  Ki.  XX7.  1; 

Je.  lii  4. 

"  That  Ezekiel 
on  the  banks  of 
the  Chebar  knew 
what  was  taking 
place  at  .Terus., 
on  the  very  day 
of  its  occurrence, 
may  be  a  iliffl- 
culty  to  those 
expositors  who 
deny  that  God 
can  make  any 
proiilicfcal  com- 
municution,  but 
need  not  incline 
us  to  discover, 
with  them,  in  this 
passage  a  pre- 
diction after  the 
event."-  KUr/olh. 

b  "The   caldron 


JOB 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xxiv.  6—9. 


Is  the  city  of 
Jems. ;  tlie  fin;  is 
tlie  .siirroiinJiiig 
army;  the  lic-sU 
(111  1  l)i)uesiiro  the 
iiiUabilants  shut 
in  witliiu  tlie 
walls. "-.5)>i'.  Com. 

e\  Sa.  !.>:.  21. 

d  U.  R.  Thomas. 

"  The  sorrow  of 
the  worlil.tliDUsIi 
it  seem  a  thick 
liomogeueoiis  co- 
vering over  all 
human  life,  is  yet 
male  up  of  as 
miny  different 
kinds  aa  that 
carpet  of  grreen 
which  covers  the 
earth.  Here,  it 
iscliiefiy  thepain 
of  a  iliseaseil 
body ;  and  there, 
the  eating  canker 
of  a  discontenteil 
mind.  At  one 
time  the  loss  of 
property,  at 
another,  the  loss 
of  friends,  is  the 
more  iminediato 
cause  of  grief. 
Some  are  dis- 
tresseii  because 
they  cannot  gat 
this  world's  good, 
and  others  be- 
cause they  must 
Boon  part  with 
that  which  they 
have  gotten." — 
Arnol. 


a  Wordsworth. 

b  Ge.  iv.  10. 

vv.  6,  7.  Dr.  T. 
Reimell,  193. 

"  3y  retaining 
any  brunch  of 
our  own  wills 
or  di>sires  unre- 
aonnced,  as  not 
resisrned  up  into 
God's  lian  1.  wo 
give  him  hold  of 
us,  who  will  never 
let  hold  go.  unless 
we  cut    off    the 


as  to  save  it  ;   (2)  Seek  to  convert  iudivuluals,  that  at  least  they 
may  ba  saved.'' 

I'cinauia  nf  ancient  Ti/rr. — So  literal  has  been  the  fulfdment 
of  this  prophecy,  that  Tyre,  once  so  rich  and  iiopulons.  has 
become  a  mere  fishing-  station  ;  and  nearly  cveiy  traveller  who 
has  visited  its  remains  has  remarked  U[ion  the  fact  that  fisher- 
men ■were  to  be  SL;en  drying  their  nets  upon  the  toj)  of  the  rocks, 
which  stretch  into  the  sea.  Volncy,  the  celebrated  infidel 
historian,  adds  his  testimony,  unconsciously,  to  the  truth  of  God's 
Word.  He  says  :  "  The  whole  village  contains  onlj'  fifty  or  sixty 
poor  families,  who  live  but  inditfereutly  on  the  produce  of  their 
little  grounds  and  a  trifiing  fishery.  The  houses  they  occupy 
are  no  longer,  as  in  the  time  of  Strabo,  edifices  three  or  four 
stories  high,  but  wretched  huts,  ready  to  crumble  to  pieces." 
Since  Volney's  time  the  place  has  somewhat  increased  in  jjopu- 
lation.  D-r.  Thomson,  in  The  Land  and  the  Book,  describing- 
his  visit  to  Tyre  in  18")?,  and  contrasting  her  present  with  her 
former  state,  says  :  "The  Hebrew  historians,  prophets,  and  p  ,ot8 
constantly  allude  to  her  power,  wealth,  liaxury.  and  vices  ;  and 
Ezekiel  sjeuis  to  tax  the  entire  geography  of  the  known  world 
to  set  forth  the  extent  of  her  commerce,  and  the  multitude  of 
her  riches.  It  would  take  a  volume  to  trace  the  varied  fortunes 
of  Tyre  through  Egyptian,  Chaktean,  Macedonian,  Roman, 
Saracenic,  Frank,  and  Turkish  dynasties,  domi  to  the  present 
wretched  representative  of  so  much  greatness  and  glory.  With 
but  few  exceptions  it  is  now  a  cluster  of  miserable  huts, 
inhabited  by  about  3..")1))-  impoverished  Matawelies  and  Arab 
Christians,  destitute  alike  of  education,  of  arts,  and  of  enter- 
prise, carrying  on  with  Egypt  a  small  trade  in  tobacco  from  the 
neighbouring  hills,  and  of  lava  mill-stones  from  the  Hauran. 
This  is  a  sorry  schedule  for  the  name  of  Tyre,  but  it  is  about 
all  she  can  exhibit : — 

"  Dim  is  her  glory,  gone  her  fame, 
Her  boasted  wealth  has  fled  ; 
On  her  proud  rock,  alas  !  her  shame, 
The  fisher's  net  is  spread. 

"  The  Tyrian  harp  has  slumbered  long", 
And  Tyria's  mirth  is  low. 
The  timbrel,  dulcitner,  and  song 
Are  hushed,  or  wake  to  woe." 

6 — 9.  (6)  scum,  not  that  floating  on  the  top  in  process  of 
boiling,  but  the  "  deeply-grained  verdigris  and  rust  in  the  pot 
itself.""  piece  by  piece,  i.e.  bring  out  the  contetfts  piece  by 
piece.  Ref.  is  to  the  chief  men  of  the  city,  no  lot,  taken 
usually  to  decide  which  should  go  into  captivity,  and  which 
remain.  All  would  go  forth  to  captivity  or  death.  (7)  top  .  . 
rock,  where  it  lies  exposed,  and  does  not  .«ink  in  so  as  to 
be  hidden.  (8)  fury  .  .  vengeance,  the  blood  crying  as 
Abel's  did.*  (9)  pile,  fig.  for  the  preparations  for  the  city's 
destruction. 

Arab  enmrl-fcnat. — The  following  account  of  a  roval  Arab 
camel-feast  will  afford  some  illustration  of  the  parable  contained 
in  tliis  chapter  :  '■  Before  midday,  a  carpet  being  spread  in  the 
middle  of  the  tent,  our  dinner  was  bruught  in.  being-  served  up 
in  large  wooden  bowls  between  two  men,  and  truly,  to  my  appre- 


Cap.  xxiv.  10—18.] 


EZEKIEl. 


309 


hension,  load  enougli  for  them.  Of  these  great  platters  there 
were  about  tifly  or  sixty  in  number,  perhaps  more,  with  a  great 
many  little  ones  ;  I  mean,  such  as  one  man  was  able  to  bring  in. 
strewed  here  and  there  among  them,  and  placed  for  a  border  ox- 
garnish  round  about  the  table.  In  the  middle  was  one  of  a 
larger  size  than  all  the  rest,  in  which  were  the  camel's  bones, 
and  a  thin  broth  in  which  they  were  boiled.  The  other  greater 
ones  seemed  all  tilled  with  one  and  the  same  sort  of  provision,  a 
kind  of  23lum-broth,  made  of  rice  and  the  fleshy  part  of  the 
camel,  with  currants  and  sjiices,  being  of  a  somewhat  darker 
colour  than  what  is  made  in  our  cottntry "  {I'hilosophical 
Tranmetuins  Ahr'uhjL'd).  The  Hebrew  word  translated  '•  burn," 
Bhould  have  been  rendered,  as  in  the  margin,  "heap."  The 
meaning  cannot  be  that  the  bones  were  to  be  burnt  under  the 
c'ddron,  but  that  they  were  to  be  heaped  up  in  it  ;  for  it  is  said, 
"  let  them  seethe  the  bones  of  it  therein."  With  this  inter- 
pretation the  Septuagint  translation  of  the  passage  agrees  :  and, 
viewed  in  this  light,  the  object  is  ascertained  by  the  foregoing 
extract." 

10—14.  (10)  spice  it  well,  better,  make  it  froth  and  bubble 
in  the  swift  boiling."  (11)  set  it,  i.e.  the  very  pot  itself  ;  let  it 
Le  burned  as  well  as  its  center  ts.  scum,  or  rust.  (12)  lies, 
a  word  here  indicating  idols,  not  forth,  by  the  previous  admo- 
liitions  of  the  Prophets,  or  providential  dealings.*  (13)  my 
fury,  unto  burning  and  destruction.  (1-1)  according  .  . 
doings,  ch.  xxiii.  24. 

Piinislimoit  of  sin. — "What  a  diabolical  invention  was  the 
"  Virgin's  kiss,"  once  used  by  the  fathers  of  the  Inquisition  1 
The  victim  was  pushed  forward  to  kiss  the  image,  when,  lo.  its 
ai-ms  enclosed  him  in  a  deadly  embrace,  piercing  his  body  with  a 
hundred  hidden  knives.  The  tempting  pleasures  of  sin  offer  to 
the  unwary  just  such  a  virgin's  kiss.  The  sinful  joys  of  the 
flesh  lead,  even  in  this  world,  to  results  most  terrible,  while,  in 
the  world  to  come,  the  daggers  of  remorse  and  despair  will  cut 
and  wound  bej^ond  all  remedy."" — Sin  .  the  toil  of  it. — "  There 
was  a  man  in  the  town  where  I  was  born  who  used  to  steal 
all  his  firewood.  He  would  get  up  on  cold  nights,  and  go  and 
take  it  from  his  neighbours'  wood-piles.  A  computation  was 
made,  and  it  was  ascertained  that  he  spent  more  time  and 
worked  harder  to  get  his  fuel,  than  he  would  have  been  obliged 
to  if  he  had  earned  it  in  an  honest  way,  and  at  ordinary  wages. 
And  this  thief  is  a  type  of  thousands  of  men  who  work  a  great 
deal  harder  to  please  the  devil  than  they  would  have  to  work  to 
please  God."  "* 

15—18.  (15,  16)  desire  .  .  eyes,  i.e.  Ezekiel's  wife.  She  is 
to  represent  the  sanctuary  in  which  the  Jews  so  much  gloried  ; 
V.  21.  mourn,  etc.,  bee.  it  was  a  righteous  Divine  judgment  ; 
or  to  indicate  that  there  would  be  no  time  for  the  ordinary 
laiiientations  over  the  dead."  (17)  tire,  ref.  to  the  high  priest's 
mitre,  wh.  he  might  not  put  off.*  In  times  of  mourning  the 
head  was  often  shaved,  or  dust  was  cast  on  it.  cover  .  .  lips,  a 
usual  sign  of  mourning."  bread  of  men,  or  of  mourners. 
Food  was  usually  supplied  for  the  comfort  of  mourners. 
(18)  "wife  died,  note  the  submissive  obedience  of  the  Prophet. 

The  stroke  of  death  under   the  direction  of  God  (v,   10).— 


nipmber  which 
o;;eaiietli  us.  For, 
as  one  very  well 
objt'rve.^,  so  the 
snare  be  strong 
Pad  liold  sure, 
a  bird,  thoug-h 
caught  but  by 
one  claw,  sliall 
.as  certainly  be 
the  fowler's  por- 
tion, as  if  slia 
hail  been  taken 
by  both  wings." 
— Dr.  Jackson. 

c  Burder. 


a    "Or.    'I   will 

make  the  foe  de- 
ligh  t  in  its 
desi  ruction  aa 
much  as  one  de- 
lights in  well- 
seasoned  savoury 
meat.'" — Fausset. 

b  "I  did  what 
was  requisite  ou 
niy  part  towards 
thy  conversion, 
but  thou  re- 
fusedst  to  comply 
with  tliose  fre- 
quent calls  and 
exhortations  I 
pave  the  e."— 
Loiclh. 

r.  It.  T.  Randall, 

396. 

c  Spurgeon. 
d  Beecher. 


a  "  The  times 
th at  were  comin g 
were  so  extraor- 
dinary as  to  leave 
no  room  for  the 
quiet  lamenta- 
tion for  the  dead 
according  to  the 
usual  forms  of 
mourning."-(Sf)i. 
Cv7n. 

b  Le.  xxi.  10. 

c  Le.  xiii.  45;  % 


310 


EZEKIBL. 


[Cap.  xxlv.  19—27. 


Fa.  XT.  30;  Je. 
xiv.  4  ;  Mic.  iii.  7. 

r.  IG.  Dr.  D.  Wil- 
son, ii.  355;  J. 
Morh'ij.  3(JG;  C. 
H.  M'liuriii,  1. 

d  Alpha  iu  400 
Sks. 

"  This  refers  to 
mourning  for  the 
(lead,  and  tlie 
I'rophet  was  for- 
bidden to  use 
any  symbol  of 
sorrow  on  the 
death  of  his  wife. 
At  a  funeral  cere- 
mony tlie  tires 
and  turbans  are 
talvcn  off,  and 
the  sandals  are 
laid  aside.  Thus 
nobles,  who  wear 
the  most  costly 
turbans,  are  seen 
walking  with 
their  he"ds  un- 
covered, and 
those  who  had 
on  beautiful  san- 
dals are  barefoot. 
But  the  Prophet 
•was  to  put  on  his 
tire  and  sandals, 
to  indicate  he 
was  not  mourn- 
ing for  the  dead." 
— lioberts. 

e  Paxton, 


a  U.  R.  Thomas. 

"  The  path  of 
sorrow,  and  that 
path  alone,  leads 
to  the  land  where 
sorrow  is  un- 
known;  no 
trav'ller  ever 
reach'd  that  blest 
abode,  who  found 
not  thorns  and 
briers  on  his 
toml."—Coii:per. 

"He  was  a  man 
wlio  stole  tlie 
livery  of  the 
court  of  lieaven, 
to  serve  the  devil 
in."  —PoUok. 


I.  That  social  connections  are  desirable  enjoyments.     They  are  — 

1.  Various  :  2.  Justly  desirable.  II.  That  these  enjoyments  ar© 
subject  to  the  stroke  of  death.  1.  This  stroke  should  be  cxi)ected 
by  all  ;  2.  We  should  seriously  prepare  for  it :  3.  Our  ])reparalion 
should  be  habitual  ;  4.  The  siiint's  recovery  from  this  stroke 
should  be  anticipated  by  faith  in  Gods  promises,  and  hope  of 
renewed  communion  with  saints  iu  heavenly  glory.  III.  That 
the  stroke  of  death  is  under  the  direction  of  God.  1.  The  death, 
of  our  pious  friends  is  only  a  removal,  it  is  not  an  annihilation  ; 

2.  They  are  taken  away  by  God,  their  rewarder,  our  benefactor  ; 

3.  They  are  taken  away  with  a  wise  and  gracious  design,  for 
their  good  and  ours.'' 

Miiiirninfi  for  the  dead  {v.  17). — The  time  of  mourning  for  the 
dead  was  longer  or  shorter,  according  to  the  dignity  of  the  person. 
Among  the  modern  Jews  the  ustial  time  is  seven  days,  during 
which  they  shut  themselves  up  in  their  houses  ;  or,  if  some 
extraordinary  occasion  forces  them  to  appear  in  public,  it  la 
without  shoes,  as  a  token  they  have  lost  a  dear  friend.  This 
exjjlains  the  reason  that  when  Ezekiel  was  commanded  to  abstain 
from  the  rites  of  mourning,  he  was  directed  to  put  his  shoes  on 
his  feet.  To  cover  the  lips  was  a  very  ancient  sign  of  mourning; 
and  it  continues  to  be  practised  among  the  Jews  of  Barbary  to 
this  day.  When  they  return  from  the  grave  to  the  house  of  the 
deceased,  the  chief  mourner  receives  them  with  his  jaws  tied  up 
with  a  linen  cloth,  in  imitation  of  the  manner  in  which  the 
face  of  the  dead  is  covered ;  and  by  this  the  mourner  is  said  to 
testify  that  he  was  ready  to  die  for  his  friend.  Muffled  in  this 
way,  the  mourner  goes  for  seven  days,  during  which  the  rest  of 
his  friends  come  twice  every  twenty-four  hottrs  to  pray  with  him. 
This  allusion  is  perhaps  involved  in  the  charge  which  Ezekiel 
received,  when  his  wife  died,  to  abstain  from  the  customary 
forms  of  mourning  :  '•  Forbear  to  cry,  make  no  mourning  for  the 
dead  :  bind  the  tire  of  thy  head  upon  thee,  and  put  on  thy  shoes 
upon  thy  feet,  and  cover  not  thy  lips,  and  eat  not  the  bread  of 
men."  The  law  of  Moses  required  a  leper  to  have  his  clothes 
rent,  his  head  bare,  and  a  covering  upon  his  upper  lip.  because  he 
was  considered  as  a  dead  man,  "  of  whom  the  flesh  is  half  con- 
sumed when  he  cometh  out  of  his  mother's  womb."' 

19—23.  (19)  people,  \.r.  the  fellow-exiles.  (20,  21)  excel- 
lency .  .  strength,  or  object  of  your  boasting  ;  the  temple  of 
which  you  were  so  prottd.  soul  pitieth,  or  loveth.  They  would 
soon  have  occasion  to  pity  it.  (22)  cover  .  .  men,  cnmp.  r.  17. 
(23)  pine  away,  bee.  forbidden  to  find  the  usual  relieving 
expressions  of  grief ;  left  to  a  secret,  inward,  heart-consuming 
sorrow. 

S\n  the  worst  sorrow  (vv.  15 — 24).— It  is  so  because — T.  Other 
sorrows  may  have  no  evil,  but  even  good  in  them  ;  this  is  essen- 
tially and  eternally  evil.  II.  Other  sorrows  are  remediable  :  this 
leads  to  destruction.  III.  Other  sorrows  may  come  direct  from 
God  ;  this  is  ever  in  direct  antagonism  to  Ilim.  lY.  Other 
sorrows  have  to  do  with  men  in  their  relation  to  others ;  this  with 
his  own  inner  being  and  his  relation  to  God.  Learn: — 1.  Eightly 
weigh  your  own  sorrows  ;  2.  Eightly  deal  with  the  world's 
sorrows  ;  3.  Rightly  value  the  Saviour's  mission." 

24 — 27.   (24)  a  sign,  tj-pical  representation  of  what  would 


Cap.  XXV.  1—4.] 


EZEKIBl. 


befall  them,  this  cometll,  the  destruction  of  the  temple. 
{2o)  strength,  v.  21.  (26)  escapeth,  as  a  fug-itive,  to  carry 
the  terrible  tidings.  (27)  sign,  portent,  or  wonder.  When  the 
event  has  hapjiened,  they  shall  be  convinced  that  your  action  and 
experience  had  been  a  proijhetical  sign  for  them. 
Ihe  preacher  — 

The  pulpit 

Must  stand  acknowledged,  while  the  world  shall  stand, 

The  most  important  and  effectual  guard, 

iSupport,  and  ornament  of  virtue's  cause. 

There  stands  the  messenger  of  truth  :  there  stands 

The  legate  of  the  skies.     His  theme  divine, 

His  othce  sacred,  his  credentials  clear. 

By  him  the  violated  law  speaks  out 

Its  thunders  ;  and  by  him,  in  strains  as  sweet 

As  ang-els  use,  the  Gospel  whisjjers  peace. 

He  'stablishes  the  strong,  restores  the  weak, 

Reclaims  the  wanderer,  binds  the  broken  heart, 

And,  armed  himself  in  panoply  complete 

Of  heavenly  temper,  furnishes  with  arms 

Bright  as  his  mvn,  and  trains,  by  every  rule 

Of  holy  discipline,  to  giorious  war, 

The  sacramental  host  of  God's  elect  I 
***** 

To  such  I  render  more  than  mere  respect, 
Whose  actions  say  that  they  respect  themselves." 


CHAPTER  THE  TWENTY-FIFTH. 

1—4.  (1,2)  Ammonites,  eh.  xxi.  28.  "In  the  fifth  year 
after  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  Nebuchadnezzar  subdued  the 
Ammonites  and  Mo.abites."  <»  (3)  alia,  the  expre.ssion  of  con- 
tempt. They  insolently  exulted  over  the  fall  of  the  temple, 
regarding  it  as  the  triumph  of  heathenism  over  the  claims  of 
Jehovah.  (4;  men  of  the  east,  synonym  for  the  Chaldfeans. 
or  poss.  here  the  wild  Eastern  tribes  who  should  distress  the 
Ammonite  country  after  it  had  been  conquered  by  the  Chaldaaans  ; 
palaces,  better,  "  encampments." 

The  fn/ifJrfif  vine  (i\  1). — I.  Here  is  a  lesson  of  humility  for 
saints.  "  What  is  the  vine  more  than  any  tree  ?  "  etc.  11.  A 
lesson  of  searching  for  all  who  are  professors.  1.  What  is  a 
fruitless  professor.'  2.  Why  is  it  that  these  men  are  fruitless 
and  must  be  cast  away?  3.  What  is  God's  estimation  of  fruit- 
less profess-ors  ?   4.  What  is  to  become  of  this  fruitless  tree  ?  >' 

The  tlanfim  of  seed-flme. — The  seed-time  is  attended  with  con- 
siderable danger  to  the  hiisbandmen  in  Palestine  and  Syria  :  for 
although  the  more  peaceful  Arabs  apply  themselves  to  agriculture 
to  supply  their  families  with  grain,  many  of  the  same  wandering 
race  choose  rather  to  procure  the  corn  which  they  want  by 
violence  than  by  tillage.  So  precaiious  are  the  fruits  of  the 
earth  in  Palestine,  that  the  farmer  is  often  seen  sowing  accom- 
panied by  an  armed  friend,  to  prevent  his  being  robbed  of  tJie 
6eed.     These  vexatious    and    often  desolating    incursions    are 

i 


3ii 


V.  24.  W.  Read' 
ing,  iv.  157. 

"  Keep  in  mind 
that  excellent 
rule:  never 
preach  a  single 
sermon,  from 
wliicli  an  unen- 
lightened hearer 
miyht  not  learn 
the  plan  of  sal- 
vation, even 
tlioiigh  he  never 
afterwards  heard 
another  d  i  s- 
course."-i/.  Rich- 
mond. 

How  do  you 
know  whether 
you  are  pure 
gold,  or  ba.'e 
metal?  Gold,  if 
pure,  must  bear 
tlie  royal  stamp 
to  give  it  cur- 
rency. Tf  you 
lack  the  impress 
of  Christ,  you 
cannot  pass  cur- 
rent in  the  king- 
dom of  heaven. 

a  Cowper, 


a  Joscpftus. 

A  m  ro  0  n,      d  e- 

scended  from 
Lot,  held  the  re- 
gion E  of  Jordan, 
separated  fr.  the 
Aniorites  on  the 
N.  by  the  river 
Jabbok,  and  from 
Moab  on  the  S. 
by  the  river 
Arnon. 

b  Simrgeon. 

"Oh!  when  the 
reiiiing  world 
melts  away  be- 
hind us  to  a 
small  point,  how 
we  shall  monm 
over  our  present 
follies,  our  sad 
pleasures,  our 
wiiywardand  un- 
bridled sorrows, 
and  our  un- 
lieavenly  lives! 
i-laeh  departed 
friend  is  a  m«g>- 


312 


EZEKTEL. 


[Cap.  XXV.  5—7, 


oU  ina:i  liyes 
aino;i<?  graves. 
A  siiiall  griev- 
ance mike.s  us 
besMo  oiirselva 


nst  tliat  attracts  desoribsd  by  the  Prophet  in  the  following'  rcmaiksible  terms, 
"Aril  anl  "the  '^^^^°^  ^^  dsnounced  thg  judurments  of  God  ao^ainst  tlie  descen- 
dants of  Amnion  :  '•  Behold,  therefore,  I  will  deliver  thee  to  the 
m3n  of  the  East  for  a  possession,  and  they  sliall  s?t  their 
palaces  in  thee,  and  make  their  dwellings  in  thee  :  they  shall 
eat  thy  fruit  anl  they  shall  drink  thy  milk."  The  practice  of 
a  great  sorrow  robbing  the  sower  in  the  field  seems  to  have  been  very  ancient, 
makos  us  r>!tiro  fmd  jg  perhaps  alluded  to  by  the  P-salmisfc,  when  he  encourages 
^ "u'.'n "'^^'y'uh "a  *^"  righteous  man  to  parsevere  in  working  out  his  salvation,  in 
smaU  crack  spite  of  the  dangers  to  which  he  is  exposed,  by  the  complete 
soun  Is  dull,  but    success  which  in  due  time  shall  assuredly  crown  his  endeavours. 

on  account  of  the  danger  from  the 
clear  a-'aiu."—  luiii-iug  imi^i  miLccnug  xiiauiau,  '•  shall  reap  in  joy."  "  lie  that 
Richter.  °  \  goeth  forth  a:id  weepeth,  bearing  precious  seed,  shall  doubtlesa 

"There  are  a  '  com  3  again  with  rejoicing,  bringing  his  sheaves  with  him."  It 
Ihousand  joyous  i  is  much  more  natural  to  suppose  that  these  verses  refer  to  such 
things  in  life,  i  ^q^^  ^f  violence,  than  to  imagine,  with  all  the  commentators 
heeiW  hi^a  Hfe  -who  have  turned  their  attention  to  this  circumstance,  that  they 
of  joy  as  thiu'B  allude  to  the  anxiety  of  a  husbandman  who  sows  his  corn  in  a 
hath  been,  till  time  of  great  s:;arcity,  and  is  afraid  his  hopes  may  be  disap- 
breezy  sorrow  ;  pQ^^^ed  by  the  failure  of  the  succeeding  harvest.  We  nowhere 
an  1  daily  duties  read  that  such  fearful  anticipations  ever  produced  weeping  and 
paid  hanily  at :  lamentation,  although  the  Orientals  are  very  prone  to  violent 
*'-'n'h''^'cr^*""'^-*' !  expressions  of  grief.  But,  if  we  refer  the  passage  to  the  danger 
to  the'l^l'miiid  I  which  the  farmer  in  those  parts  of  the  world  often  incurred,  of 


Kouii  13   uiiii,    unu  auccc;a-'>   wiliuu.  ill    uuc    time    :m 

if    it    be   broken  u  rj,^        ^j^^^   SO^^   ;^  tears,"    0 

more,  it    sounds  ,      ,  .  •  ,         c     i  •         *      i  • 

rioar     a'^ain  "—  lurkiug  aud  unteeung  Arabu 


that  studies  to 
perfnrni  them." 
—Talfourd. 

C  Faxton. 


losing  his  precious  seed,  the  hope  of  his  future  subsistence,  and 
even  his  life,  in  attempting  to  defend  it,  we  have  an  adequate 
cause  for  his  tears  and  lamentations.  The  passage  contains  a 
beautiful  picture  of  the  success  which,  by  the  blessing  of  God, 
attended  the  efforts  of  His  chosen  people  to  return  from  their 
captivity  to  the  land  of  their  fathers,  and  holds  out  a  powerful 
encouragement  to  believers  in  Christ  to  pcr.severe  in  tlieir 
heavenly  course,  notwithstandiii^  the  numerous  and  severe  trials 
of  this  present  life  ;  for.  in  due  time,  they  shall  certainly  enter 
into  the  rest  which  remains  for  the  people  of  God.'= 

5—7.  (5)  Rabbali,  De.  iii.  11.    couohing-place,  place  for 

resting  and  feeding  the  sheep.      "  It  is  a  proverbial  expression 

li\    for  utter  destruction  to  say  that  grass  grows  where  a  town  has 

I  stood."  «     (())  clapped,  rfc.  signs  of  gladness  at  the  destruction 

of  Jerusalem,  but  in  God's  sight  proofs  of  envy  and  malice  ;  a 

savage  kind  of  joy.     (7)  spoil,  or  povtion  to  b?  d(*vourod. 

The    dirge    over   the   nations   (chapters    xxv. — xxxiii.). — The 

universal  and  permanent  lessons  of  all  this  are  clearly — I.  The 

interest  of  a  true  man  in  other  nations  beside  his  own  :  2.  The 

universality  of  God's  dominion  ;  3.  The  similarity  in  the  laws  of 

and     scores    of  j  moral  history  in  all  lands  and  times  :   4.  The  degrees  in  retri- 


a  Loioth. 

Is.  xvii.   2,   xxii 
10,      xxxii. 
Zep.  ii.  14,  15. 

h  U.  R.  Thomas. 

"Ah  !  when  the 
apples  are  ripa 
a  cliild's  foot 
against  tlie  tree 
win  bring  scores 


them  to  the 
ground.  He 
might  take  his 
little  stick  and 
throw  it 

twenty       times, 
and  not  hit  more 
than 
apple, 


bution  according  to  the  degrees  of  sin.* 

t<h<'phrfd^an(i  the  sea.wn-t. — The  SjTian  shepherds  were  exposed, 

with  their  flocks,  to  all  the  vicissitudes  of  the  seasons.     It  was 

indeed  impossible  to  erect  buildings  capacious  enough  to  receive 

the  countless  numbers  of  cattle,  which  constituted  the  wealth  of 

single  ;  those  pastoral  princes.     Their  servants  were,  therefore,  compfdled 

for     he  i  to  watch  the  flocks  night  and  dav.     The  flocks  of  Libva  '•  often 


uunld  be  work     gj-^^ze  both  night  and  dav,  and  for  a  whole  month  together,  and 

mg  according  to    "        •      •    t      i  t  i  -n        j.  i     ix  •  i      ji  i    ■ 

Ids     own    skill,  i  rcp^ur  into  long  deserts,  without  any  slielter.  so  wide  the  pl.-an 

aud    would    ac-  \  extends,"     The  Mesopotamian  shepherd  was  red  iced  to  the  sama 


Cap.xxv.  8— 11.] 


EZEKTEL. 


313 


incessant  labour,  chilled  by  the  piercing  cold  of  the  morning, 
and  scorched  by  the  succeeding  heats  of  a  flaming  sun,  the 
opposite  action  of  which  often  swells  and  chafes  his  lips  and 
face.  Jacob  complains,  "  Thus  I  was  ;  in  the  day,  the  drought 
consumed  me,  and  frost  by  night ;  and  my  sleep  departed  from 
mine  eyes."  In  times  long  posterior  to  the  age  when  Jacob 
flourished,  the  angels  who  descended  to  announce  the  birth  of 
our  Lord  found  the  shepherds,  to  whom  they  were  sent,  keeping 
watch  over  their  flocks  by  night.  To  prevent  them  from  wander- 
ing, they  shut  them  up  in  a  fold  formed  of  hurdles,  and  took 
their  station  on  the  outside,  to  defend  them  from  the  attacks  of 
wild  beasts,  or  bands  of  robbers,  that  infested  the  country,  and 
preyed  upon  the  property  of  the  peaceful  and  industrious  in- 
habitants. When  the  Prophet  Ezekiel  threatened  the  Ammonites, 
that  llabbah,  their  capital,  should  become  a  stable  for  camels,  we 
are  not  to  imagine  that  the  Arabian  shepherds  were  careful  to 
provide  such  coverts  for  these,  more  tender  animals.  Chardin 
says,  that  as  ihey  feed  them  on  the  ground,  and  do  not  litter  them, 
they  never  think  of  erecting  such  buildings  for  their  reception. 
The  same  fact  is  admitted  by  Dr.  Shaw,  when  he  makes  a  sup- 
position that  the  cattle  of  these  countries  would  be  much  more 
numerous  than  they  are.  if  they  had  some  little  shelter  in  winter. 
The  only  shelter  to  which  they  have  recourse,  is  the  desolate 
ruin ;  and  to  this  circumstance  the  Prophet  Ezekiel  most 
probably  alluded,  when  he  described  Kabbah  as  about  to  become 
a  stable  for  camels,  or,  as  the  original  term  may  be  rendered  with 
er^ual  propriety,  a  jilace  of  camels,  where  they  scieen  themselves 
from  the  rays  of  a  burning  sun,  and  feed  on  the  nettles,  and 
other  plants,  which  spring  up  among  the  mouldering  walls  of 
ruined  habitations.  The  same  term  is  rendered  in  the  twenty- 
third  psalm,  pastures  :  and  perhaps  all  that  the  Prophet  means  is 
only  this,  that  E,abbah  should  be  so  comiiletely  destroyed,  that 
camels  should  feed  on  the  place  where  it  stood  :  and  if  this  was 
his  meaning,  it  has  been  long  since  realised,  for  the  last  remains 
of  that  proud  city  have  entirely  disappeared.  The  greatest  skill 
and  vigilance,  and  even  tender  care,  are  required  in  the  manage- 
ment of  such  immense  flocks  as  wander  on  the  Syrian  plains. 
Their  prodigious  numbers  compel  the  keepers  to  remove  them  too 
frequently  in  search  of  fresh  pastures,  which  proves  very 
destructive  to  the  young  that  have  not  strength  to  follow.  This 
circumstance  displays  the  energy  of  Jacob's  apology  to  his 
brother  Esau,  for  not  attending  him  as  he  requested  :  ''The  flocks 
and  herds  with  young  are  with  me  ;  and  if  men  should  over- 
drive them  one  day.  all  the  flocks  would  die."  It  illustrates  also 
another  passage  in  the  prophecies  of  Isaiah  :  "He  shall  feed  his 
flock  like  a  shepherd  ;  he  shall  gather  the  lambs  with  his  arm, 
and  carry  them  in  his  bosom,  and  shall  gently  lead  those  that  are 
with  young:"  a  beautiful  image,  expressing  with  great  force 
and  elegance,  the  tender  and  unceasing  attention  of  the  shepherd 
to  his  flock.' 

8 — 11.  (S)  Moab,  the  neighbour  country  of  Ammon.  Seir, 
the  same  as  Edom.  These  countries  joined  in  hostility  to  Judah, 
and  in  joy  at  the  fall  of  Jerusalem.  (9)  open  the  side,  or 
shoulder  :  expose  them  to  the  attacks  of  the  invaders,  frontiers, 
defence-cities,  in  which  the  people  placed  the  utmost  confidence. 
Beth-jeshimotll,  ^tc,  Nu.  xxxii.  38  ;  Jos.  xiii.  20  ;  Je.  xlviii.  25. 


coinplish  but 
little ;  but  when 
he  strikes  the 
trunk  of  the  tree 
dozens  of  apples 
have  been  wait- 
ing for  that,  an(l 
they  drop  at  his 
feet,  and  he  gets 
twenty  times  as 
many  as  he 
would  do  by 
plying  his  stick 
merely.  Now  ia 
every  part  of  life 
God  has  fruit 
ready  to  drop 
into  your  lap ; 
and  the  abun- 
dance that  you 
get  is  not  to  be 
measured  by  the 
skill  with  which 
you  can  throw, 
but  by  that 
Divine  nature 
which  does  ex-. 
ceeding  abun- 
dantly more  than 
we  can  ask'  or 
think.' ' — Beccher. 

" '  The  meteor,  if 
it  once  fall,  can- 
not be  rekindled.' 
When  those  who 
once  flashed  be- 
fore the  eyes  of 
the  religious 

public  with  the 
blaze  of  a  vain 
profession,  fall 
into  open  and 
scandalous  sin,  it 
is  impossible  to 
renew  their 
glory.  Once 
break  the  egg  of 
hypocrisy,  and 
who  can  repair 
the  damage  ?"— 
Spurgeon. 

c  Paxion. 


a  "  TTpon  the 
children  of  Am- 
mon, i.e.  I  will 
open  Moab  to  the 
men  of  the  East, 
wlio.having  over- 
run the  children 
of  Ammon,  shall 
then    foil    upon 


BU 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  XXV.  12-14. 


Moab."— f  dtr- 
haim. 

"  However  con- 
stant the  visita- 
tions of  sickness 
and  bereave- 
ment, the  fall  of 
the  year  is  most 
thickly  strewn 
•With  the  fall  of 
human  life. 
Everywliere  the 
spirit  of  some  sad 
power  seems  to 
direct  the  time : 
it  hides  from  us 
the  blue  heavens: 
it  makes  the 
green  wave  tur- 
bid ;  it  walks 
through  the 

fields,  and  lays 
the  damp  un- 
gathered  harvest 
low ;  it  cries  out 
in  the  night  wind 
end  the  shrill 
hail ;  it  steals  the 
Bummer  bloom 
from  the  infant 
cheek ;  it  makes 
old  age  shiver  to 
the  heart ;  it  goes 
to  the  church- 
yard, and  cliooses 
many  a  grave ;  it 
flies  to  the  bell, 
and  enjoins  it 
when  to  toll.  It 
is  God  that  goes 
His  yearly  round; 
that  gathers  up 
the  apijninted 
lives;  and,  even 
where'  the  hour 
is  not  come,  en- 
graves by  pain 
and  poverty 
many  a  sliarp 
and  solemn  lesson 
on  the  heart." — 
James  Martincau. 

a  The  subduing 
of  Edomby  David 
further  deepened 
the  ill-feehng,  2 
Sa.  viii.  14. 

h  "  Teman  and 
Dedan  were  dis- 
tricts, the  former 
in  tlie  S.,  tlie 
latter  in  the  N. 
Hence  from  Te- 
nian  to  Dedan 
means  '  over  tlie 
whole  country.'" 
—Spk.  Com. 

"There  was  but 
fue  crack  in  the 


(10)  ■witll,  better,  af/ainst."  (11)  judgments,  deserved  and 
long  called  for,  now  to  be  executed. 

2'he  .state  of  Amman  and  Mnah. — "While  the  country  is  thuB 
despoiled  and  desolate,  there  are  valleys  and  tracts  throughout  it 
which  "  are  covered  with  a  fine  coat  of  verdant  pasture,  and  are 
places  of  resort  to  the  Bedouins,  where  they  pasture  their  camels 
and  their  sheep."  '•  The  whole  way  we  traversed,''  says  Sectzen, 
"  we  saw  villages  in  ruins,  and  met  numbers  of  Arabs  with  their 
camels,"  etc.  Mr.  Buckingham  describes  a  building  among  the 
ruins  of  Ammon,  '•  the  masonry  of  which  was  evidently  con- 
structed of  materials  gathered  from  the  ruins  of  other  and  older 
buildings  on  the  sjjot.  On  entering  it  at  the  south  end,"  he  adds, 
' '  we  came  to  an  open  square  court,  with  arched  recesses  on  each 
side,  the  sides  nearly  facing  the  cardinal  points.  The  recesses 
into  the  northern  and  southern  walls  were  originally  open 
passages,  and  had  arched  doorways  facing  each  other ;  but  the 
first  of  these  was  found  wholly  closed  up,  and  the  last  was 
partially  filled  up,  leaving  only  a  narrow  passage,  just  suiBcienfc 
for  the  entrance  of  one  man  and  the  goats,  which  the  Arab 
keepers  drive  in  here  occasionally  for  shelter  during  the  night." 
He  relates  that  he  lay  down  among  '•  the  flocks  of  sheep  and 
goats."  close  beside  the  ruins  of  Ammon  ;  and  particularly  remarks 
that,  during  the  night,  he  was  almost  entirelj'  prevented  from  sleep- 
ing by  the  "  bleating  of  flocks."  So  literally  true  is  it,  although 
Seetzen,  and  Burckhardt,  and  Buckingham,  who  relate  the  facts, 
make  no  reference  or  allusion  whatever  to  any  of  the  prophecies, 
and  travelled  for  a  different  object  than  the  elucidation  of  the 
Scriptures,  that  "the  chief  city  of  the  Ammonites  is  a  stable  for 
camels,  and  a  couching-place  for  flocks."  '•  The  Ammonites  shall 
not  be  remembered  among  the  nations."  While  the  Jews,  who 
were  long  their  hereditary  enemies,  continue  as  distinct  a  people 
as  ever,  though  dispersed  among  all  nations,  no  trace  of  the 
Ammonites  remains  ;  none  are  now  designated  by  their  name, 
nor  do  any  claim  descent  from  them.  They  did  exist,  however, 
long  after  the  time  when  the  eventual  annihilation  of  their  race 
was  foretold,  for  they  retained  their  name,  and  continued  a  great 
multitude,  until  the  second  century  of  the  Clfristian  era.  '•  Yet 
they  are  cut  ofE  from  the  people.  Ammon  has  perished  out  of 
the  countries  ;  it  is  destroyed."  No  people  is  attached  to  its  soil 
— none  regard  it  as  their  country  and  adopt  its  name  ;  and  the 
Ammonites  are  not  numbered  among  other  nations. 

12—14.  (12)  Edom,  Nu.  xxiv.  18. 19.  The  descendants  of  Esau 
kept  up  their  grudge  against  the  descendants  of  Jacob,  taking 
vengeance,  or  manifesting  a  most  implacable  resentment." 
(13)  Teman,  Ge.  xxxvi.  11—1.5.  Dedan,  Ge.  x.  7.»  (14)  my 
vengeance,  in  answer  to  their  vengeance,  r.  12. 

Ammon. — Seetzen  (whose  indefatigable  ardour  led  him,  in 
defiance  of  danger,  the  first  to  exploi-e  the  countries  which  lie 
east  of  the  Jordan,  and  east  and  south  of  the  Dead  Sea,  or  the 
territories  of  Ammon,  ]\loab,  and  Edom)  ju.?tly  characterises 
Ammon  as  •'  once  the  residence  of  manj'  kings — an  ancient  town, 
which  flourished  long  before  the  Greeks  and  Romans,  even  before 
the  Hebrews  ; "  and  he  briefly  enumerates  thoi^e  remains  of 
ancient  greatness  and  splendour  which  are  most  distinguishable 
amid  its  ruins.  "  Altlwiugh  this  town  has  been  destroyed  and 
deserted  for  many  ages,  I  tstill  found  there  some  remarkable  ruinsj 


Oap.  xxvi.  1—6.] 


EZEKIEL. 


315 


which  attest  its  ancient  splendour.  Such  as,  1st,  A  square  build- 
ing,  ver^^  hij,^hly  ornamented,  which  has  been  perhaps  a  niauso-  i 
kum.  2nd,  The  ruins  of  a  large  jialace.  ord,  A  iiiaguiticent  i 
amphitheatre  of  immense  size,  and  well  preserved,  with  a  i 
peristyle  of  Corinthian  pillars  without  pedestals.  4th,  A  temple  i 
with  a  great  number  of  columns.  51h,  The  ruins  of  a  large  | 
church,  perhaps  the  see  of  a  bishop  in  the  time  of  the  Greek  [ 
emperors.  Gth,  The  remains  of  a  temple  with  columns  set  in  a 
circular  fonn,  and  which  are  of  an  extraordinary  size.  7th.  The  j 
remains  of  the  ancient  wall,  with  many  other  edifices."  Burck- 
hardt.  who  afterwards  visited  the  spot,  describes  it  with  greater 
minuteness.  He  gives  a  plan  of  the  ruins ;  and  particularly 
noted  the  ruins  of  many  temples,  of  a  spacious  chtirch,  a  curved 
wall,  a  high-arched  bridge,  the  banks  and  bed  of  the  river  still 
partially  paved  ;  a  large  theatre,  with  successive  tiers  of  apart- 
ments excavated  in  the  rocky  side  of  a  hill  ;  Corinthian 
columns  fifteen  feet  high  ;  the  castle,  a  very  extensive  building, 
the  walls  of  which  are  thick,  and  denote  a  remote  antiquity  ; 
many  cisterns  and  vaults  :  and  a  plain  covered  with  the  decayed 
ruins  of  private  buildings  ; — monuments  of  ancient  splendour 
standing  amid  a  desolate  heap."" 

15 — 17.  (15)  Philistines,"  ancient  foes  of  Israel,  dwelling  in 
the  plaiiis  towards  the  coast,  S.W.  of  Judah.  old  hatred., 
carrying  on  into  later  times  the  early  hatred  of  the  races.  (16) 
Ciieretlllms,  another  name  for  the  Philistines,  representing 
prob.  one  of  the  immigrations  which  formed  the  nation.' 
remnant,  etc.,  Am.  i.  8.  (17;  furious  rebukes,  or  heavy 
judgments. 

Vuidlcatio7i  of  rcrenrjc. — 

Lo,  by  thy  side,  where  Rape  and  Murder  stand  : 
Now  give  some  "surance  that  thou  art  Revenge, 
Stab  them,  or  tear  them  on  thj-  chariot-wheels  ; 
And  then  I'll  come,  and  be  thy  waggoner, 
And  whirl  along  with  thee  about  the  globes, 
Provide  thee  proper  palfreys,  black  as  jet, 
To  hale  thy  vengeful  waggon  swift  away, 
And  find  oat  murderers  in  their  guilty  caves  ; 
And.  when  thy  car  is  loaden  with  their  heads, 
I  will  dismount,  and  by  the  waggon- wheel 
Trot,  like  a  servile  footman,  all  day  long  ; 
Even  from  Hyperion's  lising  in  the  east, 
Until  his  very  downfall  in  the  sea.' 


lantern,  and  the 
wiiiil  li.is  fi)unj 
it  out  auil  blown 
ovit  the  candle. 
How  great  a 
mischief  one  un- 
guarded point  of 
character  may 
cause  us!  One 
tpark  blew  up 
the  niafrazine 
and  shook  tiie 
whole  country 
for  miles  around. 
One  leak  sunk 
the  yesstl  and 
drowned  all  on 
board.  One 
wound  may  kill 
the  body ;  one 
sin  destroy  the 
soul."— -S^ic's/^'un. 

c  Keilh. 


a  Comp.  Is.  xl. 
14,  xiv.  ^D— 32, 
etc. 

l>  1  Pa.  XXX.  14; 
Je.  xlvii.  4  ;  Zep. 
u.  6. 

"But  they  were 
not  aware  that 
there  a7-e  things 
which  make  re- 
venge a  virtue  by 
reflection,  and 
not  an  impulse 
of  mere  anger ; 
though  the  laws 
sleep,  justice 
wakes,  an<l  in- 
jured souls  oft 
do  a  public  right 
with  private 
■wrong,  and  jus- 
tify their  deeds 
uiito  them- 
selves."— Byron. 

c  Shakespeait. 


CnAPTER  THE  TWENTY-SIXTH. 

1—6.  (1)  first  .  .  month,  wh.  precise  month  is  not  stated. 
(2)  Tyrus,  the  Latin  form  of  the  word  Tyre,"  Jos.  xix.  2!)  ;  2 
Sa.  xxiv.  7.  gates,  etc.,  in  and  out  of  wh.  the  merchandise 
went.  Jerusalem  had  long  been  a  centre-place  on  the  highway 
of  commerce,  and  Tyre  might  be  jealous  of  its  pro.eperity.*  (3) 
many  nations,  alluding  to  the  composite  character  of  the 
Bab.  army,  as  the  sea,  in  its  storm-time.  A  suitable  fig.  in  a 
message  to  a  sea-port  town.  (41  scrape  her  dust,  making  an 
entire  riddauce  of  her  public  buildings.    (5)  spreading  of  nets, 


a  Kebuch.'s  siego 
of  Tyre  lasted 
thirteen  years. 

6  "  In  the  true 
spirit  of  mercan- 
tile competition, 
Tvre  exulted  in 
tlie  thought  that 
the  trade  of 
Jerus.  would  now 


316 


EZEKTEL. 


[Cap.  xxvl.  7— la 


be  diverted  into 
her  markets." — 
Spk.  Com. 

c  So  Maundrell, 
etc. 

"  Of  all  the  aliilt 
male  cnmiual.-iiii 
Lonilon,  not  two 
in  a  haudrcil 
ha7e  entered  up- 
on a.  coarse  of 
crime  who  have 
lived  an  honest 
life  up  to  tlie  ajje 
of  twenty:  almost 
all  who  enter  up- 
on a  course  of 
crime  do  so  be- 
tween the  asjes 
of  eight  and  six- 
teen."— Earl  v/ 
Shaftesbury. 

d  Keith. 


a  Tyre,  as  is  well 
known,  sufTored 
two  memorable 
sieges :  one  frMtn 
Nebuchailnezzar, 
the  other  from 
Alexander  tlie 
Great. 

"  If  but  one  sin 

be  nnrepented  of, 
tlie  man  con- 
tinues still  a 
bond-slave  of 
hell.  By  one 
little  hole,  a  sliip 
will  sink  into  tlie 
bottom  of  the 
sea.  Tlie  stab  of 
a  penknife  to  the 
heart  will  as  well 
destroy  a  man  as 
all  tlie  daggers 
that  killed  C;e~ar 
in  the  seiiate- 
liouse.  The  soul 
will  be  strangled 
with  one  cord  of 
vanity  as  well  as 
with  all  the  cart- 
ropes  of  iniquity: 
Duly  the  more 
Bins,  the  more 
plagues  and 
fiercer  flames  in 
liell ;  but  he  that 
lives  and  dies 
impenitent  in 
cue,  it  will  be  his 
destruction.  One 
dram  of  pyi.son 
jwill    despatch    a 


travellers  say  that  this  is  litsrally  fulfilled."  (6)  daughters, 
or  d  'peiivlent  cities. 

Deitnictioii  of  Tijre. — Ono  of  the  most  sin^'ular  events  in 
history  was  the  maimer  in  which  the  siege  of  Tyre  was  conducted 
by  Alexander  the  Great.  Irritated  that  a  single  city  .should  alone 
oppose  his  victorious  march,  enraged  at  the  murder  of  some  of 
his  soldiers,  and  fearful  for  his  fame — even  his  army's  despair- 
ing of  success  could  not  deter  him  from  the  siege.  And  Tvre 
was  taken  in  a  manner,  the  t  ucce.^s  of  which  was  more  wonderful 
than  the  design  was  daring  ;  for  it  was  surrounded  by  a  wall  one 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  in  height,  and  situated  on  an  island  half 
a  mile  distant  from  the  shore.  A  mound  was  foi'med  from  the 
continent  to  the  island  ;  and  the  ruins  of  olil  Tyre,  two  hundred 
and  forty  years  after  its  demolition,  afforded  ready  materials  for 
the  purpose.  Such  was  the  work,  that  the  attempts  at  first 
defeated  the  power  of  an  Alexander.  The  enemy  consumed  and 
the  storm  destroyed  it.  But  its  remains,  buried  beneath  the 
water,  formed  a  barrier  which  rendered  successful  his  renewed 
efforts.  A  vast  mass  of  additional  matter  was  requisite.  The 
soil  and  the  very  rubbi.sh  were  gathered  and  heaped.  And  the 
mighty  conqueror,  who  afterwards  failed  in  raising  again  any  of 
the  ruins  of  Babylon,  cast  those  of  Tyre  into  the  sea.  and  took 
her  very  dust  from  off  her.  He  left  not  the  remnant  of  a  ruin — 
and  the  site  of  ancient  Tyre  is  now  unknown.'' 

7 — 10.  (7)  king  of  kings,  one  who  has  subdued  other  kings, 
and  holds  them  in  subjection.  (8)  fort,  etc.,  the  description  of 
an  ancient  siege."  (ii)  axes,  or  hatchets.  (10)  dust,  etc., 
when  they  rush  in  through  the  breaches  to  sack  the  city. 

JIMorij  of  Tijre. — This  history  of  the  city  is  most  affecting, 
and  it  has  been  said  with  much  force,  that  "  the  noble  dust  of 
Alexander,  traced  bj"  the  imagination  till  found  stopjiing  a  beer- 
barrel,  would  scarcely  afford  a  stronger  contrast  of  grandeur  and 
abasement  than  Tyre,  at  the  period  of  being  besieged  by  that 
conqueror,  and  the  modern  town  of  Tsour  erected  on  its  ashes." 
It  was  probably  a  colony  of  the  Sidonians.  as  it  is  called  "  the 
daughter  of  Sidon."  From  its  present  name  appears  to  have 
been  taken  the  general  name  of  Syria.  Its  first  mention  is  in 
Joshua,  where  it  is  called  •'  the  strong  city  Tyre."  At  an  early 
period  it  became  the  mistress  of  the  seas  ;  traded  even  to  Britain, 
and  planted  colonies  in  different  parts  of  the  Mediterranean, 
among  which  Carthage  became  the  most  celebrated.  The  hi-tory 
of  Tyre  is  more  especially  interesting  to  the  Christian  from  its 
connection  with  prophecy,  and  from  the  striking  eloquence  with 
which  inspiration  has  described  the  majesty  of  its  brighter  days, 
and  the  impressive  circumstances  of  its  destruction.  It  was  also 
referred  to  by  our  Saviour,  when  He  pronounced  woe  upon  the 
inhabitants  of  Chorazin  and  Bethsaida,  because  they  had  seen 
His  mighty  works  and  repented  not.  Her  merchants  were  princes, 
her  traifickers  the  honourable  of  the  earth.  She  heaped  up  silver 
as  dust,  and  fine  gold  as  the  mire  of  the  streets.  The  boards  of 
her  ships  were  of  the  fir  trees  of  Senir,  her  m.asts  of  the  cedars  of 
Lebanon,  her  oars  of  the  oaks  of  Bashan.  her  benches  of  the  ivory 
of  Chittim.  her  sails  of  fine  linen,  broidered  work  from  Egjqit, 
and  her  awnings  were  of  purple.  Her  heart  was  lifted  n]>,  and 
she  said,  '•  I  am  a  god  ;  I  sit  in  the  seat  of  God.  in  the  midst  of 
the  seas."     Such  is  the  description  givou  in  sacred  writ  of  the 


Cap.  xxvl.  11-18.3 


EZEKIEL. 


317 


pride  and  magnificence  of  ancient  Tyre.  Now,  in  the  language 
of  the  same  authority,  the  noise  of  her  songs  is  ceased,  and  the 
voice  of  her  haqjs  is  no  more  heard  :  her  walls  are  broken  down, 
her  pleasant  houses  are  no  more  ;  she  is  made  like  the  top  of  a 
rock,  a  place  to  spread  nets  upon  :  she  is  built  no  more. 

11—14.  (11)  tread  down,  the  people  in  the  streets,  strong 
garrisons,  lit.  pillars  of  streni/th.  "  The  multitude  and  strength 
of  the  pillars  of  Tyre  are  attested  by  its  ruins.'"  (12)  pleasant 
110US3S,  or  houses  of  desire,  in  .  .  "water,  where  tliey  can  even 
to  this  day  be  seen.'  (13)  noise  .  .  cease.  Is.  xxiv.  8  ;  Je.  vii. 
3i,  xvi.  'J.     (l-l)  top  of  a  rock,  i.e.  quite  bare.' 

I'rcsent  state  of  Tyre. — Passing  by  Tyre  from  curiosity  only,  I 
came  to  be  a  mournful  witness  of  the  truth  of  that  prophecy, 
"  that  Tyre,  the  cpieeu  of  nations,  should  be  a  rock  for  fishers  to 
dry  their  nets  on."  Two  wi'etched  fishermen,  with  miserable 
nets,  having  just  given  over  their  occupation,  with  very  little 
success.  I  engaged  them,  at  the  expense  of  their  nets,  to  drag  in 
those  places  where  they  said  shellfish  might  be  caught,  in  hojjes 
to  have  brought  out  one  of  the  famous  purple  fish.  I  did  not 
succeed  ;  but  in  this  I  was,  I  believe,  as  lucky  as  the  old  fishers 
had  ever  bjen.  The  purple  fi.sh  at  Tyre  seems  to  have  been  only 
a  concealment  of  their  knowledge  of  cochineal,  as,  if  the  whole 
city  of  Tyre  applied  to  nothing  else  but  fishing,  they  would  not 
have  coloured  twenty  yards  of  cloth  in  a  year."^ 

15 — 18.  (1.5)  shake,  with  fear  for  themselves.  (16)  princes 
of  the  sea,  the  merchant  rulers  of  Carthage,  and  other  colonics 
founded  by  Tyre.  These  would  be  in  extreme  distress  on  account 
of  the  fall  of  Tyre.  (17)  lamentation,  comj).  Re.  xviii.  S).  of 
seafaring  men,  or  of  the  seas.  ••  Tyre  was  an  inhabited  city 
rising  from  out  of  the  sea  that  surrounded  her."'  haunt  it,  the 
strangers  who  come,  for  trade  ptu-poses,  to  dwell  in  it.  (18) 
isles,  or  colonies  on  the  Mediterranean  islands  and  shores. 

Tijreas  a  sea-j/ort. — The  stirring  scenes  of  a  sea- port  exhibit  a 
picture  of  more  constant  excitement  than  can  ever  be  presented 
by  any  other  place.  The  arrival  and  discharge  of  ships ;  the 
cries  of  the  captains  as  they  direct  their  ready  mariners  ;  the 
songs  of  the  boatmen,  the  da.sh  of  the  oars,  and  the  roll  of  the 
eea  ;  the  solitary  female,  whose  eye  catches  every  speck  that 
appears  white  in  the  horizon,  and  never  leaves  it  till  one  after 
another  of  its  inmates  have  been  carefully  numbered,  that  per- 
chance she  may  discover  among  them  the  father  of  her  discon- 
solate children  ;  the  faltering  step  of  the  aged  sailor,  \\'hose 
battles  have  been  fought,  and  whose  victories  have  been  won  : 
the  tearrs  of  those  who  are  bidding  farewell,  and  the  rapture  of 
those  who  are  greeting  the  arrival  of  a  long-absent  friend  ;  the 
anxious  assemblies  of  the  merchants,  either  speaking  of  traffic, 
or  proclaiming  their  good  fortune,  or  lamenting  the  loss  of  some 
fair  sliip  in  a  destructive  gale  :  the  reckless  merriment  of  the 
Beameu.  as  they  enjoy  upon  land  a  little  respite  from  their  con- 
stant toils  ; — all  these,  and  a  thousand  other  scenes  of  noise,  and 
joyousness,  and  wealth,  have  been  exhibited  upon  thes?  shores. 
They  have  passed  away,  like  the  feverish  dream  of  a  disturbed 
Bleep.  Ships  may  be  seen,  but  at  a  distance  ;  no  merchant  of  the 
earth  ever  enters  the  name  of  Tyre  upon  his  books,  and  where 
thousands  onco  assembled  in  pomp  and  pride,  and  there  was 


mail,  and  one 
reigning  sin  will 
bring  bim  to 
endless  misery." 
—II.  l.ollon. 

a  Wiirdstcorth. 
b  "  The  number 
of  granite  co- 
lumns that  lie  in 
the  sea,  particu- 
larly iu  the  north 
of  the  island,  is 
surprising.  The 
east  wall  of  the 
inner  harbour  i9 
entirely  founded 
upon  them,  and 
they  are  thickly 
spnad  over  the 
bottom  of  the  sea 
on  every  side." — 
Tlwmson. 
c  "  Ale.xander,  as 
Arriaii  relates, 
scraped  off  the 
very  dust  of  old 
Tyre  to  build 
his  caustway, 
and  now  you 
can  find  none 
of  the  remains 
except  by  dig- 
gins  below  the 
surface." — Ibid, 
d  JJruce. 


"  Were  a  cup  of 
pleasant  wine  put 
into  your  hands, 
and  you  knew  for 
certain  that  a' 
deadly  poison 
was  mixed  up 
with  the  wine, 
which  would 

rack  you  with 
the  fiercest 
pains,  and  ere 
long  tear  soul 
and  body  in 
s  u  n  d  e  r,  who 
would  drink  it  ? 
— who  would  not 
dash  it  from  him 
forthwith  ?  Yet, 
if  \\e  had  but 
faith  we  should 
know  and  feel 
that  sin  is  dead- 
lier than  the 
deadliest  poison, 
that  it  racks  us 
with  fiercer 
pains,  and  gives 
us  over  to  a  more 
ter'ible  dissolu- 
tion ;  for  it  cuts 
us  ofi'from  God, 
from  Pirn  who  is 
the  only  source 
of     all    blcssiug 


318 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xxvii.  1— a. 


and       pc 
JIare. 

a  Uardy. 


"Tou  have  seen 
the  canopy  of 
beaveu  covered 
Vi'itU  the  black 
clouds  of  a 
t  hit  iiderstorm, 
a  id  every  now 
and  then  the 
darkness  lias 

been  made  more 
"Visible,  or  sen- 
sible, by  sudden 
flashes  of  light- 
ninj?.  Just  like 
these  flashes  are 
the  pleasures  of 
the  world ;  they 
last  but  for  a 
moment,  and 
leave  dai-kness 
and  misery  be- 
hind ;  whereas 
true  happiness 
shells  a  continual 
daylight  on  the 
^o\A." -ChrisVian  s 
Penny  Mag. 

a  Hogg. 


a  "  This  alludes 
to  the  mournful 
ditties  used  at 
funerals,  wlierein 
the  mourning 
womenrecounted 
everything  that 
was  valuable  or 
praiseworthy  be- 
longing to  the 
deceased,  ami 
then  lamente-l 
his  loss." — Loiclh. 
h  "Tyre,  in  con- 
sequence of  her 
sea-girt  position, 
separated  by  a 
strait  of  half  a 
mile  from  the 
mainland,  is  dc>- 
Ecrilied  as  a  ship 
built  of  the  be.-t 
materials,  and 
manned  with  the 
best       mariners 


beauty,  and  splendour,  and  dominion,  I  could  discover  only  a  few 
children  iimusing  thcnist  Ivcs  at  play,  and  a  party  of  Turks  sitting 
in  gravity,  and  sijiping  their  favourite  coli'ee." 

19—21.  (19)  bring  .  .  deep,  the  sea  did  actually  come  to 
cover  the  ruins.  (liU;  down,  ctr.,  comp.  Is.  xiv.  I),  land  of 
th.e  living,  I.e.  the  laud  of  the  true  God.  (21)  be  no  more, 
as  a  great  commercial  city.  '■  As  to  old  Tyre  the  projihecy  was 
literally  fultilled,  not  a  vestige  of  it  being  left." 

The  nihi.'i  of  Tyre. — Relentless  desolation  seems  to  brood  over 
this  devoted  region.  Fragments  of  clustered  columns  and  broken 
walls,  at  the  south-east  extremity  of  the  town — the  only  visible 
remains  of  the  structures  even  of  the  Middle  Ages — perhaps  mark 
the  site  of  the  magnificent  metropolitan  church,  once  the  con- 
spicuous ornament  of  Christian  Tyre.  In  that  splendid  edifice  of 
rich  Gothi'i  architecture,  distinguislied  by  three  spacious  naves 
and  two  lofty  towers,  where  councils  were  held  and  princes  and 
prelates  assembled,  the  bones  of  the  Emperor  Frederick  Barba- 
rossa  were  deposited  in  a  sumptuous  sepulchre.  Every  trace  of 
the  mausoleiim  of  Origen,  raised  in  the  third  century,  and  stiU 
existing  in  the  twelfth,  has  now  disappeared.  Broken  shafts 
thrown  into  a  narrow  creek  awkwardly  serve  the  purpose  of  a 
bridge  ;  others  i)iled  in  the  sea,  form  a  barrier  against  hostile 
approach.  A  few  columns  of  marble,  of  granite,  and  of  porphyry, 
lie  unheeded  round  a  small  cove,  now  the  only  landing-place, 
while  mounds  of  sand,  thinly  strewn  with  architectural  frag- 
ments, alone  point  out  the  ancient  circuit  of  the  town.  And  ia 
this  all  that  remains  to  tell  the  tale  of  ancient  Tjtc,  the  early 
seat  of  civilisation,  the  empress  of  the  waves .'  Could  this  dreary 
coast  have  poured  forth  dauntless  navigators  to  explore  distant 
regions  ;  this  cheerless  waste,  could  it  ever  have  been  the  patri- 
mony of  '•  merchant-princes  .' "  Could  this  little  territory  have 
been  the  emporium  of  the  commerce  of  the  world?" 


CHAPTER  THE  TJFENTY-SEVENTH. 

1—6.  (1,2)  lamentation,  or  funeral  dirge."  (?,')  entry, 
lit.  entries.  Ancient  Tjre  had  two  ports.  It  was  a  harbour  to 
and  from  which  ships  went  from  all  parts  of  the  Mediterranean, 
and  connected  seas,  perfect  beauty,  completelv  fitted,  and 
grandly  adorned.  (4)  midst  .  .  seas,  lit.  "  in  the"  heart  of  the 
sea."*  (5)  Senir,  the  Amorite  name  for  ]\rt.  Hermon.'^  (ti) 
Baslian,  a  district  celebrated  for  its  oaks,  company  .  .  ivory, 
this  is  better  trans.  '■  They  have  made  thy  ro\vinQ--bonches  of 
ivoiy  inlaid  in  the  best  boxwood."  isles  of  Ch.ittim,''  phrase 
for  Greece  and  the  Grecian  islands. 

A  .ttal-e  of  .<(in,  if  n,  .tf/ite  of  (Icnth,  Cr.  3). — 1.  TVe  are  all  destitute 
of  spiritual  life  ;  2.  The  Word  of  God  is  the  appointed  means  of 
communicating  spiritual  life  ;  3.  The  influence  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  is  indispens.able  to  the  prodiiction  of  spiritual  life  ;  4.  The 
influence  of  the  Holj'  Spirit  is  to  be  obtnined  through  pi-aver  ; 
.").  We  have  every  encouragement  to  pray  for  the  influence  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  :  <'>.  The  cnnsr'qu'"'nocs  of  the  outpouring  of  the  influ- 
ence of  the  Till}'  Snirit  will  be  beneficial  and  gloriors.'' 

Ancient  Tyre. — The  Saracens  and  Turks  were  the  unconscioufl 


Cap.xxvii.  7—11.] 


EZEKIEL. 


"^19 


instruments  who  carried  these  prophecies  into  their  fulfilment : 
thej  utterly  destroyed  Sidou  and  Tjrre,  that  they  might  not  afford 
further  retuge  to  the  crusaders.  There  were  two  harbours,  formed 
by  the  island — one  towai-ds  the  north,  and  the  other  towards  the 
Bouth  ;  and  there  was  a  passage  between  the  island  and  the  shore 
from  the  one  to  the  other.  The  island  is  represented  by  Pliny  as 
having  been  four  miles  in  circumference,  but  the  peninsula  upon 
which  the  present  town  is  situated  is  of  much  less  extent.  It 
would  therefore  appear  that  it  is  built,  for  the  most  part,  upon 
the  mole  thrown  up  by  Alexander,  including-  a  small  portion  of 
the  original  island.  There  is  thus  enough  of  the  rock  left  in 
existence  for  the  fishers  to  spread  their  nets  upon,  while  the 
principal  area,  once  mantled  with  palaces  and  alive  with  a  busy 
population,  has  been  swept  into  '■  the  midst  of  the  waters,''  and 
can  be  built  no  more.  The  disappearance  of  the  island  has  caused 
the  destruction  of  the  harbours  ;  and  as  all  protection  to  shipping 
is  now  taken  away.  Tyre  can  never  again  rise  to  eminence  as 
''the  mart  of  nations.'"  There  are  still  two  small  rocks  in  the 
sea,  to  which  the  island  probably  extended  ;  and  as  the  fisher- 
men's boats  can  approach  them  in  calm  weather,  they  seem  to 
invite  the  spreading  of  nets  upon  their  surface.  I  and  my  com- 
panions sailed  over  the  present  harbour  in  a  small  boat,  to 
examine  the  columns  that  may  clearly  be  seen  under  the  water 
on  a  fine  day.  but  the  sea  was  too  rough  to  allow  us  to  discover 
many  of  them.  The  present  town  is  walled,  and  is  of  very 
modern  date.  The  space  inside  is  in  a  great  measure  open,  and 
the  houses  are  mean.  The  governor's  residence  is  the  only 
respectable  building.  There  are  many  columns  near  the  small 
harbour,  and  others  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  peninsula,  but 
there  is  no  ruin  of  ancient  date  the  plan  of  which  can  be  traced. 
We  saw  in  a  garden  a  granite  column  of  one  block,  that  measured 
thirtj'  feet  in  length,  and  the  diameter  was  in  proportion.  The 
eastern  end  of  the  cathedral  is  still  standing.  We  ascended  to 
the  top  of  the  ruin  by  a  spiral  staircase,  and  from  thence  had  a 
view  of  the  town.  The  burial-ground  is  near.  From  this  situa- 
tion the  houses  had  a  singular  appearance,  as  the  roofs  are  all 
flat,  and  were  then  verdant  with  a  rich  covering  of  grass.  IJpon 
the  plain  there  are  the  remains  of  an  extensive  aqueduct.  The 
mole  appears  like  a  mere  collection  of  sand,  but  beneath,  there 
may  be  some  construction  of  more  enduring  materials. 

7—11.  (7)  fine  linen,  Ge.  xli.  42.  spreadest  forth,  as  they 
Bail,  to  catch  the  wind."  blue  and  purple,  i.e.  material  dyed 
with  costly  murez-dyes.^  '  isles  of  Elishah,  Ge.  x.  4.  (8) 
Arvad,  Ge.  x.  18.  (9)  Gebal,  a  province  of  Phoenicia,  near 
Tyre."  calkers,  stoppers  of  chinks  :  it  was  their  business  to 
make  the  vessels  water-tight.  (10)  Persia,  Heb.  Puj-as.  Leid 
and  Phut,  prob.  in  Africa,  Nah.  iii.  0.  hanged  .  .  thee,  it  was 
customary  to  ornament  the  walls  with  weapons.  (11)  G-am- 
madims,  an  unknown  nation.     The  word  may  mean,  watch  men. 

Eastern  .^iil/h'ers  in  time  of  pence. — The  Eastern  soldiers  in  time 
of  peace  are  disponed  of  about  the  walls  of  places,  and  particularly 
in  the  towers,  and  at  the  gates.  Xiebuhr  tells  us  that  the  foot- 
soldiers  of  the  imam  of  Yemem  have  very  little  to  do  in  times  of 
peace,  any  more  than  the  cavalry  :  some  of  them  mount  guard 
at  file  dela's,  or  governor's  ;  they  are  also  employed  at  the  gates 
and  upon  tlie  towers.     Van  Egmont  and  Heyman  give  a  similar 


and  skilful  pilots, 
but  at  last  ia 
tempestuous  s?as 
wrecked. "- faiij- 
set. 

c  T>e.  iii.  9. 
Virgil    mentions 
tlie    fir    tree    as 
especially   useful 
for      ships,     the 
cedar  and  cypress 
for  houses. 
d  Je.  ii.  10. 
vn.  1—4.  J.  Hunt, 
195. 

e  G.  Brooks. 
"  O  sin  1  how 
hast  thou 
cursed  us  1  Thou 
hast  thrown  up 
a  barrier  between 
ourselres  and. 
God.  With  thy 
chilling  breath 
tluiu  hast  extin- 
guished the  light 
of  our  household 
joys ;  thou  hast 
unstrung  our 
harp,  and  filled 
the  air  with  dis- 
cordant cries ; 
thou  hast  un- 
sheathed the 
sword,  a  u  d 
bathed  it  ia 
humau  blood ; 
thou  hast  dug 
every  grave  iu 
the  bosom  of  the 
fair  earth ;  but 
for  thee,  we 
should  not  have 
known  the  name 
of  wdow  or  or- 
phan, tear  and 
sigh,  sorrow  and 
death ;  but  for 
thee,  our  hearts 
had  been  untorn 
by  a  pang,  and 
our  joy  pure  as 
the  ecstasies  of 
heaven." — j5/\  jr. 
Parker. 

a  Caligula,  the 
extravagant  Ro- 
man emperor, 
furnished  his 
p  1  e  a  s  u  r  e-boats 
with  costly  sails 
and  other  expen- 
sive ornaments. ' 
— Siif(oinus. 
h  This  was  used 
for  awnings  over 
the  deck. 
c  1  Ki.  V.  18 ;  Pa. 
Ixxxiii.  8. 
V.  7  Bp.  Word*- 
worth,  314. 


320 


EZEKIEL. 


Cap.  xxvil.  12—21. 


«.  11.  J.  C.  Die- '  account.  Sandys,  speaking  of  the  decorations  of  one  of  the  gates 
teric,  Am.  671.  |  ^j  ^]^g  imperial  seraglio  in  Constantinople,  tells  us  that  ii  is  hung 
a  Uarmer.  \  with  shields  and  scimetars.     Through  this  gate  people  jiass  to  the 

i  divan,  where  justice  is  administered  ;  and  these  are  the  ornaments 

I  of  this  public  jiassage.'' 


a  Fairhnim.  \ 

h  liochart. 
"Each  frronp   of 
shops  is  calleil  a 
market." — Van 
Lmnep. 

"The  domestic 
•utensils  of  the 
Orientals  are 
nearly  always 
trass :  and  to 
these  they  often 
refer  as  a  sign  of 
property.  '  He  is 
a  rich  man  ;  liis 
house  is  full  of 
brass  vessels.' 
'  Begone  1  fellow, 
I  have  more  brass 
in  my  house  than 
would  purchase 
all  thy  property." 
'  The  miserable 
man  has  not  a 
brass  dish  in  his 
house."  "-Roberts. 

The  desolate  ap- 
pearance of  Soor 
from  the  sea— a 
Btrajjgling,  re- 
pulsive village  of 
low  scattered 
dwellings,  with  a 
few  squalid  in- 
habitants loiter- 
ing on  the  beach 
— is  in  gloomy 
contrast  with  the 
gorgeous  descrip- 
tions of  insular 
Tyre,before  Alex- 
ander effected  its 
destruction  by 
the  daring  expe- 
dient of  uniting 
it  with  the  con- 
tiueut. 


a  2  Chr.  xxvii.  2. 

b  Je.  viii.  25. 

e  Now  Aleppo. 

"It  was  a  bfau- 
,tiful  truth  which 
»ur.    forefathers 


12—16.  02)  Tarshish,  prob.  Tartc.vus  in  Spain.  Oe.  x.  4. 
Spain  was  rich  in  metals,  traded  in  thy  fairs,  or  ••  did  barter 
with  thee.""  (18)  Javan,  Ureece.  Tubal,  and  Meshech, 
'■  the  Moschi  and  Tibareni.  who.se  habitation  was  near  the  Euxine 
Sea."*  persons  of  men,  7:.e.  slaves.  (14)  Tog  arm  ah,  Armenia, 
Ge.  X.  2.  (15)  Dedan,  Ge.  x.  7.  (KJj  emeralds,  or  carbuncle, 
coral,  poss.  silk,  or  precious  stones,  are  meant  by  the  word, 
agate,  Is.  liv.  12. 

The  site  of  ancient  Ti/re. — The  present  peninsula,  once  the  site 
of  this  splendid  city,  anciently  estimated  at  three  miles  in  cir- 
cumference, but  apparently  of  somewhat  less  extent,  is  now  a 
dreary  waste,  distinguished  only  by  hillocks  and  furrows ;  and 
the  memorable  isthmus,  then  so  laboriously  constructed,  has 
become  less  conspicuous  from,  the  augmentation  of  its  width,  by 
the  gradual  accumulation  of  sand.  Its  onco  vaunted  port  is  now 
so  effectually  choked,  that  only  small  boats  can  ajiproach  the 
shore,  although,  amidst  the  waves,  the  foundations  are  still 
visible  of  the  massive  walls  that  formed  its  fortified  boundaries, 
leaving  only  a  narrow  entrance  secured  by  a  chain.  Near  the 
landing-place,  a  few  tolerable  houses  face  the  sea,  and  similar 
ones  are  sparingly  distributed  in  other  directions.  An  insignificant 
bazaar  offers  few  temptations  even  to  those  who  seek  ordinary 
commodities,  and  the  diverging  streets  are  little  more  than 
circuitous  alleys,  capriciously  winding  between  high  walls,  as  if 
concealment  alone  afforded  security.  Here  and  there  a  low  door 
opens  into  an  orchard  or  paddock,  but  more  frequently  into  a 
small  court,  surrounded  with  miserable  hovels,  evidently  the 
abodes  of  abject  poverty.  Occasional!}'  an  unclosed  door  exhibits 
a  court  of  larger  dimensions,  where  a  few  rude  implements  of 
husbandry,  and  the  less  meagre  looks  of  better-clad  occupants, 
betoken  a  state  somewhat  approaching  to  comfort  and  ease. 
Little  cultivation,  however,,  is  perceptible  near  the  town  ;  of 
commercial  activity  there  is  no  sign  ;  listless  groups  fill  every 
vacant  space;  and  fishermen  no  longer  '•  sprea^l  their  nets"  on 
the  shore.  Hence  it  becomes  difficult  to  conjecture  how  a  popula- 
tion, scarcely  removed  from  indigence,  can  here  subsist,  notwith- 
standing the  temperate  habits  of  the  East,  which  demand  little 
more  than  a  morning  and  evening  repast  of  fresh-baked  cakes, 
sometimes  eaten  with  a  sort  of  pottage  made  of  lentils.onions,  etc., 
and  sometimes  merely  with  a,  dravight  of  water,  or  a  little  fruit. 

17—21.  (17)  wheat  of  Minnitli,  1  Ki.  v.  9-11.  Minnith 
is  in  the  country  of  the  Ammonites,  wh.  was  famous  for  its  corn- 
lauds."  Pannag,  not  known  as  a  place.  Poss.  it  means  some 
kind  of  gum  or  ointment,  balm,  for  wh.  Gilead  was  famous.* 
( IS )  Damascus,  the  chief  city  of  Syria.  Helbon,  or  Chaiybon." 
a  district  in  Syria  famous  for  its  wine.  (19)  Dan,  poss.  sliould 
be  ^'('(l^n.  the  modern  Aden.  Javan,  poss.  a  Greek  settlement 
in  Arabia,  bright  iron,  i.e.  vs-rought  iron,  cassia,  Ex.  xxx. 
24.  calamus,  Ex.  xxx.  2'^.  (20)  precious  clothes,  perhaps 
''saddle-cloths."    (21)  Kedar,  Go.  xsv.  13. 


Cap.  xxvii.  22—25.] 


EZEKIEL. 


321 


JlcHglonfor  business. — The  earnest  spirit  of  business  (and  men 
must  be  earnest,  or  they  will  do  nothing), — the  earnest  spirit  of 
business  must  be  met  and  controlled,  must  be  suffused  and  sanc- 
tilied,  by  a  still  more  earnest  spirit  of  religion.  A  hollow  and 
heartless  piety  can  never  guide  such  a  business  spirit  as  Hale 
possessed,  and  such  as,  in  these  days  especially,  all  successful 
men  must  possess.  Strength  must  be  combined  with  strength ; 
earnestness  must  control  earnestness  ;  zeal  must  pierce  into,  and 
exalt  and  purify  zeal ;  faith  in  eternal  things,  in  the  soul,  in 
God,  in  Christ,  in  the  Spirit,  in  heaven,  must  be  clear,  eagle-eyed, 
seeing  at  a  distance,  looking  through  clouds  and  storm  ;  love  to 
God  must  be  a  blaziug  fire  like  that  on  Elijah's  altar,  which 
licked  up  the  water,  dust,  and  stones  that  filled  the  trenches. 
Say  not  such  mighty  faith,  such  fervent  love,  are  impossible  in 
this  world  of  bustle,  toil,  and  care  ;  for  Hale  has  demonstrated 
that  the  thing  was  practicable  ;  and  so  has  William  Wilberforce  ; 
and  so  has  Mr.  Hardcastle  the  merchant :  and  so  has  Thomas  Fowell 
Buxton  the  brewer  ;  and  so  has  Joseph  John  Gurney  the  banker, 
and  many  more.  Amidst  the  heats  of  secular  employments,  they 
cooled  their  burning  brows  by  opening  windows  that  looked  into 
eternity,  and  let  in  breezes  that  came  blowing  from  the  land 
•where  angels  dwell.  And  when  their  souls'  chariot-wheels  were 
ready  to  catch  fire  by  the  friction  of  their  secular  activity,  faith 
in  other  things,  and  love  to  other  things,  was  like  cold  water 
dropping  down  to  prevent  the  flames.  The  world  did  not  carry 
them  away  ;  did  not  ovenjower  and  conquer  and  burn  them  up  : 
tliey  remained,  after  all,  masters  of  the  world  and  of  themselves, 
through  the  constant  faith  they  had,  that  they  were  the  servants 
of  God  and  of  Christ.'' 

22—25.  (22)  Sheba,  in  Arabia  Felix.  Raamali,  on  the 
Persian  Gulf.  (23)  Haran,  Carrhoe,  in  N.W.  Mesopotamia. 
Canneli,  prob.  a  town  on  the  Tigris.  Eden,  in  Mesopotamia." 
Assliur,  here  prob.  the  towni  Snm.  Cllilmad,  jirob.  the  Char- 
mancU  of  Xeuophon  :  or  Kalwada.  near  Bagdad.  (24)  all  sorts, 
or  in  excellent  wares,  made  of  cedar,  to  give  the  clothes  a 
fine  scent.*  (25)  did  sing  of  thee,  or  "  were  the  bulwarks  of 
thy  traffic." 

Infancy  of  British  trade. — In  England  the  progress  of  com- 
merce was  extremely  slow,  and  this  country  was  one  of  the  last 
nations  in  Europe  to  avail  itself  of  its  natural  commercial 
advantages.  Before  the  reign  of  Edward  III.,  all  the  wool  of 
England,  except  a  small  quantity  made  into  coarse  cloths  for 
home  consumption,  was  sold  to  the  Flemings  or  Lombards,  and 
manufactured  by  them.  All  foreign  goods  were  brought  into 
England  by  the  Lombard  or  Ilanseatic  merchants.  The  English 
ports  were  frequented  by  ships  both  from  the  north  and  south 
of  Europe  ;  and  they  tamely  allowed  foreigners  to  reap  all 
the  profits  arising  from  the  supply  of  their  wants.  The  first 
commercial  treaty  of  England  on  record  is  that  with  Ilaquin, 
king  of  Norway,  in  1217;  but  the  English  did  not  venture  to 
trade  in  their  own  ships  to  the  Baltic  iintil  the  beginning  of  the 
fourteenth  century  ;  and  it  was  not  until  the  fifteenth  that  they 
eent  any  ships  into  the  Mediterranean,  or  to  the  ports  of  Spain 
and  Portugal.  To  Edward  III.  England  is  indebted  for  giving 
the  first  impulse  to  commerce,  by  endeavouring  to  excite  a  spirit 
of  industry  among  his  subjects.  By  alluring  Flemish  artisans  to 
■\rOL.  IZ.     O.T.  2 


symbolised, 
when,  in  must  of 
our  old  iiusrket- 
to-.vns,  they  )iave 
erecceil  a  market- 
cross,  as  it  to 
teach  the  buyers 
and  sellers  to  rule 
ill  their  actions, 
and  sanctify  their 
gains,  by  the  re- 
membrance of 
the  cross.  The 
Israelites  were 
tauglit  the  .«ame 
in  their  encamp- 
ment :  every  part 
of  the  camp 
looked  toward 
the  tabernacle. 
So  the  C'aiiicse, 
though  in  super- 
stition and  igno- 
rance, set  up 
their  idols  ia 
their  shops. 
'  Prayer  and  jiro- 
vender  hinder  no 
ni.in's  journey. 
There  is  no  time 
lost  in  sharpen- 
ing the  scythe.' " 
— G.  S.  Buiies. 

d  J.  Stuugliton, 


a  2  KL  x.-d.  12. 

h  "  Still  fine 
clothes  are  kept 
in  large  chests 
of  cypress-wood, 
whose  odour  pre- 
serves them  from 
the  ravages  of 
moths.  Ezekiel 
speaks  of  such 
made  of  cypress." 
—  Van  Lennep. 

Soon  after  Col- 
bert came  into 
the  management 
of  the  finances  of 
France,  he  sent 
for  the  principal 
merchants  of 
that  kingdom, 
and  in  order  to 
ingratiate  him- 
self with  them, 
and  to  acquire 
their  confiilence, 
lie  asked  what 
he  could  do  for 
them?  They 
unanimously  an- 
swered, "  Pray, 
sir,  do  nothing  1 
Lai*$ez-noui 


S22 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xxvli.  26—36 


{aire"  "  Let  ns 
do  lor  ourselves." 

"  Oar  business 
liuist  be  till' 
main  ilmiu  of 
our  iiitelloclual 
activities  lUij-  by 
day.  It  is  tlu- 
chiinnel  we  liave 
clioscn  fur  tliein  : 
tliey  must  flow 
in  it  witli  t 
difTusivo  euerfry. 
filling  every  nook 
and  corner." — 
Dr.  Tnllwh. 
c  Percy  Aiuc. 

a  Spk.  Com. 

b  Fa  unset. 

t>.  27.  /;;•.  J.  Ed 
tear  lis,  lu3. 

p-  Sin  is  to  be 
overcome,  not  sc 
much  by  main- 
taining 11  direct 
opposition  to  it. 
as  by  cultivating 
opposite  princi- 
I)1l's  Woulil  you 
kill  the  weeds  in 
your  ganlen, 

plant  it  with 
good  seed  :  if  the 
ground  be  well 
occupied  tliere 
will  be  less  need 
of  the  labour  of 
the  hoe.  If  a 
man  wished  tc 
quench  fire,  he 
miglit  fight  it 
with  'his  hands 
till  he  was  burnt 
to  deatli ;  the 
only  way  is  tc 
apply  an  opposite 
element."  —  An- 
drew Fuller. 

"Behold  my 
tears  I — oli,  think 
them  pearled 
drops  distilled 
from  the  heart!  " 
Heywood. 


a  Eze.  xxvl.  15 


6   "  As  men  are 
•pt    to    despise 


.settle  in  his  dominions,  as  well  as  by  many  wise  laws  for  the 
encoiirasremcnt  and  re<julation  of  trade,  he  gave  a  beginning  to 
the  woollen  manufactures  of  England  ;  and  first  turned  the 
active  and  entequ'If^ing  genius  of  hi.s  people  towards  those  arts 
which  have  raised  the  Eugli.sh  to  the  highest  rank  among  com- 
mercial nations.  So  rapidly  did  the  commerce  of  England 
advance  from  this  time,  that  in  the  twenty-eighth  year  of  the 
same  king,  the  balance  of  commerce  in  her  favour  was  nearly 
equal  to  £800.000  of  our  money.  "  Thus,"  as  Sir  William  Temple 
says,  "  when  England  had  but  a  very  small  foreign  commerce,  we 
were  rich  in  proportion  to  our  neighbours,  by  selling  so  much 
more  than  we  bought,  even  though  we  maintained  such  mighty 
wars  in  I'rauce,  and  carried  our  victorious  arms  into  the  heart  of 
Spain.' "^ 

23—30.  (20)  great  waters,  scenes  of  peril,    east  wind, 

Ps.  xlviii.  7.  (27)  riches,  etc.,  ''All  who  have  been  enumerated 
as  sharing  in  and  constituting  the  glory  of  Tj^re  are  now  recounted 
as  partakers  in  her  wreck.""  (28)  suburbs,  or  pr^incts  ;  build- 
ings on  the  adjoining  continent.  (2i»)  stand  .  .land,  '•  being 
cast  out  of  the  ships  wherein  they  prided  themselves."*  (30) 
against  thee,  better,  over  thee  :  on  account  of  thy  wreck  and 
ruin,  cast . .  ashes,  the  signs  of  intense  and  hopeless  mourning. 
MimvnliKj  for  the  dead. — The  Arabs  have  taken  all  their  modes 
of  manifesting  sorrow  and  mourning  from  the  Hebrews,  as  is 
easily  proved  by  comparing  the  habits  of  Ihe  people  at  the  present 
day  with  the  accounts  in  the  Bible.  When  a  cpJamity  befalls  a 
family,  all  their  relations,  connections,  and  friends  immediately 
hasten  together  to  console  them.  This  undertaking  is  commenced 
by  sorrowing  with  them,  and  exhibiting  every  antic  sign  of  grief 
that  comes  into  their  heads,  and  is  concluded  by  eating.  These 
modes  of  expressing  afiliutiou,  public  or  private,  are  as  follows  : 
tirst,  they  break  out  into  desperate  cries,  which  are  heard  at  a 
great  distance  (Jer.  is.  12,  xxxi.  15),  and  sing  at  intervals  mourn- 
ful dirges,  imitating  the  ancients  in  this  matter,  likewise  1 
Kings  xiii.  20  ;  Jer.  xxii.  18,  xxxix.  '>  ;  then  to  rest  their  wearied 
throats,  with  sad  faces,  among  clouds  of  tobacco-smoke,  they  talk 
over  their  calamity,  cur.-~ing  their  enemies  if  they  are  the  cause 
of  it.  meditating  schemes  of  revenge,  and  imploring  at  every 
moment  the  aid  of  God,  remaining  all  the  time  seated  with  the 
mourners  on  the  ground,  regardless  of  comfort,  like  the  friends 
of  Job,  when,  for  seven  days  and  nights,  they  sat  by  his  side  aa 
he  lay  on  the  ashes  (Job  ii.  8 — 1.3,  iii.,  iv.)  ;  thirdly,  they  put  on 
their  worst  clothes,  tear  them,  let  their  beards  grow,  and  roll 
themselves  on  the  ground,  casting  dust  and  earth  upon  their 
heads  ;  the  women  dye  their  faces  with  black,  uncover  their 
heads  :  let  their  hair  fall  loose  and  di.shevelled,  frequently  tearing 
it :  and  not  satisfied  with  this,  they  scratch  their  faces  and  hands, 
and  foam  at  their  mouths  ;  they  knock  their  heads  against  the 
walls,  and  rage  like  maniacs  among  those  engaged  in  offering 
consolation,  who  in  their  turn  act  in  the  same  way. 

31—36.  (31)  utterly  bald,  ch.  vii.  18.  C"2)  lamentation, 
r.  1.  r:?3)  wares,  or  merchandise.  (34)  broken  .  .  seas,  r.  27. 
(3.'))  isles,"  including  cities  on  the  neighbouring  coasts. 
(30)  hiss,  as  an  expression  of  insult  and  derision :  *  or  aa 
Chaldee  paraphrase,  '•  with  astonishment," 


Cap.  xxviii.  1—6.] 


EZEKIEL. 


325' 


Tlie  Lombards. — During  the  twelftli  and  thirteenth  centuries 
the  commerce  of  Europe  was  almost  entirely  in  the  hands  of  the 
Italians,  more  commonly  known  by  the  name  of  Lombards. 
Companies  or  societies  of  Lombard  merchants  settled  in  every 
kingdom.  They  were  taken  under  the  immediate  protection  of 
the  several  governments,  and  enjoyed  extensive  privileges  and 
immunities.  The  operation  of  the  ancient  barbarous  laws  con- 
cerning strangers  was  suspended  with  respect  to  them  ;  and  in 
France  they  were  exempted  from  the  droit  d'aubalae.  As  the 
Lombards  engrossed  the  trade  of  every  kingdom  in  which  they 
settled,  they  soon  became  masters  of  its  cash.  Money,  of  course, 
was  in  their  hands  not  only  a  sign  of  the  value  of  their  com- 
modities, but  became  an  object  of  commerce  itself.  They  dealt 
largely  as  bankers,  and  in  an  ordinance  in  the  year  12y5,  we 
find  them  styled  mcrcatures  and  camjjsoves.  The  Lombards 
carried  on  this  as  well  as  some  other  branches  of  their  commerce 
with  somewhat  of  that  rapacious  spirit  which  is  natural  to 
monopolisers  who  are  not  restrained  by  rivalship.  An  absurd 
opinion  which  prevailed  in  the  Middle  Ages  was,  however,  in 
some  measure  the  cause  of  their  exorbitant  demands,  and  may 
be  pleaded  in  apology  for  them.  Commerce  cannot  be  carried  on 
with  advantage,  unless  the  jjersons  who  lend  a  sum  are  allowed 
a  certain  premium  for  the  use  of  their  money,  and  as  a  compen- 
sation for  the  risk  they  run  in  permitting  another  to  traihc  with 
their  stock.  This  premium  is  fixed  by  law  in  all  commercial 
countries,  some  of  the  States  of  America  excepted,  and  is  called 
the  legal  interest  of  money.  But  the  fathers  of  the  Church  jjre- 
posterously  applied  the  prohibitions  of  usury  in  Scripture  to  the 
payment  of  legal  interest,  and  condemned  it  as  a  sin.  The 
schoolmen,  misled  by  Aristotle,  whose  sentiments  they  followed 
implicitly,  and  without  examination,  adopted  the  same  error  and 
enforced  it.  Thus  the  Lombards  found  themselves  engaged  in  a 
traffic  which  was  deemed  criminal  and  odious,  and  subject  to 
punishment  if  detected.  They  were  not  satisfied,  therefore,  with 
that  moderate  premium  which  they  might  have  claimed  if  their 
trade  had  been  open  and  authorised  by  law.  They  exacted  a  sum 
proportionate  to  the  danger  and  infamy  of  a  discovery.  The 
Lombards  \^'ere  established  in  England  in  the  thirteenth  century, 
and  carried  on  an  extensive  commerce,  particularly  as  bankers, 
in  a  street  which  still  bears  their  name.  The  three  gilt  balls 
which  now  adorn  the  shops  of  pawnbrokers  were  the  arms  of 
the  Lombards,  and  were  generally  attached  to  their  respective 
houses  in  England.*^ 

CHAPTER  THE  TTVENTY-EIGHTH. 

1 — 5.  (1,  2)  prince,  or  king.  His  name  prob.  was  Ittiohalus." 
This  prince  is  regarded  here  as  the  representative  of  a  proud 
system,  lifted  up,  in  self-confidence  and  pride,  a  god,  comp. 
Da.  iv.  30.'  Some  princes  have  actually  demanded  that  divine 
honours  should  be  paid  to  them,  midst  .  .  seas,  ch.  xxvii.  4. 
man,  and  only  a  man.  (3)  than  Daniel, "^  spoken  in  irony, 
ch.  xiv.  It.  (4)  tliy  wisdom,  dc,  this  represents  the  prince's 
boosting  and  self-esteem,  not  the  actual  facts.  (5)  because  .  . 
riches,  the  usual  consequence  of  riches  swiftly  gathered  is 
inordinate  pride,  and  carnal  reliance  on  mere  temporal  wealth. 

X  2 


those  in  adver- 
sity, whom  they 
courted  and  re- 
sjiictcd  in  pro- 
.spurity."— ioitvA. 

V.  33.  Dr.  R.  Wcl- 

tvn,  393. 

"It  is  one  thing 
to  understand 
persons,  and 

another  tiling  to 
understand  mat- 
ters ;  for  many 
are  perfect  in 
men's  humours 
that  are  not 
g-reatly  capable 
of  the  real  part 
of  business.which 
is  the  constitu- 
tion of  one  that 
hath  studied  mea 
more  than  books. 
Sucli  men  are 
fitter  for  practice 
than  for  counsel, 
and  they  are 
good  but  in  their 
own  alley  :  turn 
them  to  new  men, 
ami  they  have 
lost  their  aim : 
so  as  the  old  rule, 
to  know  a  fool 
from  a  wise  man, 
'  Alille  ambos 
inidvs  ad  ignolos, 
et  videbis,'  doth 
scarce  hold  for 
them ;  and,  be- 
cause these  cun- 
ning men  are 
like  haberdashers 
of  small  wares, 
it  is  not  amiss  to 
set  forth  their 
shop." — Bacon. 

c  Percy  Ante. 


a  Josephut, 

b  Also  Ac.  xiL 
21 ;  2  Th.  ii.  4. 

"  The  words  are 
put  in  the  mouth 
(if  the  speaker  to 
denote  liis  arro- 
gant pride  ;  but 
the  situation  of 
the  island  city, 
full  of  luxury  and 


324 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap,  xxvill.  6—15. 


beauty,  in  the 
niidst  of  the  blue 
■water  of  the 
Moditprranean, 
gives  force  to 
the  expression." 
— <S^i-.  Com. 

c  Da.  i.  17,  vi.  3. 

See  Dr.  E.  Ap- 
thorp,  ii.  240. 

d  A.  Wai'wick. 


a  "  Thou  Shalt 
die  by  such  a 
remarkable  juilg 
meat  as  God 
usually  inflicts 
upon  notorious 
offenders." — 
Lowth. 

"  In  ways  of 
greatness  think 
on  this  —  that 
slippery  all  aui- 
Toition  is."— JJer- 
rick. 

"Towns  turned 
to  aslies,  fanes 
involved  in  lire  1 
Tliese  deeds  tlie 
guilt  of  rash  am- 
bition tell."  — 
Fawkes. 


b  Tupper. 


"  Thou  art  the 
consummation  of 
the  model  of 
perfection.  T)ie 
king  of  Tyro, 
■whowastheliead 
of  the  Tyrian 
community,  and 
completed  and 
crowricd  its  or- 
ganisation, was 
like  a  seal  which 
gaye  perfection 
to  it." — Words- 
worth. 

h  "  The  chenib 
consecrated  to 
'tlie  Lord  by  the 
anointing  oil." — 
Faivbait-n. 

«».  12-21.  Ori- 
gen,  iii.  401. 


Pride  a  great  enemy  to  rea.vm. — Pride  is  the  greatest  enemy 
to  reason,  and  discretion  the  greatest  opposite  to  pride  :  for  while 
wisdom  makes  art  the  ape  of  nature,  pride  makes  nature  the  ape 
of  art.  The  wise  man  shapes  his  apparel  to  his  body:  tlic  i)roud 
man  shapes  his  body  by  his  apparel.  'Tis  no  marvel,  then,  if  he 
know  not  himself,  when  he  is  not  to-day  like  him  he  was  yester- 
day ;  and  less  marvel  if  g-ood  men  will  not  know  him.  when  he 
forgets  himself  and  all  goodness.  I  should  fear,  while  I  thus 
change  my  shape,  lest  my  llaker  should  change  His  ojnnion, 
and,  tindiug  me  not  like  him  He  made  me.  reject  me  as  none  of 
His  making.  I  would  any  day  put  off  the  old  cause  of  my 
apparel,  but  not  every  day  put  on  new-fashioned  apparel.  I  see 
great  reason  to  be  ashamed  of  my  pride,  but  no  reason  to  be 
proud  of  my  shame* 

6—10.  (6)  Lord  God,  note  that,  in  the  use  of  this  full 
name  is  given  the  assertion  that  Jehovah  is  the  only  God. 
(7)  strangers,  even  the  Babylonian  amiy.  made  up  of  people 
from  unknown  regions.  (8)  tlie  pit,  or  bottom  of  the  sea.  The 
fig.  of  this  r.  is  taken  from  a  sea-fight.  ('J)  a  man,  only  a 
man.  and  so  entirely  in  the  power  of  the  foe.  You  shall  show 
no  Divine  powers  in  the  time  of  trouble,  so  as  to  be  able  to 
deliver  yourself.  (10)  uncircumcised,  heathen  idolaters  as 
opposed  to  the  covenant  people." 

Depth,  of  pride. — 
Deep  is  the  sea,  and  deep  is  hell,  but  pride  mineth  deeper  ; 
It  is  coiled  as  a  poisonous  worm  about  the  foundations  of  the 

soul, 
If  thou  expose  it  in  thy  motives,  and  track  it  in  thy  springs  of 

thought. 
Complacent  in  its  own  detection,  it  will  seem  indignant  virtue  ; 
Smoothly  it  will  gratulate  thy  skill.  0  subtle  anatomist  of  self. 
And  spurn  at  its  very  being,  while  it  nestleth  the  deeper  in  thy 
bosom.'' 

11 — 15.  (n.  12)  sealest  .  .  sum,  or  completest  the  perfect 
pattern.  "  Thou  art  the  sealer  of  a  perfect  structure."  * 
(13)  in  Eden,  ironically  describing  the  king  of  Tyre  as  an 
Adam,  a  fii-st  of  creation,  sardius,  etc.,  comp.  Ex.  xxviii. 
17 — 20,  xxxix.  8,  foil,  tabrets,  or  drums,  pipes,  hollow- 
tubes;  the  accomiianiments  of  festive  seasons.  (14)  anointed 
cherulD,*  or  "  chenxb  of  unction."  coveretll,  as  the  cherub  in 
the  holy  of  holies  overshado\s-eth  the  mercy-seat.  The  cherub 
was  a  symbol  of  perfection.  stones  of  fire,  i.e.  bright  jewels, 
such  as  named  r.  18.  (15)  perfect,  to  all  appearance,  and  in 
thine  own  estimation. 
Siicee.'i.^  of  .tfitire. — 

Of  all  the  ways  that  wisest  men  could  find 

To  mend  the  age.  and  mortify  mankind. 

Satire  well  writ  has  most  successful  proved, 

And  cures,  because  the  remedy  is  loved. 

'Tishard  to  write  on  such  a  subject  more, 

"Without  repeating  things  oft  said  before  ; 

Some  vulgar  errors  only  we  remove, 

That  stain  a  beauty  which  so  much  we  love. 

Of  well-chose  words  some  take  not  care  enough, 

And  think  they  should  be,  as  the  subject,  rough  ; 


Cap.  xxviii.  16—23]. 


EZEKIEL. 


325 


This  great  work  must  be  more  exactly  made, 

And  sharpest  thoughts  in  smoothest  words  conveyed  : 

Some  think,  if  sharp  enough,  they  cannot  fail, 

As  if  their  only  business  was  to  rail  ; 

But  human  frailty  nicely  to  unfold. 

Distinguishes  a  satire  from  a  scold  ; 

Rage  you  must  hide,  and  prejudice  lay  down  :— 

A  satires  smile  is  sharper  than  his  frown." 

18—19.  (16)  filled  .  .  violence,  swift  prosperity  often  leads 
to  violence,  cheating,  and  extoi'tion.  In  haste  to  be  rich,  virtue 
and  charity  are  often  put  aside,  as  profane,  no  longer  to  be 
regarded  as  sacred.  (17)  brightness,  or  splendour,  alluding 
to  the  lu.x.uries  wh.  wealth  encourages,  lay  .  .  kings,  as  an 
example  of  the  end  of  presumptuous  pride.  (18)  iniquity  .  . 
trafac,  wh.  had  become  dishonest  and  overreaching.  (19;  asto- 
Uislied,  at  thy  ruin." 

Profanii ]i . — The  crew  of  a  vessel  being  at  port  after  a  very 
fatiguing  day  of  labour,  went  on  shore  to  get  some  refreshment. 
They  were  all  sitting  in  one  box,  talking  boisterously,  when  the 
eldest  of  them,  remarking  to  one  of  the  crew  that  he  became 
worse  in  his  habit  of  swearing,  proposed  a  fine  of  one  penny  on 
eveiy  person  who  should  be  guilty  of  the  same  crime.  This  was 
received  with  approbation  by  them  all,  except  the  individual  who 
had  been  reproved,  and  whose  conduct  led  to  the  measure.  He, 
however,  said  if  they  would  excuse  him  that  night,  he  would 
willingly  join  them  on  the  morrow.  He  declared  to  his  com- 
panions, that  he  would  ''have  this  evening's  liberty."  But  God 
set  the  seal  of  death  upon  him.  Shortly  after  this  assertion  he 
left  his  companions,  and  by  them  was  seen  no  more  in  life.  The 
crew  having  seen  nothing  of  him  the  evening  he  had  parted  from 
them,  nor  the  next  day  and  night,  they  suspected  that  he  must 
have  fallen  overboard  when  returning  to  the  ship.  A  search  was 
made  for  him,  and  in  little  more  than  a  quarter  of  an  hour  his 
lifeless  body  was  found.* 

20—23.  (20,  21)  Zidon,"  the  neighbouring,  but  older* 
Phoenician  city.  It  was  famous  for  its  fishery,  and  increased 
in  wealth  after  Tyre  was  humbled.  (22)  against  thee,  bee. 
of  the  idolatries  wherewith  the  Zidonians  had  corrupted  Israel. 
(28)  pestilence,  another  agent  used  in  executing  the  Divine 
vengeance  on  nations. 

Plagur  at  Malta. — All  the  other  miseries  of  mankind  have  no 
parallel  to  the  calamities  of  the  plague.  The  s.^mipathy  which 
relatives  feel  for  the  wounded  and  the  dying  in  battle  is  but  the 
shadow  of  that  heartrending  affliction  inspired  by  the  ravages 
of  pestilence.  Conceive  in  the  same  house  the  beholder,  the 
sickening,  and  dying.  To  help  is  death  !  To  refuse  assistance 
is  inhuman  !  It  is  like  the  shipwrecked  mariner  striving  to 
rescue  his  drowning  companion,  and  sinking  with  him  into  the 
same  oblivious  grave.  In  1813,  such  was  the  virulence  with 
which  the  plague  raged  at  Malta,  such  the  certain  destruction 
which  attended  the  slightest  contact  with  the  infected,  that,  at 
last  every  better  feeling  of  the  heart  was  extinguished  in  a 
desir3  of  self-preservation  ;  and  nobody  could  be  procured  to 
perform  the  melancholy  offices  which  make  up  the  funeral 
train  of  sickness  and  death.    In  this  woeful  emergency  a  band 


V.  31.  J.  C.  Diex. 
teric,  Ant.  675, 


c  Mulgrave. 


a  Com  p.  Re.  xviL 

16,  xviii.  9. 

?■.  17.    Dr.  T.  Le- 

hind,  iii.  1G7. 

V.  18.  Bp.  wa- 

berj'orce,  94. 

"  The  sins  of  our 
youth  liasteu  U3 
to  tlie  sins  of  our 
age  ;  ami  the  sins 
of  our  age  look 
back  upon  the 
follies  of  our 
youth  ;  pride  fea- 
thers my  ambi- 
tion, aud  ambi- 
tion swells  my 
pride ;  gluttony 
is  a  pander  to 
my  lust,  aud  my 
lust  a  steward  to 
my  gluttony. 
Sins  seldom  end 
where  they  begin, 
but  run  on,  till 
they  be  infinite 
and  innumer- 
able."—  Anthony 
Furindon. 

b  Whitecross, 

a,  Joel  iii.  i. 

b  Ge.  X.  19. 

"  If  those  whom 
the  wis<lom  of 
our  laws  has  con- 
demned to  die, 
Iiad  been  de- 
tected iu  their 
rudiments  of 

robbery,  they 
might,  by  proper 
discipline,  and 
useful  labour, 
have  been  dis- 
entangled in 
tlieir  habits; 
they  might  have 
efcaped  all  the 
tenjplations  to 
subsequent 
c  r  i  m  e  s  7  n  d 
passed  their  days 
in  ri  piration  and 
penitence ;  and 
detected  they 
might    all    harrt 


326 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xxix.!— 7. 


been,  liad  tlie 
pro>:ecnt()rs  been 
certain  tlieirlives 
vouM  have  been 
sparoil.  1  believe 
every  thi(?f  will 
confess  that  he 
lias  been  more 
than  onoe  seized 
and  dismissed ; 
and  that  lie  has 
Bometimes  ven- 
tured upon  cajji- 
tal  crimes,  be- 
cause he  knew 
that  those  whom 
he  injured  wonid 
rather  connive  at 
his  escape  tli.'in 
cloud  their  minds 
■with  the  horrors 
of  his  death." — 
Johnson. 

e  Percy  Anec. 
a  "  This  transi- 
tion from  the 
enemies  to  the 
people  of  God  is 
made  to  close 
the  portion  of 
the  prophecies 
against  the 
lieathen,  ■which 
concerns  tlie 
nations  in  the 
immediate  vici- 
nity of  the 
Israelites,  'them 
that  despise 
them  round 
about  them,' 
before  passing  to 
the  more  distant 
'Egy^t:'—iipk. 
Com. 


a  "The  most 
po'n'erful  king  of 
Egypt  next  to 
r  s  a  m  m  e  t  i  cus, 
whose  great 
grandson  he  was. 
He  besieged  and 
captured  Oaza 
(Jer.  .\lvii.  ]), 
and  attacked 
SiJon,  and  en- 
countered the 
king  of  Tyre  in 
an  ong.agemeiit 
by  sea,  and  re- 
covered nnich  of 
the  influence  wh. 
Eg.  had  lost  since 
its  defeat  at  Car- 
cheiiiish  by  Ne- 
buchadnezzar, in 
the  fourth   >ear 


of  darinof  and  ferocious  Greeks  came  oyer  to  the  island,  and, 
clad  in  oiled  k^atber,  volunteered  their  pervicos  -with  very  liappy 
elt'ect :  but  their  number  was  so  small,  that  recourse  was  obli.<ced 
to  be  had  to  some  French  and  Italian  prisoners  of  war  for 
assistance.  What  will  not  man  for  liberty  perform  ?  Tempted 
by  the  promise  of  a  handsome  reward  and  their  liberation  a' 
the  disappearance  of  the  plagfue,  numbers  of  these  unfortunate 
captives  engaged  in  the  perilous  task  of  waiting  on  the  sick, 
burying  the  dead,  cleaning  and  whitewashing  the  infected 
houses,  burning  their  furniture,  etc.  Providence  appeared  to 
have  taken  these  children  of  despair  under  its  speciul  protec- 
tion ;  few  of  them  comparatively  fell  victims  to  their  humane 
intrei^idity.  Mr.  Murdo  Young,  in  his  notes  to  his  poem  of 
Antonia,  mentions  that  he  saw  some  of  them,  when  duty  led 
them  near  the  prison  where  they  had  left  their  less  enterprising 
comi^anions  confined,  climb  up  to  the  chimney  tojjs  of  the  infected 
houses,  and  being 

"  Free  from  jilague,  in  danger's  dread  employ, 
Wave  to  their  friends  in  openness  of  joy."  ' 

14 — 16.  (24)  pricking  brier,  -'first  ensnaring  the  Is- 
raelites to  sin,  and  then  being  made  the  instrument  of  punisiiing' 
them."  See  Nu.  xxxiii.  .55.  (25)  gathered  .  .  scattered,  here 
the  Lords  mercy  to  Israel  is  set  in  contrast  with  His  dealings 
with  the  surrounding  nations."     (2G)  build  houses,  Is.  Ixv.  21. 

The  record  of  our  Ji.rrs. — With  every  turn  of  the  turnstile  on 
Waterloo  Bridge  a  record  is  made  against  the  gatekeeper,  and  he 
cannot  recall  or  obliterate  it.  Every  movement  of  the  wind 
over  Greenwich  observatory,  steady  or  capricious,  fa.st  or  slow,  is 
self-registered,  with  pencil  and  paper,  by  an  apparatus  communi- 
cating to  a  room  below,  in  which  blank  paper  is  presented  to 
the  pencil  by  clockwork,  and  these  autobiographical  memoirs 
are  carefully  preserved.  So  constant  and  unerring  is  the  record 
kept  in  the  book  of  God's  remembrance  concerning  all  our 
actions,  and  even,  "every  idle  word  that  men  shall  Bpeak " 
(Matt.  xii.  36). 


CHAPTER  TEE  TJFENTY-NINTH. 

1—^7.  (1)  tenth  year,  i.e.  of  the  captivity.  Jerusalem  had, 
at  this  time,  been  besieged,  but  not  taken.  (2)  Pharaoh,  the 
common  name  of  the  Eg.  kings.  This  was  IFojihra,  or  Api-fe.'^, 
in  the  Greek."  (3)  great  dragon,  Heb.  tann'nn,  prob.  the 
crocodile,*  the  chief  creature  of  the  Nile  made  a  symbol  of  the 
king,  midst  .  .  rivers,  the  royal  city,  Sols,  was  situated  in  the 
Delta,  among  the  many  branches  or  streams  of  the  Nile,  river 
.  .  myself,  the  exiiression  of  Hophra"s  boastful  pride."^  (4) 
hooks,  Job  xli.  2.  fish  .  .  rivers,  a  fig.  for  the  allies  of  Egypt, 
stick  .  .  scales,  a  fig.  for  the  fate  of  Hophra,  whose  subjects 
revolted,  and  strangled  him.  (5)  thrown,  etc.,  this  was  the 
fate  of  Hophra's  army.  ((!)  staff  of  reed,  Is.  xxxvi.  (».  (7) 
break,  and  so  utterly  fail  the  Jews  in  the  hour  of  their  need. 

I'lain  prearhincj. — In  the  town  of  Goslar,  in  the  Hartz  i\roun- 
tains,  there  is  in  the  principal  square  a  fountain,  evidently  of 
mediaeval  date,  but  the  peculiarity  of  its  construction  is  that  no 
one  can  reach  the  water  so  as  to  fill  a  bucket  or  even  get  a  drink 


Cap.  xxix.  8—16.] 


EZEKIEL. 


327 


to  quench,  his  thirst.  Both  the  jets,  rnd  the  basin  into  which 
they  tall,  are  above  the  reach  of  any  man  of  ordinary  stature  ; 
yet  the  fountain  was  intended  to  supply  the  public  with  water, 
and  it  fultils  its  design  by  a  method  which  we  never  saw  iu  use 
before  :  every  jjerson  brings  a  spout  or  trough  with  him  long 
enough  to  reach  the  top  of  the  fountain  and  bring  the  water 
down  into  his  pitcher.  We  are  afraid  that  all  our  reverence  for 
antiquity  did  not  prevent  the  full  exercise  of  our  risible  faculties  ; 
sixpeunyvvorth  of  mason"s  work  with  a  chisel  would  have  made 
the  crystal  stream  available  to  all  ;  but  no,  every  one  must  bring 
a  trough,  or  go  away  uusuijplied.  When  lu-eachers  of  the  Gospel 
talk  in  so  lofty  a  style  that  each  hearer  needs  to  bring  a  dictionary, 
they  remind  us  of  the  absurd  fountain  of  Goslar.  The  use  of  six- 
syllabled  jaw-breaking  words  is  simply  a  most  ludicrous  vanity. 
A  little  labour  on  the  part  of  such  pedants  would  save  a  world  of 
Ijrotitless  toil  to  their  hearers,  and  enable  those  uneducated 
persons  who  have  no  means  of  reaching  the  preacher's  altitude 
to  derive  some  measure  of  instruction  from  his  ministry.'' 

8 — 11.  (8)  a  S"WOrd,  fig.  for  invasion  of  Chaldasan  army." 
(9)  because,  etc.,  i.e.  it  must  be  distinctly  understood  that  the 
judgment  will  come  upon  him  for  his  impiety  and  his  insolence, 
(lu;  tower  of  Sj^ene,*  or  modern  A.^nouan,  near  to  which  are 
the  First  Cataracts.  (II)  forty  years,  an  ideal  number.  Ihe 
terms  of  this  verse  indicate  a  period  of  national  degradation,  and 
should  not  be  too  literally  pressed.  (12)  scatter,  etc.,  "the 
scattering  was  to  be  mainly  the  dissipation  of  their  power." 

The  2>i'ccii^ion  of  2'rojjlu'tio  language. — Wonderful  precision  in 
the  accomx)lishment  of  prophecy  may  be  noticed  in  the  cases  of 
Egyi^t  (Ezek.  xxix.  10,  15,  xxx.  G,  12,  13),  of  Ethiopia  (Nah.  iii. 
8 — 10),  and  other  nations  of  antiquity.  Indeed,  so  exactly  does 
the  history  of  the  four  great  monarchies  correspond  with  the 
prophecies  of  Daniel  (ii.  31),  40,  vii.  17 — 24,  viii.  and  ix.)  that  the 
celebrated  infidel  Porphyiy  (A.D.  233 — 304)  could  only  evade  the 
force  of  their  evidence  by  declaring,  contrary  to  all  evidence,  that 
they  were  written  long  after  the  events,  '•  which  is  as  absurd  as 
if  any  one  should  maintain  that  the  works  of  Yirgil  were  not 
written  under  Augustus,  but  after  his  time  ;  for  the  Book  of 
Daniel  was  as  public,  as  widely  dispersed,  and  as  universally 
received  as  any  book  could  ever  possibly  be."" 

13—16.  (13)  gather,  etc.,  comp.  Je.  xlvi.  26.  (14)  land  of 
Pathros,  the  Thchaid,  or  Upper  Egjqit."  base  kingdom,  in 
a  depressed  or  low  state  :  poss.  meaning  a  tributary  kingdom. 
(1."))  basest  of  kingdoms,  travellers  still  attest  the  '•  deplorable 
and  debased  state  of  this  country."'  (IG)  confidence,  etc., 
refen-ing  to  the  disposition  to  trust  Egypt  in  the  conflict  with 
Kebuchadnezzar.     look  after,  or  seek  aid  from. 

Eggpi\an  Hplendnurs. — The  great  temple  at  Karnak  has  twelve 
principal  entrances,  each  of  which  is  comi">osed  of  several  propyla 
and  colossal  gateways,  besides  other  buildings  attached  to  them, 
in  themselves  larger  than  most  other  temples.  One  of  the 
propyla  is  entirely  of  granite,  adorned  with  the  most  fiuishea 
hieroglyphics.  On  each  side  of  many  of  them  there  have  been 
colossal  statues  of  basalt  and  granite,  from  twenty  to  thirty  feet 
in  height,  some  of  which  are  in  the  attitude  of  sitting,  while 
others  are  standing  erect.    A  double  range  of  colossal  sphinzcs 


of  Jehoiakim  (2 
Ki.  xxiv.  7  ;  Je, 
xlvi.  'i)."-Wurds- 
worth. 

b  On  Honian  coins 
tlie  crocodile  is 
tlie  emblem  of 
Kgypt. 

c  Ilerodolus  says 
that  tills  king 
persuaLled  him- 
self tbat  even  the 
gods  could  not 
dispossess  him  of 
his  kingdom. 

d  Spiu-geon. 


a  "  Prob.  Nebuc. 
was  encouraged 
by  the  revolt  of 
Amasis  against 
Pharaoh  and  Ho- 
pliia,  to  invade 
Ppypt,  anil  was 
thus  enabled  to 
subdue  it  with 
greater  ease." — 
U'il/ciiison. 
b  '■  Syene  itself 
being  the  last 
town  of  Egypt 
towards  tlie  tron- 
ticr  of  Ethiopia, 
this  ver.  does  not 
convey  the  sense 
of  the  original, 
wh.  is  correctly 
given  by  jXttc- 
come  —  '  From 
Migdol  to  Syene, 
even  to  the  bor- 
ders of  Ethiopia.' 
Migdol,  rendered 
'  tower '  in  our 
vers.,  but  which 
should  be  pre- 
served as  a  proper 
name,  was  in  the 
north  of  Egypt, 
wliile  Syene  was 
at  its  southern 
frontier;  so 'from 
Jligdol  to  Syene ' 
describes  the 
whole  of  the 
country."  —  Ma- 
dn.r. 
c  Home. 


a  Gc.  X.  14;  It. 
-xi.  11. 

6  "  Upon  its  re- 
volting from  the 
Persians  it  wai 
Hually    subdued 


328 


EZEKIEL. 


ICap.  xxix,  17-21. 


by  Oclius,  the 
I'croiaii  oniporor, 
anil  lias  been 
governed  by 

Btraiigers  ever 
since." — Lowth. 

"On  the  failure 
of  the  Persian 
empire,  it  be- 
came subject  to 
the  ifaceilonians, 
after  tliem  to  the 
Romans,  then  to 
the  Saracens, 
then  to  the  Jla- 
melukes,  and  it 
is  now  a  province 
of  the  Turkish 
empire." — Pri- 
deuux. 

"Accurst  ambi- 
tion, how  dearly 
have  I  bouglit 
youl  "—Lri/Ut'ii. 

e  ilorne. 


•  "Till  the  heads 
of  the  soldiers 
became  bald  v.ith 
continual  wear- 
ing their  hel- 
mets, and  the 
skin  was  worn  off 
their  shouMers 
with  carrying 
earth  to  raise 
mounts  and  forti- 
fications .ngainst 
it." — Loiiih. 

h  1  Pa.  ii.  1 ;  Job 
xvi.  15. 

e""\Vhen  thy  pre- 
dictions shall 
liave  come  to 
pass,  thy  words 
shall  be  more 
heeded. "-F((»s.«^/. 
re.  17—20.  W. 
Jay,  ix.  420;  /. 
Summerjield,  12. 

d  W.  Jay. 

"The  e  a  gl  e- 
winged  pride  of 
sky-aspiring  and 
ambitions 
thought  s."— 
Shakespeare. 

e  Bnrckhardi's 
7\'avtU  in  Syria. 


extends  across  the  jDlaiu  from  the  temple  at  Luxor  (a  distance  of 
nearly  two  miles),  which  terminates  at  Karnak  in  a  most  magni- 
ficent gateway,  fifty  feet  in  height  wkich  .still  remains  unim- 
paired. From  this  gateway  the  great  temple  was  approached  by 
an  avenue  of  fifty  lofty  columns,  one  of  which  only  now  remains, 
leading  to  a  vast  jjropyloa  in  front  of  the  portico.  The  interior 
of  this  portico  pres3uts  a  cniip  d'ceil,  which  siirjiasses  any  other 
that  is  to  he  found  among  the  remains  of  Egyptian  architecture. 
Twelve  cohxmns,  sixtj'  feet  high,  and  of  a  beautiful  order,  form 
an  avenue  through  the  centre  of  the  building,  like  the  nave  of  a 
Gothic  cathedral,  and  they  are  flanked  on  each  side  by  sixty 
smaller  ones,  ranged  in  six  rows,  which  are  .seen  through  the 
intervals  in  endless  perspective.  The  walls  are  covered  with 
bas-reliefs  of  a  similar  character  with  those  found  in  the  other 
ancient  Egyptian  temples.  Such  is  the  mass  of  disjointed  frag- 
ments collected  together  in  these  magnificent  relics  of  ancient 
art,  that  more  than  human  power  would  a])pear  to  have  caused 
the  overthrow  of  the  strongholds  of  superstition.  Some  have 
imagined  that  the  ruin  was  caused  by  the  instantaneous  con- 
cussion of  an  earthquake.  AVhether  this  conjecture  be  well 
founded  or  erroneous,  the  Divine  predictions  against  Egypt  have 
been  literally  accomplished.  ''  The  land  of  Egypt "  has  been  made 
"  desolate  and  waste  ; "'  "judgments  "  have  been  executed  "  in  No," 
whose  "  multitude  "  has  been  '•  ctit  off ; "  and  No  is  rent  asunder." 
17 — 21.  (17)  seven  and  twentieth,  ,<ter  r.  1.  This  is  a  later 
prophecy,  inserted  here  to  show  that  Nebuchadnezzar  would 
fulfil  the  previotis  threatenings  on  Egypt.  (IS)  serve,  cfc.  not 
merely  to  carry  out  a  great  undertaking,  but  to  fulfil  a  Divine 
commission  against  Tyre.  It  was  a  long  and  exhausting  siege  of 
thirteen  years,  head  .  .  peeled,  figs,  to  express  the  hard  service 
of  the  soldiers."  no  wages,  bee.  the  inhabitants  succeeded  in 
removing  their  treasures  to  New  Tyre,  half  a  mile  distant  from 
the  shore.  (IK)  give  .  .  Egypt,  compensating  Nebuc.  with  the 
spoils  of  Egypt.  (20)  his  labour,  i.e.  as  the  hire  for  his  labour 
in  the  siege  of  Tyre,  for  me,  as  agents  in  fulfilling  My  pur- 
poses. (21)  that  day,  of  Egypt's  overthrow,  horn,  Ps.  cxxxii. 
iz.''     opening,  efc,  i.e.  freedom  to  speak.*" 

Srrrirc  done  for  Hod  rnrardvd  {rr.  17 — 20). — These  words 
furnish  us  with  three  reflections.  I.  The  disposal  of  states  and 
nations  is  the  work  of  Divine  providence.  II.  That  men  may 
serve  God  really,  when  they  do  not  serve  II im  by  design.  III. 
"We  shall  never  be  losers  by  anything  we  do  for  God.'' 

Vncorcring  the  head.—  -"  During  the  war  which  happened  about 
eight  years  ago  between  the  Towara  and  the  jMaazy  Bedouins, 
who  live  in  the  mountains  between  Cairo  and  Coss<>ir,  a  party  of 
the  former  happened  to  be  stationed  here  with  their  families. 
They  were  surj-rised  one  morning  by  a  troop  of  their  enemies, 
while  assembled  in  the  sheikh's  tent  to  drink  cofl'ee.  Seven  or 
eight  of  them  were  cut  down  :  the  sheikh  himself,  an  old  man, 
seeing  escape  impossible,  sat  down  by  the  fire  ;  when  the  leader 
of  the  Maazy  came  tip.  and  cried  out  to  him  to  throw  down  his 
turUan,  and  his  life  should  be  spared.  The  generous  sheikh, 
rather  than  do  what,  according  to  Bedouin  notions,  would  have 
stained  his  reputation  ever  after,  exclaimed,  '  I  shall  not  uncover 
my  head  before  my  enemies  j'  and  was  immediately  killed  with 
the  thrust  of  a  lance."* 


Cap.  XXX.  1—9.3 


EZEKIEL, 


CHAPTER  THE  THIRTIETH. 

1—5.  (1,  2)  liowl  ye,  i.e.  ye  Eg-j^nians.  woe  worth,"  or 
alas!  (3)  near,  Joel  ii.  2,  3.  cloudy  day,  darkened  with 
calamities,  time  .  .  heathen,  or  for  judging  tie  heathen,  (-i) 
pain,  marg.  fmr.  ■  foundations,  i.e.  her  strong  forts  and 
citadels,  on  whose  stability  she  rests.  (5)  Ethiopia,  etc.,  Heb. 
Cuah,  1-hiit,  and  Litd.''  mingled  people, <■  the  mercenary  forces 
of  Egypt  from  various  nations  ;  or  foreigners  settled  in  Egj-pt. 
Chub,  the  site  is  unknown.''  It  may  be  connected  with  CojJtos. 
men  .  .  league,  i.e.  Jews  who  had  settled  in  Egypt. 

E(llipt. — Egypt  was  one  of  the  most  ancient  and  one  of  the 
mightiest  of  kingdoms,  and  the  researches  of  the  traveller  are 
still  directed  to  explore  the  unparalleled  memorials  of  its  power. 
Ko  nation,  whether  of  ancient  or  modern  times,  has  ever  erected 
such  gi-eat  and  durable  monuments.  "While  the  vestiges  of  other 
ancient  monarchies  can  hardly  be  found  amid  the  mouldering 
ruins  of  their  cities,  those  artificial  mountains,  visible  at  the 
distance  of  thirty  miles,  the  pyramids  of  Egypt,  without  a  record 
of  their  date,  have  withstood,  unimpaired,  all  the  ravages  of  time. 
The  dynasty  of  Egypt  takes  i^reccdence,  in  antiquity,  of  every 
other.  No  country  ever  produced  so  long  a  catalogue  of  kings. 
The  learning  of  the  Egyptians  was  proverbial.  The  number  of 
their  cities,  and  the  population  of  their  country,  as  recorded  by 
ancient  historians,  almost  surpass  credibility.  Nature  and  art 
united  in  rendering  it  a  most  fertile  region.  It  was  called  the 
granary  of  the  world.  It  was  divided  into  Several  kingdoms, 
and  their  power  often  extended  over  many  of  the  surrounding 
countries.  Yet  the  knowledge  of  all  its  greatness  and  glory 
deterred  not  the  Jewish  Prophets  from  declaring  that  Egypt 
would  become  '"  a  base  kingdom,  and  never  exalt  itself  any  more 
among  the  nations."  And  the  literal  fulfilment  of  every  pro- 
phecy affords  as  clear  a  demonstration  as  can  possibly  be  given, 
that  each  and  all  of  them  are  the  dictates  of  inspiration.« 

6 — 9.  (6)  pride  .  .  down,  travellers  tell  how  impressive  are 
the  ruins  of  Egypt."  tower,  etc.,  see  ch.  xxix.  10.  (7)  deso- 
late, etc.,  ch.  xxix.  12.  (8)  set  a  fire,  a  fig.  of  Divine  judg- 
ment* (9)  messengers,  etc..  Is.  xviii.  1,  2.  careless 
Ethiopians,  they  were  dwelling  in  fancied  security."^ 

E(jlipt.- — Egypt  became  entirely  subject  to  the  Persians  about 
three  hundred  and  fifty  years  previous  to  the  Christian  era.  It 
was  afterwards  subdued  by  the  Macedonians,  and  was  governed 
by  the  Ptolemies  for  the  space  of  two  hundred  and  ninety-four 
years  :  until  about  thirty  j'ears  before  Christ,  it  became  a  pro- 
vince of  the  Roman  empire.  It  continued  long  in  subjection  to 
the  Romans — tributary  first  to  Rome,  and  afterwards  to  Con- 
Btantinople.  It  was  transferred.  A.B.  (;41,  to  the  dominion  of  the 
Saracens.  In  12,10  the  IWnmelukes  deposed  their  rulers,  and 
usuiped  the  command  of  Egypt.  A  mode  of  government  the 
most  singular  and  surprising  that  ever  existed  on  earth  was  esta- 
blJ-^hed  and  maintained.  Each  successive  ruler  was  raised  to 
supreme  authority,  from  being  a  stranger  and  a  slave.  No  son 
of  the  former  ruler — no  native  of  Egj-pt  succeeded  to  the 
eovereigntj  ;  but  a  chief  was  chosen  from  among  a  new  race  of 


a  Comp.  Sir  W. 
Scoti'^  "  Woe 
worth  the  chase; 
woe  worth  the 
clay,  that  cost  thy 
life,  my  gallant 
grey." 

6  Je.  -xlvi.  9. 

c  Je.  XXV.  20. 

d  The  Cubii  are 
mentioned  by 
Ptolemy  as  a 
people  of  Jtareo- 
lis,  a  province  of 
Egypt. 

"  Ambition !  the 
desire  of  active 
souls,  that  pushes 
them  beyond  the 
bounds  of  na- 
ture, and  elevates 
the  hero  to  the 
gods ;  tliat  can 
infonii  the  souls 
of  beardless  boys, 
and  ripen  'em  to 
men  in  spite  of 
nature."—  Roice. 

"  W  h  i  t  e-r  o  b '  d 
ambition  leads, 
ignobly  proud,  to 
cringe  for  votes, 
and  coax  the 
fickle  crowd."— 
llviies. 

e  Kiilh. 

a  "  Thebes  ap- 
peared tome  like 
entering  a  city 
of  giants,  who, 
after  a  long  con- 
flict, were  all  de- 
stroyed, leaving 
the  ruins  as  the 
only  proofs  of 
their  former 

existence." — Bel- 
zon  i. 

b  Ps.  Ixxviii.  63 ; 
Je.  vii.  2U ;  Am. 
i.  4. 

c  "  The  cataracts 
interposing  be- 
tween them  and 
iigypt  should  not 
save  them." — 
Fit  ussct. 

Ju.  viii.  11 ;  Zepi 
ii.  16. 


330 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap. 


.  10-ia 


"  Much  tlie  rag- 
ing thirst  of 
fatiie  exoc'Cils  the 
generous  warmth 
tliat  proiupts  to 
^vclr^hv  iloeds." — 

d  Keith. 


«  "  I  will  destroy 
the  strength  of 
Eg'ypt;  the  me- 
taphor is  taken 
from  tlie  decrease 
or  failing  of  the 
Nile,  upon  whose 
overflowing  all 
the  plenty  and 
prosparity  of 

Egypt  depend- 
ed."— LoiDlh. 
"  JIany  of  the 
ancient  canals 
are  now  filled 
with  sand,  and 
the  desert  is  fast 
encroaching,  in 
very  many  places, 
on  the  once  cul- 
tivated parts." — 
GaiUbij. 

"  The  same  sun 
■which  gilds  all 
nature,  and  ex- 
lii  la  rates  the 
whole  creation, 
does  not  shine 
upon  disap- 
pointed  ambi- 
tion. It  is  some- 
thing that  rays 
out  of  darkness. 
and  insjjires  no- 
thing but  gloom 
and  melancholy. 
Men  in  this  de- 
plorable state  of 
mind  find  a  com- 
fort in  spreading 
the  contagion  of 
their  spleen. 
They  find  an 
advantage,  too  ; 
for  it  is  a  general 
popular  error  to 
imagine  the 
loudest  com- 
plaincrs  for  the 
public  to  be  the 
most  anxious  for 
its  welfare.  If 
such  persons  can 
answer  the  ends 
of  relief  and 
profit  to  them- 
selves, they  are 
apt  to  be  careless 
enough  abort 
eithur  the  means 


imported  slaves.  When  Eg-ypt  became  tributary  to  the  Turks  iu 
I'jIT,  tlie  ]\laniolukes  rctaiiicd  much  of  their  jiower.  and  every 
pacha  was  au  oppressor  and  a  stranji^er.  During  all  thet^e  ages, 
every  attempt  to  emancipate  the  country,  or  to  create  a  prince  of 
the  land  of  Egypt,  has  proved  abortive,  and  has  often  been  fatal 
to  the  asi>irant.  Though  the  facts  relative  to  Egypt  form  too 
l)rominent  a  feature  in  the  history  of  the  world  to  admit  of  con- 
tradiction or  doubt,  yet  the  description  of  the  fate  of  that 
country,  and  of  the  form  of  its  government,  shall  be  left  to  tho 
testimony  of  those  whose  authority  no  infidel  will  question,  ami 
whom  no  man  can  accuse  of  adapting  their  descriptions  to  the 
predictions  of  the  event.'' 

10—12.  (10)  multitude,  or  large  population.  Egypt  was 
noted  for  the  swift  increase  of  her  people.  (11)  terrible.  . 
nations,  ch.  xxviii.  7.  (12)  rivers  dry,  i.e.  the  artificial 
canals  constructed  for  purposes  of  ii-rigation,  and  threading  tho 
whole  land.  This  indicates  a  time  of  drought  which  would 
prepare  the  way  for  the  invaders." 

I'jjiipt. — Gibbon  and  Volney  are  again  our  witnesses  of  the 
facts  : — ■'  Such  is  the  state  of  Egypt.  Deprived  twentj'-three 
centuries  ago  of  her  natural  proprietors,  she '  has  secfi  her 
fertile  fiel  Is  successively  a  prey  to  the  Persians,  the  Mace- 
donians, the  Romans,  the  Greeks,  the  Arabs,  the  Georgians,  and, 
at  length,  the  race  of  Tartars  distinguished  by  the  name  of  the 
Ottoman  Turks.  The  Mamelukes,  purchased  as  slaves,  and 
introduced  as  soldiers,  soon  usurped  the  iiower  and  elected  a 
leader.  If  their  first  establishment  was  a  singular  event,  their 
continuance  is  nob  less  extraordinary.  They  are  replaced  by 
slaves  brought  from  their  ori;^inal  country.  The  system  of 
oppression  is  methodical.  Everything  the  traveller  sees  or 
hears  reminds  him  he  is  in  the  country  of  slavery  and  tyranny." 
"  A  more  unjust  and  absurd  constitution  cannot  be  devised  than 
that  which  condemns  the  natives  of  a  country  to  perpetual 
servitude,  under  the  arbitr.try  dominion  of  strangers  and  slaves. 
Yet  such  has  been  the  state  of  Egypt  above  five  hundred  years. 
The  most  illustrious  sultans  of  the  Baharite  and  Borgite  dynasties 
were  themselves  promoted  from  the  Tartar  and  Circassian  bands  ; 
and  the  four-and-twenty  beys,  or  military  chiefs,  have  ever 
been  succeeded, 'not  by  their  sons,  but  by  their  servants."  Tliese 
are  the  words  of  Volney  and  of  Gibbon.  And  what  did  the 
ancient  Prophets  foretell?  ''I  will  lay  the  land  waste,  and  all 
that  there  is  therein,  by  the  hands  of  strangers.  I  the  Lord 
have  spoken  it.  And  there  shall  be  no  more  a  prince  of  the  land 
of  Egypt.  The  sceptre  of  Egypt  shall  depart  away."'  The  pro- 
phecy adds  :  '•  They  shall  be  a  base  kingdom — it  shall  be  the 
basest  of  kingdoms."  After  the  Lapse  of  two  thousand  and  four 
hundred  years  from  the  date  of  this  ]irophecy.  a  scoffer  at 
religion,  but  an  eyewitness  of  the  facts,  thus  describes  the  self- 
same spot  :  "  In  Egypt  there  is  no  middle  class,  neither  nobility, 
clergy,  merchants,  landholders.  A  universal  air  of  misery, 
manifest  in  all  the  traveller  meets,  points  out  to  him  the 
raiiacity  of  oitpression,  and  the  distrust  attendant  upon  slavery. 
The  profound  ignorance  of  the  inhabitants  equally  prevents 
them  from  perceiving  the  causes  of  their  evils,  or  applying  the 
necessary  remedies.  Ignorance,  diffused  through  eveiy  class, 
extends  its  effects  to  everj  species  of  moral  and  physical  know- 


<?ap.  XXX.  13-23.] 


EZEKIEL. 


331 


ledge.  Nothing  is  talked  of  but  intestine  troubles,  the  public 
misery,  pecuniary  extortions,  bastinadoes,  and  murders.  Justice 
herself  puts  to  death  without  formality."  ^ 

13— IQ.  (13)  destroy  their  idols,"  idolatry  is  the  great 
Bin  wli.  calls  for  Divine  vengeance  on  nations.  Noph,  or 
Memphis.*  a  prince,  i.e.  one  of  a  native  dynasty.  (14)  Pa- 
thros.  Upper  Egypt ;  ch.  xxix.  14.  Zoan,  or  Tunis."  No,  or 
Thebes.''  (1(1)  Sm,  or  Pelusium.^  (17j  Aven,  or  Heliopolis./ 
Pi-beseth,  now  Td  Bastah,  in  the  Delta.  The  JJi^ha-sfLs  of 
Herodotus,  the  seat  of  one  of  the  annual  festivals.  (18)  Tehaph- 
nehes,  or  'Jhltjianhcg,  Je.  ii.  IG.  break  .  .  yokes,  i.e.  those 
imposed  i/i/  Egypt,  cloud,  v.  3.  (I'J)  thus,  in  this  thorough 
and  complete  manner. 

J'roj'/ircics  ro/icrnihif/  Juiypt. — Can  any  words  be  more  free 
from  ambiguity,  or  could  any  events  be  more  wonderful  in  their 
nature,  or  more  unlikely  or  impossible  to  have  been  foreseen  by 
man  than  these  prophecies  concerning Egj-pi ?  Ihe  long  line  of 
its  kings  conmieuced  with  the  first  ages  of  the  world,  and  while 
it  was  yet  unbroken  its  final  termination  was  revealed.  The 
very  attempt  once  made  by  infidels  to  show,  from  the  recorded 
number  of  its  monarchs,  and  the  durations  of  their  reigns,  that 
Egypt  was  a  kingdom  previous  to  the  Mosaic  era  of  the  deluge, 
places  the  wonderful  nature  of  the.se  i^redietions  respecting  it  in 
the  most  striking  view.  And  the  previous  fxperience  of  two 
thousand  years,  during  which  period  Egypt  had  never  been 
without  a  prince  of  its  own,  seemed  to  preclude  the  possiliility  of 
those  predicted  events  which  the  exjjericnce  of  the  last  two 
thousand  years  has  amply  verified.  Though  it  had  often 
tyrannised  over  Judcea  and  the  neighbouring  nations,  the  Jewish 
Prophets  foretold  that  its  own  sceptre  would  depart  away  ;  and 
that  that  countr}^  of  kings  (for  the  number  of  its  contemporary 
as  well  as  successive  monarchs  may  "warrant  the  apiiellatiou) 
would  never  have  a  prince  of  its  own,  and  that  it  would  be  laid 
waste  by  the  hands  of  strangers.  They  foretold  that  it  should 
be  a  base  kingdom — the  basest  of  kingdoms  ;  that  it  should  be 
desolate  itself  and  surrounded  by  desolation  ;  and  that  it  should 
never  exalt  itself  any  more  among  the  nations.  They  described 
its  ignominious  subjection  and  unjiaralleled  baseness,  notwith- 
standing that  its  past  and  present  degeneracy  bears  not  a  more 
remote  resemblance  to  the  former  greatness  and  pride  of  its 
power,  than  the  frailty  of  its  mud-walhd  fabric  now  bears  to 
the  stability  of  its  imperishable  pyramids.  Such  prophecies, 
accom;  lishcd  in  such  a  manner,  prove,  without  a  comment,  that 
they  must  be  the  revelation  of  the  omniscient  Rider  of  the 
universe. 9 

20—23.  (20)   eleventh,   year,   comp.  ch.  xxix.  1,  xxx.  1. 

(21)  Pharaoh,  -i.e.  llnpUra,  as  in  ch.  xxix.    roller,  or  bandage. 

(22)  arms,  both  of  them,"  to  render  him  utterly  helpless. 
(2.'>)  scatter,  ch.  xxix.  12. 

^(■{f-dcittrvc.tion. — As  Noah  was  drunk  with  his  own  wine, 
Goliatli  behcided  with  his  own  sword,  the  rose  destroyed  by  the 
canker  bred  in  itself,  the  breast  by  a  self-bred  wolf,  the  apple  by 
the  worm,  the  dam"s  belly  eaten  through  by  the  young  vipers, 
Agiippina  killed  by  Nero  to  whom  she  gave  breath,  so  we  are 
U]idone  by  ourselves,  our  destruction  is  of  ourselves.    The  bitter  I 


or  the  conse- 
qiiences."-iy«/*e, 

h    Yulney. 

a  Zee.  xiii.  2. 

b  "  Famous  for 
the  tMi;ple  of 
Plah  (tl]e  goil  of 
fire),  and  fur  tlie 
worsliip  of  Ooiris 
and  Apis  (from 
the  conjunction 
of  which  came 
Otiri-ajiis,  or 
Sera  pis),  and  the 
centre  of  Kgyp- 
tian  idolatry."^- 
)yo>dsicoi-th. 

Comp.  Is.  xi.Y.  3 ; 
Je.  ii.  16;  Ho. 
i-\.  6. 

c  Ps.  Ixxviii.  12. 

d  Je.  xlvi.  25. 

e  Ex.  xvi.  1. 

f  Ge.  xli.  45  ;  Je. 
xliii.  13;  Ho.  iv. 
15. 

f.  13.  Dr.  Woi'th- 
inqliiH,  Bvyle  Lec. 
i.  31G, 

"  There  is  a 
fire  and  motion 
of  the  soul  but 
once  kindled, 
quencliless  ever- 
more."— Byron. 

"  Obstinate  am- 
bition leads 
througli  all  the 
rupged  roads  of 
barren  lore," — 
Aitiistrong. 

g  Keilh, 


a  The  king  of 
Babylon  had  pre- 
viuu.-ily  (iisjjos- 
sessed  the  king 
of  Egypt  of  all 
his  new  con- 
quests. This  was 
the  brealdng  of 
one  arm.  The 
attack  on  Egypt 
itself  was  the 
breaking  of  the 
other. 


332 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xxxl.  1—0. 


"  The  towering 
hope  of  caKle- 
eyeil  ambitiou." 
— Sinollel. 

b  Spencer. 

"  Gigantie  plian- 
tom  of  tlie 
brain,  ainbitinn, 
Vroi'iliiiK  1111)11- 
stroiis  liopos  and 
fears." — J'iiillips. 

"Ambition  is  the 
miiiil's  iinmo- 
desLy."  —  Daccii- 
ant. 


a  Je.  xxxix.  2. 

6  "  'J'lie  Assyrian 
empire,  after 
haviiipr  been  su- 
preme in  Asia  for 
four  centuries, 
had  been  over- 
thrown bj'  tlie 
united  force  of 
tiie  Babylcininns 
and  tlie  Medes, 
in  tlie  vear  B.C. 
6U6."— <S/j/.-.  Com. 
"  As.syria  'was  a 
rejireseiitatire  of 
t'le  worl  liy  in- 
fidel powers  rely- 
ing on  their  own 
streiifrth,  opposed 
to  God  and  His 
Churcli,  and  de- 
fying and  blas- 
pheming Him. 
It  was  therefore 
the  fittest  of  all 
powers  to  be 
coupled  with 
Egypt."- iro/-(ii- 
wortk. 

e  Cotnp.  Ps.  i.  3. 
d  It.  r.  S. 


a  Ge.  ii. 
lxx.\.  10. 


Ps. 


6  CImldce  para- 
phvuse. 

"  The  true  am- 
bition tlie  re 
aloae  r  e  s  i  d  e  s, 
w  n  e  r  e  justice 
Vllldi(■a^es.  and 
■wisdom  guides  : 
Vlipre  inwanl 
diyuityjoius  out- 


waters  of  Marah  and  ]\Ieribah  that  we  drink  so  deep  of  are  of 
our  own  mingling-  arid  ombittcriug- :  the  rods  that  scourge  us  aro 
of  our  own  making.  Sin.  like  a  friar,  whijis  itself  ;  ininisli- 
mcnt  is  connate,  innate  to  sin.  We  may  thank  our  own  folly  for 
our  own  bane.* 

24 — 26.  (21)  strengtlien,  so  that  he  may  fully  execute  My 
mission,  groan,  as  one  dying  of  his  wounds.  (2.5)  know  .  . 
Lord,  bee.  God  has  a  high  spiritual  purpose,  even  in  His 
judgments  of  heathen  nations,    scatter,  ch.  xxLk.  12. 

J/('.\-p<i)iiiihi/ifi/  of  (h:stru€tion. — A  physician,  hearing  of  a  sick 
man  who  is  likely  to  die,  takes  some  remedy,  and  goes  and 
knocks  at  the  sick  man's  door.  If  the  sick  man  does  not  let 
him  in  he  dies  ;  but  he  is  his  own  destroyer.  The  physician 
did  what  he  coulTl,  but  the  sick  man  would  not  be  cured.  This 
is  the  case  of  the  impenitent  sinner,  at  whose  heart  Christ 
knocks  in  vain,  till  sudden  destruction  comesupoa  the  neglecter. 
lie  might  have  been  saved,  but  would  not  be. 


CHAPTER   TIIE  THIRTY-FIRST. 

1 — 5.  (1)  third  month,  rather  more  than  a  mouth  before 
Jerus.  was  taken. «  (2)  multitude,  or  people  over  whom  he 
reigns.  Like  king  like  people.  (3)  Assyrian,  king  of  the 
country,  whose  capital  was  Nineveh.*  cedar,  the  kingly  among 
trees.  shadowing  shroud,  or  garment  of  leaves  casting 
a  wide  sliadow.     thick  boiig'hs,   better  as  LXX.,  the   clouds. 

(4)  waters,  the  several  branches  of  the  navigable  Tigris,  deep, 
i.e.  deep  river,  with  its  shallower  streams  and  canals.  As  with 
Egypt,  so  with  Nineveh,  the  river  was  th3  source  of  fertility. 

(5)  therefore,  bee.  so  well  nourished."  shot  forth,  better, 
'•  when,  in  flood,  the  deep  water  sent  forth  its  streams.'' 

W.  Wilbcr/iircc,  IJ.i/. — -The  Rev.  Joseph  Brown,  A.M.,  in  his 
funeral  sermon  for  this  excellent  man.  states  that  he  once  met 
with  an  instance  of  his  humility  which  astonished  and  embar- 
rassed him.  One  day  Mr.  W.  had  kindly  given  Mr.  Brown  some 
advice,  who  expressed  his  thankfulness,  and  added  that  he 
should  feel  indebted  if,  in  conver.-ation  or  correspondence,  he 
wotdd  at  all  times  be  his  counsellor,  and.  if  necessary,  correct  him 
and  point  out  his  faults.  He  suddenly  stopped  in  his  walk,  and 
replied,  "  I  will ;  but  you  must  promise  me  one  thing."  "With 
pleasure,"  Mr.  B.  answered,  little  thinking  of  the  nature  of  the 
rec|uest.  "  Well,  then."  continued  Blr.  W.,  "  in  all  your  conver- 
sation and  correspondence  with  me,  be  candid  and  open,  and. 
point  out  my  faults.'''' 

6 — 9.  (C)  fowls,  r^e..  comp.  Da  iv.  12.  The  figs,  of  this  i\ 
intimate  that  other  naiions  sought  the  protection  of  A>svria. 
(7)  fair,  or  beriutii'ul.  .is  a  tree,  and  as  a  nation.  (S)  garden 
of  God,  paradise."  hide  him,  /./■.  overshadow  and  dw.irf  him. 
chestnut,  or  plane  tree.  (!•)  envied  him,  reference  is  to  the 
feeling  of  surrounding  nations  towanls  Assyria  and  Egypt. 
"  All  the  kings  of  the  East  envi'd  him  and  his  Lavatnrss."  '' 

Tlir  })ltnic  tvi'P.  ilip  r7u:if?ii/f  of  Scripfiiri'. — The  Hebrew  word 
'nrm'in.  occurs  twice  in  the  Old  'JVst.ament  (Gen.  xxx.  37  :  E:^ek. 
xxxi.  8).  In  botli  cases  it  is  translated  chestnut  in  our  version, 
but  more  correctly    in    the    Septuagint,    plane    tree,    i.e.   tke 


Cap.xxxi.  10— 18.] 


EZEKIEL. 


333 


Oriental  plane  tree  {Plataniis  oricntalis).  There  can  be  little 
doubt  of  this  rendering,  which  is  supported  by  all  critics.  We 
never  saw  the  chestnut  m  Palestine,  excepting  planted  in 
orchards  in  Lebanon  ;  while  the  plane  tree,  though  local,  is 
frequent  by  the  sides  of  streams  and  in  plains,  both  on  the  coast 
and  in  the  northern  parts  of  the  country.  The  'armoii  is  in 
Genesis  associated  with  the  willow  and  poplar,  which,  like  the 
plane  tree,  grow  on  low  ground  where  the  soil  is  rich  and 
humid.  It  is  common  on  the  banks  of  the  Upper  Jordan  and  of 
the  Litany  (Leontes),  where  it  overhangs  the  water.  "  The 
chestnut  trees  Cplane  trees)  were  not  like  his  branches,"  and  it 
is  always  a  noble  and  beautiful  tree.  We  examined  a  plane  tree, 
growing  in  one  of  the  streets  of  Damascus,  more  than  forty  feet 
in  circumference.  The  foliage  is  a  pale  green,  the  leaves 
palmate,  like  those  of  our  common  sycamore  (which,  however, 
is  a  very  diiferent  tree),  and  its  flowers  are  in  clusters  of 
pendulous,  rounded  ballrf.  It  was  held  sacred  by  the  Greeks, 
and  Herodotus  mentions  one  of  enormous  size  near  Sardis,  to 
which  Xerxes  paid  homage.  In  Ecclus.  xxiv.  14,  Wisdom  is  com- 
pared to  ••  a  plane  tree  by  the  water."  The  Hebrew  name, 
'ariito/i,  signifies  •'  naked,"  and  it  is  a  characteristic  of  the  plane 
tree  that  it  annually  sheds  its  outer  bark. 

10 — 14.  (10)  thou  .  .  lie,  observe  the  blending  of  reference 
to  the  fnr  and  the  king,  heart  is  lifted  up,  herein  lay  the 
sin  that  brought  the  judgment.  God  did  not  visit  for  the 
prosperity,  but  for  the  j^ride  which  the  prosperity  engendered." 
(11)  mighty  one,  here  referring  to  Nabupolassar,  king  of 
Babylon.''  (12)  strangers,  the  Hedes  and  Babylonians,  his 
shadow,  re.  3,  6.  (13)  fowls,  i.e.  the  wilder  fowls,  or  birds, 
and  tl^e  wild  animals,  shall  make  home  in  his  desolate  ruins. 
(It)  to  the  end,  i.e.  this  is  the  design  of  the  Divine  judgments."^ 
stand  .  .  height,  rely  on  themselves,  on  their  own  height. 

Conceits  of  pride. — When  a  proud  man  thinks  best  of  himself, 
then  God  and  man  think  worst  of  him  :  all  his  glory  is  but 
like  a  vapour,  which  climbeth  as  .though  it  would  go  up  to 
heaven,  but  when  it  comes  to  a  little  height,  it  falls  down 
again,  and  never  ascends  more.  So  Adam  thought  that  the  fair 
api)le  should  make  him  like  his  Maker,  but  God  resisted  his 
priile,  and  that  apple  made  him  like  the  serpent  that  tempted 
him  with  it.  Absalom  thought  that  rebellien  would  make  him 
a  king,  but  God  resisted  his  pride,  and  his  rebellion  hanged  him 
on  a  tree."^ 

15—18.  (15)  went  down,  ch.  xxvi.  L5.  covered  the  deep, 
as  a  mourner  covers  himself  with  sackcloth."  great  waters, 
or  flood-waters,  mourn,  lit.  to  he  black.  (!())  shake,  with 
fear,  to  hell,  or  Sheol  ;  note  the  sense  in  wh.  a  nation  can  be 
said  to  go  down  to  Sheol.  it  is  a  fig.  of  shameful  and  hopeless 
desolation,  cor/iforted.  ref.  is  to  tributary  peoples,  in  mc^'^ure 
comforted  bee.  the  great  nation  shares  their  fate.  (17)  into 
hell,  r.  1(1.  his  arm,  auxiliaries,  used  for  his  purposes.  (18) 
thou  like,  cnmp.  r.  2.  The  application  is  now  made  to  Egypt, 
uncircumcised,*  ch.  xxviii.  10.  xxxii.  19,  20. 

Jln-telcii^  pride.  —  Philip,  liaving  made  himself  master  of 
Potida^a.  received  three  mes-^engers  in  one  day  :  the  first  brought 
him  an  account  of  a  great  victory  gained  over  the  Illyrians  by 


ward  state,  o\xt 
purpose  go>)il,  as 
our  achievement 
great  ;  \v  li  era 
public  bleshiiifr.s, 
public  priii.-ie  at- 
tenil,  where  glory 
i.s  our  motive,  not 
our  end  :  wouldst 
thou  be  famed  1 
have  those  high 
acts  iu  view, 
brave  men  would 
act,  though  scan- 
dal would  ensue." 
— Young. 

"  Strong  with 
wild  ambition's 
mad'ning  fires." 
—Mickle. 

"  Graces  that 
might  lull  stub- 
born ambition  to 
inglorious  rest." 
— Lee. 


a  Vr.  vii.  13,  xL 
2,  .xvi.  18. 

6  "  Called  the 
'  mighty  one ' 
{El.  a  name  of 
God),  bee.  he  was 
God's  representa- 
tive and  instru- 
ment of  judg- 
ment."—  Fausset. 

c  "Thy  destruc- 
tion shall  be  a 
warning  to  other 
kings  and  jioten- 
tates,  to  deter 
them  from  prid- 
ing themselves  in 
the  time  of  their 
prosperity." — 
loath. 

d  Henry  Smilh. 


a  "  The  deep,  the 
source  of  As- 
syria's prosperity 
(c.  4)  was  made 
to  mourn,  being 
diied  up,  instcavi 
of  giving  forth 
its  waters,  its 
gladaliundauce." 
— i<j'k.  Cum. 

h  "  As  circumci- 
sion was  an  ob- 
ject of  mocki.'.ig 
to  thee,  thou 
shalt  lie  in   the 


334 


EZEKTEL. 


[Cap.  xxxl.  1— lOL 


liii.lst  of 
0  i  r  c  u  111 
El;iiii  li_ 
sworj."— 

c  Culton. 


the  un- 
ci so  '1. 
til.' 
Grotius. 


bt      "  7em<:alom 

was  by  this  tiiim 
ovort'irown,  aii'l 
Aniasis  was  bc- 
pinninG:  liis  re- 
volt asfiinstPIia- 
raoli  Hoplira." — 
Fausset. 

b      "  P  h  a  r  a  o  li 

shoulil  have  been 
like  ttie  Idn?  of 
beasts,  but  lie  is 
a  mere  sea-mon- 
ster.  There  is 
strong  irony 

liere,  bee.  the 
E,!?.  kins;  was 
prourl  of  the 
comparison  be- 
tween himself 
ami  the  mighty 
crocodile." — Spk. 
Com. 

"  Herodotus  re- 
lates that  in  his 
time  thny  had  in 
Esrypt  many  and 
various  ways  of 
takiiicf  the  cro- 
codile. Brookes 
.  says,  '  Tlie  nn  li- 
ner of  takinpr  the 
crocodile  in  Siain 
Is  by  throwin^i 
three  or  four 
nets  across  a 
river  at  proper 
distances  from 
each  other;  that 
so  If  he  break 
throna;Ii  the  first, 
hemay  becantrlit 
by  one  of  the 
others.' "  —  Dur- 
der. 

e  Ilarmcr. 


a  Carryinff  on 
t!ie  figure  of  tlie 
croco<lile. 

h  Com)).  Is.  xiii. 
10,  iiy.  12;  Jool 


his  general,  Parmenio  ;  the  second  told  hira  he  was  proclaimed 
victor  at  the  Oh-mpic  Games  ;  and  the  third  informed  him  of  the 
birth  of  Ale.vaudcr.  r>ut  there  was  nothing  in  all  these  events 
that  ought  to  have  fori  the  vanity,  or  that  would  have  justified 
the  pride  of  Philip  :  t^ince.  as  an  elegant  writer  remarks.  '■  for  the 
first  he  was  indebted  to  his  general  ;  for  the  second  to  his  horse  ; 
and  Ins  wife  is  shrewdly  susi^ected  of  having  helped  him  to  the 
third."* 

CHAPTER  THE  THIRTY-SECOND. 

1 — 5.  (1)  twelfth  year,  etc  ,  prob.  one  year  and  seven  months 
after  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem."  (2)  lamentation,  or 
dirge,  thou  art,  better,  '•  thou  wouldest  be  like  a  lion,  and 
thou  art  like  a  whale,"  or  crocodile.*  troublest  .  .  feet,  as  a 
crocodile  on  landing  and  going  forth.  (.'5)  spread  .  .  net, 
ch.  xii.  13.  -witli  a  company,  i.e.  the  Chahheans.  Their  in- 
vasion was  God's  net.  i.e.  God's  judgment.  (\)  leave,  rfc,  comp. 
ch.  xxix.  ~).  (5)  tliy  lieigllt,  fig.  taken  from  the  high,  oedar, 
wh.  when  prostrate,  shall  seem  to  fill  up  the  valleys. 

Princes  cniiiparcd  to  lions  (c.  2). — Nothing  is  more  common,  la 
the  East,  than  the  comparing  princes  to  lious,  or  better  knowu 
to  those  that  are  acquainted  with  their  writings  ;  but  the  com- 
paring them  to  crocodiles,  if  possessed  of  naval  power,  or  strong' 
by  a  watery  situation,  has  hardly  ever  been  mentioned.  D'ller- 
belot,  however,  cites  an  Eastern  poet,  who,  celebrating  the 
prowess  of  Gelaleddin,  surnamed  IMankberni,  and  Khovarezma 
Shah,  a  most  valiant  Persian  prince,  said.  "  He  was  dreadful  as  a 
lion  in  the  field,  and  not  less  terrible  in  the  water  than  a  croco- 
dile." The  power  of  the  ancient  kings  of  Egypt  seems  to  be 
represented  after  the  same  manner,  by  the  Prophet  Ezekiel, 
ch.  xxix.  3.  "  Behold  I  am  against  thee,  Pharaoh,  king  of  Egypt, 
the  great  dragon  (the  great  crocodile)  that  lieth  in  the  midst  of 
his  rivers,  which  hath  said,  My  river  is  mine  own,  and  I  have 
made  it  myself."  In  this  ver.  the  same  Prophet  makes  use  of 
both  the  similes,  I  think,  of  the  panegyrist  of  Gelaleddin  :  "  Take 
up  a  lamentation  for  Pharaoh,  king  of  Egypt,  and  say  unto  hira, 
Thou  art  like  a  young  lion  of  the  nations,  and  thou  art  as  a  whale 
(a  crocodile)  in  the  seas  :  and  thou  earnest  forth  with  (or  from) 
thy  rivers,  and  troubledst  the  waters  witli  thy  feet,  and  fouledst 
their  rivers."  It  is  very  odd  in  our  translators  to  render  the 
original  word  fan  rem,  whale,  and,  at  the  same  time,  talk  of  feet ; 
nor,  indeed,  are  rivers  the  abode  of  the  whale  :  its  bulk  is  too 
great  to  admit  of  that :  the  term  dragon,  which  is  thrown  into 
the  margin,  is  the  preferable  version  ;  which  word  in  our  lan- 
guage, as  the  Hebrew  word  in  the  original  is,  I  think,  generic, 
and  includes  the  several  species  of  ovijiarous  (juadrupeds.  if  nob 
those  of  the  serpentine  kind.  A  crocodile  is,  without  doubt,  the 
creature  the  Prophet  means  :  and  the  comparison  seems  to  point 
out  the  power  of  Egyptian  kings  of  antiquity  :  they  were  mighty 
by  sea  as  well  as  by  land." 

6 — 10.  ("(")  water  . .  blood,  indicatinrr  the  abundance  of  the 
slain,  land  .  .  swimmest,  or  the  laud  of  thy  swimming."  The 
land  watered  by  the  Nile.  (7)  put  thee  out,  as  a  candle  is  put; 
out.  Pharaoh  is  figured  here  as  a  star,  cover,  efff..  fig.  of  the 
downfall  of  other  tributary  nations  at  the.  same  time  as  Egypt,* 


Cap.  sxxli.  11—21.] 


EZEKIEL. 


335 


(8)   set  darkness,   so  that  everytliing   shall  look  dark   and 
dismal.''     (9)  vex,  efc.hy  the  story  wh.  the  exiles  shall  cany  of 
Egypt's  utter  desolation.     (10)  amazed  at  thee,  ch.  xxvi.  l(j,  j 
xxvii.  3.^,  XXX.  !).     brandish,  or  tlomi.sh. 

Moral  degradation  of  Ennpt. — Travellers  describe  the  most 
execrable  vices  as  common,  and  represent  the  moral  character  of 
the  people  as  corrupted  to  the  core.  As  a  token  of  the  desolation 
of  the  country,  mud- walled  cottages  are  now  the  only  habitations 
where  the  ruins  of  temjoles  and  palaces  abound.  Egypt  is  sur- 
rounded by  the  dominions  of  the  Turks  and  of  the  Arabs  :  and 
the  prophecy  is  literally  true  which  marked  it  in  the  midst  of 
desolation  :  "  They  shall  be  desolate  in  the  midst  of  the  countries 
that  are  desolate,  and  her  cities  shall  be  in  the  midst  of  the  cities 
that  are  wasted."  The  systematic  oppression,  extortion,  and 
plunder,  which  have  so  long  prevailed,  and  the  price  paid  for  his 
authority  and  power  by  every  Turkish  pacha,  have  rendered  the 
countiy  "  desolate  of  that  whereof  it  was  full,"  and  still  show, 
both  how  '■  it  has  been  wasted  by  the  hands  of  strangers,"  and 
how  "  it  has  been  sold  into  the  hand  of  the  wicked."  <* 

11 — 16.  (11)  sword,  emblem  of  the  destructive  power.  (12) 
pomp,  the  splendid  temples,  palaces,  etc.,  for  which  Egypt  was 
famous.  (13)  destroy  .  .  beasts,  comp.  ch.  xxix.  11."  "Hence- 
forth Pharaoh  was  no  longer  to  flood  other  peoples  with  his  over- 
whelming forces."  (14)  deep,  better,  sinh ;  or  subside,  like 
oil,  i.e.  slowly  ;  with  no  full  current.*  (15)  then  .  .  Lord,  i.e. 
this  shall  be  the  gracious  issue  of  My  judgments.  (16)  lamen- 
tation, v.  2. 

Unliappinegs  of  amiifion. — Look  at  the  tender  climbing  plant 
of  summer  :  it  takes  hold  of  some  object,  and  creeps  along  up- 
ward till  its  tendrils  shoot  high  and  beautifully  into  the  air  :  but 
the  prop  is  taken  away,  and  there  it  stands,  reaching  out  its 
fingers  for  something  to  fasten  upon  :  full  of  life  and  vigour  still, 
but  sinking  because  its  support  is  taken  away,  and  falling  like  a 
worthless  weed  to  the  ground.  Such,  even  at  the  very  moment  of 
its  greatest  vigour,  is  often  the  state  of  those  who  seek  worldly 
greatness.  Look  at  all  history  :  when  were  its  great  men  so 
wretched,  as  when  they  had  attained  the  highest  point  of  exalta- 
tion !  "  He  has  gained  everything,"  said  a  companion  of  Napoleon, 
when  he  was  in  the  zenith  of  prosperity,  '■  and  yet  he  is  un- 
happy."« 

17—21.  (17)  the  month,  prob.  the  twelfth  month."  (18) 
•wail,  conip.  V.  2,  IG.  cast  .  .  down,  i.e.  foretell  its  destruction. 
nether  parts  .  .  pit,  fig.  for  utter  and  hopeless  destruction.* 
(19)  pass,  or  surpass.  Other  nations  have  perished,  so  shalt 
thou."  (20)  delivered  .  .  sword,  better,  the  sword  is  put  forth. 
draw  her,  like  carcases  to  the  grave.  (21)  the  strong,  etc. : 
tHis  ^•.  represents  the  great  tyrants  in  Sheol  coming  to  meet  and 
welcome  the  king  of  Egypt  and  his  auxiliaries.'' 

End  of  ainlition. — Take. the  four  greatest  rulers,  perhaps,  that 
ever  sat  upon  a  throne.  Alexander,  when  he  had  so  completely 
Bubdued  the  nations  that  he  wept  because  there  were  no  more  to 
conquer,  at  last  set  fire  to  a  city,  and  died  in  a  scene  of  debauch. 
Hannibal,  who  filled  three  bushels  with  the  gold  rings  taken 
from  the  slaughtered  knights,  died  at  last  by  poison  administered 
by  his  own  hand,  unwept  and  unknown,  in  a  foreign  land.   Caesar, 


ii.  10,  iii.  4;  Am. 
viii.  9 ;  Key.  vi. 
12—11. 

c  So  brilliant  is 
the  shiniiifjf  of 
tlie  stars  in  tlie 
E.ist  th.at  a  great 
horror  of  ilark- 
ness  is  repre- 
senteil  by  their 
being  covered. 

"  Mean  depen- 
dence, bright  am- 
bition's baue."— 
Haijley. 

"  Strong  minds 
by  chaste  am- 
bition uurst." — 
Ibid. 

d  Keith. 


a  "  The  picture  is 
ideally  trne.  not 
to  be  interpreted 
by  the  letter;  the 
political  ascend- 
ency of  Egypt 
was  to  cease  with 
the  Chaldtcan 
conqviest. "-/'({(;■- 
bairn. 

b  "  No  longer 
shall  they  de- 
scend violently, 
as  the  overflow- 
ing Nile,  on  other 
countries,  but 
shall  be  still  and 
sluggish  in  poli- 
tical action." — 
Fausset. 

Some  regarj  the 
oil  as  typical  of 
the  spirit  of 
Divine  grace ; 
butthatseenisin- 
apjiropriate  here, 
c  Lewis. 

a  r.  1.  The  LXX. 
say  the  first 
month. 

b  Eze.  xxxi.  14; 
Is.  xiv.  15. 

c  "  What  reason 
hast  thou  now  to 
prefer  thyself 
before  others  ? 
Since  thou  sh.alt 
undergo  the  samo 
fate  with  the 
worst  of  them." 
— Lowth. 

d  Is.  siv.  9. 


336 


EZEKIEL. 


reap,  xxxii.  22-32, 


"Vaulting  ambi- 
tion whicli  o'er- 
le.ips  itself." — 
S/uikespeare. 

e  Bowes. 


a  Is.  xiv.  16. 

b  Ge.  xiv.  1 ;  Is. 

xxii.  G. 

c  Je.  xlix.  31—38. 

"  The  Elamites 
were  a  fierce  and 
warlike  people. 
In  tlie  reoorils  of 
Assurbanipal  we 
have  a  detailed 
account  of  five 
cam  paigns 
against  Elam, 
and  ,liis  final 
triumph  over 
Elam  seems  to 
have  been  one 
of  his  proudest 
boasts."  —  Sjjk. 
Com. 

"  Oh  that  a  breast 
so  fair  should  bo 
the  seat  of  base 
a  m  b  i  t  i  o  u."  — 
Tit/he. 


a  "Northern  ra- 
tions; the  Moschi 
and  Tibareni, 
between  the 

Black  and  Cas- 
pian Seas." — 
Fa  asset. 

b  Paxlon. 


a  "  TVlien  their 
might  and  power 
were  tenilde  to 
all,  and  they  were 
contriving  ruin 
against  others,  in 
theiiudst  of  their 
enterprises,  they 
were  shorn  of 
their  power,  and 
delivered  over  to 
shame  and  con- 
fusion." —  Hoscn- 
miiUer. 


having'  conquered  eight  hundred  cities,  and  dyed  his  g-arments 
with  the  blood  of  one  milliou  of  his  foe.s,  was  stabbed  by  his  best 
friends  iu  tiie  very  place  which  had  been  the  scene  of  his  greatest 
triumph.  Napoleon,  after  being  the  scourge  of  Europe,  and  the 
desolator  of  his  country,  died  in  banishment,  conquered  and  a 
captive.' 

22—25.  (22)  Asslitir,  i.e.  the  king  of  Assyria,  his  graves, 
poss.  alluding  to  Egypt,  as  sharing  Asshur's  fate.  (2:!)  sides  .  . 
pit,"  the  fig.  is  taken  from  the  caves,  or  rock-sepulchres,  where 
the  dead  are  Laid  on  shelves  cut  iu  the  sides,  terror,  or  dismay- 
ing. (2-t)  E 1  am, '^  in  Persia;  an  auxiliary  of  Assyria,  con(iuered 
by  Nebuchadnezzar.'  borne  their  shame,  •'  the  just  retribu- 
tion of  their  lawless  pride."'     (2."))  bed,  a  final  bed.  or  a  grave. 

^l.w///•/V^/^  graces. — Our  idea  of  graves  is  entirely  inconsistent 
with  their  being  set  in  the  sides  of  a  pit..  But  the  passage  before 
us  has  reference  to  scenes  in  ancient  Assyria,  and  is  to  be  inter- 
preted bj''  the  manners  and  customs  prevalent  in  the  Prophet's 
time.  A  traveller  thus  describes  an  Assyrian  sepulchre  which  he 
explored  :  '■  Picture  to  yourself  a  small  room,  squai-e  in  shape, 
and  with  a  flat  vault.  On  either  side,  recesses  or  niches  (resem- 
bling a  small  oven)  are  cut  into  the  wall,  evidently  to  hold  the 
body.  These  niches,  being  only  about  four  feet  long,  may  be 
thought  too  small  to  receive  a  man  ;  but  I  imagine  that  the 
corpse  was  crammed  into  a  sarcophagus  similar  to  those  discovered 
at  Nimroud,  which  the  recesses  are  well  calculated  to  contain." 
It  has  been  well  observed  that  "  the  descrii>tion  of  the  Prophet  is 
strictly  applicable  to  such  chambers  as  Mr.  Poss  discovered  in  the 
ancient  rock  ;  a  pit,  or  cavern,  in  whose  sides  the  individual 
tombs  are  set,  where  the  company  of  the  illustrious  dead,  that 
spread  terror  during  their  lives,  meet  round  about  in  grim  and 
silent  assembly." 

23—29.  (2(1)  Meshech,  ch.  xxvii.  13.  Tubal,  ch.  xxvii. 
1.3."  (27)  iniquities  .  .  bones,  comp.  expression  "with  their 
sins  upon  their  heads."  (28)  broken,  by  a  violent  death. 
(2i))  Edom,  ch.  XXV.  12. 

The  burial  of  warrior.^  {v.  27). — The  ancients,  in  every  part  of 
the  world,  were  accustomed  to  inter  their  warriors  in  complete 
armour.  We  are  informed  by  Chardiu  that  the  Mingrelian 
soldier  sleeps  with  his  s^vord  under  his  head,  and  his  arms  by  his 
side  ;  and  he  is  buried  in  the  same  manner,  his  arms  being 
placed  in  the  same  position.  The  allusion  of  Ezekicl  to  this  ancient 
custom  is  extremely  clear*. 

33 — 32.  (30)  princes  .  .  north,  i.e.  of  Syria.  Zidonians, 
who  shared  the  fate  of  Tyre,  their  terror,  that  wh.  they 
inspired,  not  that  wh.  they  felt."  (31)  comforted,  with  the 
miserable  comfort  that  others  have  to  sulfer  even  as  he. 
(32)  my  terror,  God  making  these  nations  marked  examples 
of  His  vengeance  on  iniquity. 

A  cirre  for  avihifion. — A  fellow-countryman  of  ours,  ambitious 
to  madness,  had  toiled  for  years,  working  early  and  late,  denying 
himself  every  comfort,  absorbed  in  the  one  fixed  purpose  of 
achieving  intellectual  superiority.  His  ej'e  at  length  caught 
these  words  :  "  When  all  is  gained,  how  little  then  is  won  !  And 
yet  to  gain  that  little,  how  much  is  lost !  "  The  words  sunk 
into  his  heart.     The  whole  truth  flashed  Uke  lightning  across 


Cap.  xxxiii,  1—11.] 


EZEKIEL. 


337 


his  soul.  He  now  beheld  the  fame  he  nad  toiled  for  as  abso- 
lutely worthless.  "  When  all  is  gained,  how  little  is  won  !  " 
said  he.  '"  Yes,  how  little  1  Oh,  what  is  it .'  It  is  nothing. 
Fame — o-h,  what  is  it .'  The  breath  of  fools  and  devils.  That  is 
the  object  on  which  I  have  set  my  whole  heart,  and  for  which  I 
have  been  labouring.  '  AVhen  all  is  gained,  how  little  then  is 
won  !  And  yet  to  gain  that  little,  how  much  is  lost ! '  Oh,  how 
have  I  been  labouring  and  suffering  for  it !  I  have  given  all  for  it, 
all  of  this  world,  and  all  of  the  next."  Renouncing  his  schemes 
and  possessions,  he  became  a  follower  and  preacher  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ. 

CHAPTER  THE  THIRTY-THIRD. 

1—6.  (1,2)  the  sword,  God's  judgment  by  a  hostile  army, 
coasts,  or  borders  ;  put  generally  for  "their  country."  ■watch- 
man, to  warn  of  the  enemy's  approach.  Watchmen  were 
jjlaced  in  turrets  on  the  city  walls,  or  in  outposts.  (3)  blow, 
etc.,''  this  was  the  appointed  signal.  (4)  blood  .  .  head,  i.e.  he 
must  bear  the  responsibility  himself,  and  cannot  accuse  the 
watchman.  (,5)  deliver  his  soul,  i.e.  preserve  his  life,  by 
adequate  defence,  or  by  timely  flight.  (G)  taken  .  .  iniquity, 
60  comes  under  judgment,  blood  .  .  require,  i.e.  the  watch- 
man must  ansv/er  to  me  for  his  unfaithfulness  and  its  con- 
sequences. 

Tlic  true  tvatcliman  (r.  6). — I.  Tlie  true  watchman's  vision  of 
his  work.  He  sees — 1.  It  entails  great  responsibility  on  himself  ; 
2.  Involves  the  greatest  results  to  his  hearers  ;  S.  Utters  the 
emotions  of  God  ;  4.  Proclaims  both  the  hope  and  the  method  of 
man's  improvement.  II.  The  true  watchman's  vision  of  the 
conduct  of  others.  He  sees — 1.  The  gross  sins  of  many  of 
them  ;  2.  The  hyjjocrisy  of  many  more.* 

7—11.  (7)  thee  a  watchman,  ch  iii.  17."  (8)  surely 
die,  i.e.  by  a  violent  death.  "  The  qualification,  if  thou  dost 
not  repent,  is  supposed."  *  (9)  delivered  thy  soul,  from  the 
responsibility  of  his  doom.  (10)  pine  .  .  them,  ch.  xxiv.  23. 
These  are  the  words  of  persons  despairing  of  God's  mercy,  and 
thence  taking  encouragement  to  go  on  in  sin.'  (11)  no  plea- 
sure, etc.,  2  Sa.  xiv.  14  ;  Eze.  xviii.  32. 

An  imperafice  command  (r.  2). — We  wish  you  to  ask,  and  we 
will  endeavour  to  answer,  five  questions.  1.  What  are  we  to 
turn  from .'  2.  What  are  we  turn  to  ?  3.  How  are  we  to  turn  1 
4.  When  are  we  to  turn  ?  .').  Why  are  we  to  turn  1 — {Jay.) — A 
snlenvt  question. — "  Why  will  ye  die  ?  "  The  death  to  which 
this  question  relates  is  not  temporal  death,  which  is  unavoidable; 
it  is  death  eternal.  1.  Do  you  think  that  it  is  imaginary  ?  2.  Do 
you  think  that  it  is  a  trivial  evil  ?  3.  Do  j^ou  think  that  it  is  un- 
certain in  its  occurrence  ?  4.  Do  you  think  that  it  is  imposed 
upon  you  by  an  unalterable  decree  ?  .5.  Do  you  think  that  the 
Divinely-appointed  method  of  escape  from  it  is  not  satisfactory  ? 
6.  Do  you  think  thaf  on  a  view  of  the  whole  circumstances  it 
is  to  be  preferred  .'<i^ 77/6'  salvation  of  slnner.'i  (le.<!ired  hi)  God. 
• — "As  I  live,"  etc.  L  The  state  of  mankind  as  sinners'.  1.  A 
state  of  moral  evil ;  2.  A  state  of  imminent  danger.  II.  Their 
duty  and  privilege  as  sincere  penitents.  1.  Their  duty— to  turn  ; 
2.  Their   privilege — to   be  saved  ;  3.   The  attainment   of   this 

vol..  IX.    6.T.  Y  ' 


"  The  towering 
wing  of  eagle- 
phiiu'd  ambi- 
tion." —  Hannah 
More. 


a  Is.  Iviii.  1;  1 
Cor.  xiv.  8. 

t'.   6.      W.  J.  B. 

Bennett,  231. 

"  Ambition's  like 
a  circle  on  the 
water,  which 
never  ceases  to 
enlarge  itself,  till 
by  broafi  spread- 
ing it  disperse  to 
nought."— ,S/iaA-e- 
speare. 

b  U.  R.  Thomas. 


a  "  Think  not 
th.at  bee.  the 
walls  and  gates 
of  Jerus.  may  be 
destroyed,  thy 
duty  as  a  watch 
man  to  the  house 
of  Israel  will 
cease.  No ;  from 
that  very  time  it 
will  have  new 
obligations,  and 
thou  wilt  liava 
new  admoni- 
tions, insola- 
tions, and  pro- 
mises to  give. 
The  fall  of  Jeru- 
salem will  be  a 
renewal  of  thy 
c  o  m  m  ission,"— . 
tVorclsworth. 

h  Fausset. 

c  Je.  iL  25. 

vr.   7— 'J.     /.   P. 

Hewlett,  15. 

i  G.  Brooks. 


838 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xxxiii.  12—20. 


«.  8.  <S.  Davies,  iii. 
316. 

V.  0.  Dr.  F.  S. 
Hook,  211. 

r.  11.  R.  AUes- 
tree,  hi;  A.  Far- 
indon,  i.  497 ;  li. 
Baxter,  vii. ;  T. 
Gregory,  51 ;  Cr. 
JR.  Lucas,  i.  oU2 ; 
J.  Foord,  65  ;  T. 
St.  John,  i.  135; 
D.  Cooper,  \\.  164  ; 
C.  F.  Femcick,  i.  ; 
B.  W.  Mal/iias, 
227;  R.  W.  Dih- 
din,  204. 

e  Alpha  in  400 
Sks. 

/  J.  Fuller. 

g     Rev.      David 

Thomas,  D.D. 


a  Le.  vi.  5. 

r.l5.  Dr.  J.  Hunt, 
iii.  241. 

"God's  seed  will 
come  to  God's 
harvest.  "-/i«7/ip;'- 
ford. 

"  The  Gaul  insa- 
tiate, burning 
with  the  pangs 
of  wild  ambition 
t  h  vva  r  t  e  d." — 
Richardson. 


h  Spencer. 


V.  20.  W.  Harri- 
son, Blooms.  Lee. 
viii.  151. 

*■•  "We  rifty  talk  of 
the  best  means 
of  doing  good, 
but,  after  all,  the 
greatest  diffi- 
culty lies  in  do- 
ing it  in  a  proper 
gpirit;  'spealung 
the  truth  iu 
loye,*  'ill  meek- 
ness instructing 
those  that  oppose 
themselves,'  witji 
♦  tlie  meekness 
and  gentleness  of 
Christ.'  I  have 
kuuwn    atuuous 


privilege  is  aB  ceiiain  as  it  is  dcsiralsle.  Apply  : — "Why  -n'ill  ye 
die  ?  "  ' — 'J7u'  .fi?itirr  his  oivn  (hclraytr. — That  God  has  no  pleasure 
in  the  eternal  death  of  the  sinner  is  manifest — 1.  From  what 
God  has  said  ;  2.  From  what  God  has  done.  Learn: — (1)  God 
does  not  compel  sinners  to  go  down  to  ruin  :  (2)  Every 
sinner  must  turn  from  his  evil  ways,  or  he  will  finally  perish  ; 
(3)  If  impenitent,  sinners  are  eternally  ruined  ;  they  are  self- 
ruined/ 

Why  vjcn  are  not  sarcd. — "  Well,  then,"  said  a  sceptic  to  me,  on 
one  occasion,  "  why  is  the  world  not  saved  ?  "  "  My  friend," 
said  I,  "  you  misconceive  the  power  required  to  convert  souls." 
There  was  a  little  boy  in  the  room,  and  I  illustrated  my  meaniug 
by  saying,  "  Suppose  I  will  that  that  little  boy  leave  the  room. 
There  are  two  ways  in  which  I  could  give  effect  to  that  will.  I 
could  take  him  in  my  arms,  and  by  superior  muscular  force 
remove  him  ;  or  I  could  take  him  on  my  knee,  speak  lovingly 
and  persuasively  to  him.  in  order  to  induce  him  to  leave  the  room 
himself.  If  I  adopted  the  former,  I  should  merely  have  removed 
his  body  :  his  volition  would  be  against  me,  and  he  would  feel  I 
had  done  him  violence  ;  if  I  succeeded  in  the  latter,  I  should 
have  influenced  his  mind,  and  he  himself  would  use  his  own  little 
limbs,  and  with,  a  hajipy  smile  depart."  «■ 

12—16.  (12)  righteousness,  etc.,  ch.  sviii.  24,  20,'  27. 
(13)  trust  to,  or  lean  upon,  think  the  good  will  outweigh  his 
evil.  (14)  lawful  and  right,  or  judgment  and  justice, 
(lo)  restore  the  pledge,  ch.  xviii.  7.  give  . .  robbed," 
make  the  full  restitution  which  is  the  sign  of  a  true  penitence, 
walk  . .  life,  ch.  xx.  11.    (IG)  mentioned,  ch.  xviii.  22. 

^\'orllS  concomiiant  with  faith. — The  eye  alone  seeth  in  the 
body,  yet  the  eye  which  seeth  is  not  alone  ;  the  forefinger  alono 
pointeth.  yet  that  finger  is  not  alone  on  the  hand  :  the  hammed 
alone  striketh  on  the  bell,  yet  the  hammer  that  striketh  is  not 
alone  in  the:  clock  ;  the  heat  alone  in  the  fire  burneth.  yet  that 
heat  is  not  alone  without  the  light  ;  the  helm  alone  guideth  the 
ship,  yet  the  helm  is  not  without  the  tac^^ling.  Thus,  though 
faith  alone  doth  justify,  yet  that  faith  which  justifieth  is  not 
alone,  but  joined  with  charity  and  good  works.  Though  good 
works  are  not  the  cause  why  God  crowneth  us,  yet  we  must  take 
them  in  our  way  to  heaven,  or  we  shall  never  come  there.* 

17 — 20.  (17)  not  equal,  or  fair.  (18,  19)  when,  etc.,  comp. 
vv.  13—16.     (20)  way  .  .  equal,  ch.  xviii.  2o. 

Good  n-orM  no  >Sariour. — The  time  is  coming  when  all  things 
shall  appear  as  they  are,  according  to  the  spiritual  measurement 
of  things.  The  time  is  coming  when  you  and  I  shall  have  served 
our  term  here,  and  shall  have  passed  tlirough  sickness  and  death, 
and  shall  stand  before  God.  You  will  go  up.  many  of  you,  with 
your  fancied  excellences  and  your  comjilaisant  characters  in  your 
hand,  to  stand  before  God,  only  to  see  that  you  never  knew  Him, 
and  to  hear  Him  say,  "  I  never  knew  you."  Stjrangers.  aliens, 
and  enemies  you  are  by  evil  M'orks.  Althougli  you  have  sat 
much  under  the  Gospel,  and  have  all  your  life  long  been  sur- 
rounded with  beneficent  influences,  they  have  never  brought 
your  soul  into  a  living  communion  with  the  spirit  or  the  love  of 
God.  Immortality  can  only  come  by  that,  and  you  have  lost' 
your  portion.    And  as  you  depart,  glancing,  and  seeing  the  gloi-y 


Cap.  xxxiii.  21—29.] 


EZEKIEI. 


339 


that  you  leave  behind,  then,  methinks,  some  feeble  voices  shaJl  be 
lifted  up,  and  shall  be  heard.  Some  poor  child  of  sin  and  sorrow, 
betrayed  by  her  best  affections,  was  carried  down,  till  all  that 
was  within  her  said.  "I  am  lost  if  God  does  not  save  me  1  " 
when,  shot  from  the  bosom  of  God's  love  there  came  a  ray  of 
light,  and  she  looked  and  saw  her  Saviour.  And  ever  since  she 
has  followed  Him,  and  she  will  enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
And  in  that  moment,  when  she  becomes  the  companion  of  God's 
angels,  you,  that  never  sinned  as  she  did,  nor  listened  to  the 
voice  of  your  passions  ;  you  that  have  turned  your  face  from  God 
and  heaven,  will  go  down,  down,  down,  for  ever  and  for  ever,  and 
will  perish  !  And  then  you  will  know  that  it  is  possible  even 
for  a  publican  and  a  harlot  to  enter  the  kingdom  of  God,  and 
you  to  be  cast  out." 

21—24.  (21)  one  escaped,  prob.  more  than  one.  From  the 
date  it  appears  that  the  fugitives  were  more  than  a  year 
making  their  way  to  Chaldsea.  city  is  smitten,  comj).  2  Ki. 
XXV.  4.  (22)  hand,  etc..  the  expre.ssion  prob.  indicates  a  state  of 
trance,  opened,  to  speak  to  the  people,  who  were  stricken 
dumb  with  the  sad  tidings.  (23,  2f)  wastes,  so  recently 
desolated  by  the  conqueror,  one,  a  single  person  ;  yet  he 
found  God  faithful  to  His  promise ;  much  more  shall  we,  who 
are  many. 

TJie  best  news. — Said  a  teacher  to  his  boys  one  day,  "  Tell  me, 
now,  what  was  the  best  news  that  you  ever  heard."  One  boy 
said  it  was  that  his  father,  who  had  been  long  away  at  sea,  was 
coming  home.  Another,  that  he  was  to  have  a  new  Bible,  all 
his  own.  One,  who  had  lived  almost  all  his  life  in  the  country, 
said  the  news  that  pleased  him  best  was  that  he  was  going  to 
London.  Another,  brought  up  in  London,  had  been  most  glad  to 
hear  that  he  was  going  into  the  country.  One  little  boy,  the 
last  of  all,  said,  "  I  think  the  best  news  I  ever  heard,  teacher, 
was  that  Jesus  Christ  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners." 

25 — 29.  (20)  eat  .  .  blood,  a  practice  connected  with  idola- 
try." (2ii)  stand  .  .  sword,  i.e.  rely  on  j^our  own  power.  Might 
is  your  right.  (27)  they  .  .  wastes,  prob.  referring  to  Geda- 
liaii's  party,  wh.  hoped  to  settle  in  Jerusalem,  and  re-establish 
the  kingdom.  (28)  most  desolate,  by  the  destruction  of  the 
remaining  remnant,  pomp,  etc.,  ch.  xxiv.  21.  (29)  then,  i.e. 
when  the  judgments  are  complete. 

Fear  of  jiuhjmrnt. — Jerome  used  to  say  that  it  seemed  to  him 
as  if  the  trumpet  of  the  last  day  was  always  sounding  in  his  ear, 
eaying  :  "Arise,  ye  dead,  and  come  to  judgment."  The  gene- 
rality, however,  think  but  little  of  this  awful  and  important 
period.  A  Chri.stian  king  of  Hungary  being  very  sad  and  pensive, 
his  brother,  who  was  a  gay  courtier,  was  desirous  of  knowing  the 
cause  of  his  sadness.  "  0  brother  ! "  said  the  king,  "  I  have  been 
a  great  sinner  against  God,  and  know  not  how  to  die,  or  how  to 
appear  before  Him  in  judgment."  His  brother,  making  a  jest  of 
it,  said  :  "These  are  but  melancholy  thoughts."  The  king  made 
no  reply  ;  but  it  was  the  custom  of  the  country  that  if  the 
executioner  was  to  sound  a  trumpet  before  any  man's  door,  he 
was  presently  led  to  execution.  The  king,  in  the  dead  hour  of 
the  night,  sent  the  executioner  to  sound  the  trumpet  before  his 
brother's  door,  who,  heaiiug  it,  and  seeing  the  message  of  death. 


sinners  diop  the 
subject  of  re- 
ligion in  conse» 
q  u  e  n  c  e  of  a 
preaclier  address- 
ing them  in  an 
luigry  tone."  — 
Nettleton. 

"  Ambition 
climbing  uilh  a 
giant's  pride." — 
lieirel. 

a  Beecher, 


"  There  were  dif- 
ferent tribes  in 
tlie  \vildernpss, 
but  tlie  manna 
was  for  all. 
When  tlie  clou<l3 
pour  out  the  rain 
they  disregard  all 
the  divi,«ions  of 
the  land,  and 
the  refreshing 
shower  falls  alike 
upon  cottage, 
farm,  garden, 
and  lordly  hall." 
—  Rfv.  Tlwrnas 
Jones. 

"  I  yielded  up  my 
fond  believing 
heart  for  the 
charms  of  trea- 
cherous ambi- 
tion. "—SmoZ/ti. 


a  See  Gp.  ix.  4 ; 
Le.  iii.  1 7,  vii.  26, 
xvii.  :u— 14;  De. 
xii.   IG ;   Ac.  xv. 

"  Perhaps  the 
phrase  should  be 
trans.  '  near  the 
blood,'  in  allu- 
sion to  the  idola- 
trous rite  of 
pouring  the  blood 
of  the  slain  beast 
into  a  vessel  or 
pit,  .  and  then 
eating  part  of  the 
sacrifice  just  by 
it." — Spencer.       ' 


"Ambition'a 
dark  and  subtle 
art  too  oft  love's 
rites  have  niis- 
applied  "— I 
FliilUps. 


340 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xxxlU.  30-33* 


6  Biblical 
tury. 


m  "  The  rulinp 
race  take  great 
pride  in  their 
fine  and  loftj' 
gates,  wliose 

double  doors 

stiind  open  all 
day  long,  reveal- 
ing the  refresh- 
ing sharle  witlun 
of  the  pe.icock 
tree,  etc. ...  On 
the  carved 
benches,  each 
side  of  the  pate, 
lonnge  the  gaily- 
clad  retainers  of 
the  great  man. 
And  he  himself 
often  takes  liis 
seat  there." — 
Van  Lennep. 

h  "  They  praise 
thy  eloquence, 
but  care  not  for 
the  subject  of  it 
as  a  real  and  per- 
sonal thing;  just 
as  many  do  in 
the  modern 
C  h  u  r  c  h."  —  S. 
Ji-romc. 

V.  21.  lip.  Fleet- 
wood, 59 ;  J.  Dsm- 
gla.i,  11.% ;  A.  H. 
Eruns,  202  ;  J.  W. 
Warier,  ii.  1U9  ; 
J.  Ii.  B.  Moun- 
tain, 192. 

V.    32.      Dr.      .7. 

Donne,  v.  378 ; 
Dr.  Chalmers,  vii. 
152 ;  /*.  Williams, 
288. 

c  Dr.  Thomas. 

4  Stems  and 
Twigs. 

e  Q.  Brooks. 

' '  Gone  1.  gone  I ' 
says  the  be- 
reaved admirer : 
'she  was  imleed 
like  a  sweet  voice 
to  my  ear.'  '  I 
hear  not  the 
sweet  song.' 
'  Wliere  is  my 
music  ? '       '  The 


ppi-anc:  into  the  king's  presence,  beseeching  to  know  in  what  he 
had  olfi  ndcd.  ■' Ahis  !  brother,'  said  the  king,  "j'ou  have  never 
oifended  me."  And  is  the  sign  of  execution  so  dreadful,  and 
shall  not  I,  who  have  gi'catly  offended,  fear  to  be  brought  before 
the  judgment-seat  of  Christ  .'* 

30 — 33.  (.^0)  against  thee,  bee.  of  thy  sombre  prophecies, 
in  the  doors,  where  the  people  often  sit."  (liuh-ihn  i<ays,  '•  I 
saw  many  persons  squatted  in  groups  round  their  doors,  smoking 
with  their  long  pipes,  aud  talking."  (31)  as  thy  people,  as  if 
they  meant  to  listen  and  obey,  but  with  no  real  intention  of 
(hilnfj  what  you  enjoin.  (32)  lovely  song,  of  wh.  they  like 
the  sound,  not  the  words.*  (3.'!)  this  .  .  pass,  e.<p.  whatEzekiel 
had  been  saying  about  the  remnant  left  amid  the  desolations  of 
Jerusalem. 

An  old  picture  of  modern  life  (vv.  30 — 32). — Some  people  have 
true  prophets,  some  true  prophets  have  false  jjeople.  Let  us 
notice  their  conduct.  I.  They  conversed  much  concerning  their 
proihet.  1.  This  practice  is  a  very  common,  one;  2.  It  is  fre- 
quently very  injurious.  II.  They  were  interested  in  the  ministry 
of  their  prophet:  such  interest  is  no  proof  of  piety,  such  ministiy 
meets  the  desire  for  excitement,  for  knowledge,  for  hap]iiness. 

III.  They  were  spiritually  unreformed  by  the  miuistrj^  of  their 
prophet.  1.  Divine  truth  is  preached  that  it  may  be  practised  ; 
2.  It  will  never  be  practised  if  the  heart  go  after  covetou.sness. 

IV.  They  were  destined  to  discover,  when  too  late,  their  terrible 
mistake  in  relation  to  the  ministry  of  their  prophet.  1.  In  the 
reproaches  of  a  guilty  conscience  ;  2.  In  the  felicities  of  experi- 
mental rehgion  ;  3.  Or,  in  the  mj'sterious  horrors  of  retribution. "= 
—  On  hrarinij  sermons.  —  I.  The  Gospel  may  be  heard  with, 
pleasure  but  without  profit.  1.  "When  the  mind  only  is  gratified  ; 
2.  When  the  affections  are  merely  excited.  II.  The  converse  is 
true.  1.  Does  the  Word  make  you  watchful  /  2.  Prayerful?  3. 
Lead  you  to  obedience  1  III.  It  is  desirable  th.nt  the  Gospel  should 
be  heard  both  with  pleasure  and  profit.  1.  The  pleasure  should 
arise  from  the  message,  not  from  the  rhetoric  :  2.  From  our  felt 
sense  of  participation  in  the  benefits  of  which  the  message 
speaks  ;  3.  From  our  detei'mination  to  obey  the  message.'' — 
Si'nfiincntali'iin  (v.  32). — I.  The  sentimentalist,  as  well  as  the 
Christian,  attends  on  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel.  1.  He  is  a 
frequent  attender,  a  sermon-hunter  :  2.  He  delights  to  attend  on 
the  preaching  of  the  Gospel,  admires  the  stars  of  the  i">ulpit, 
talks  much  of  his  favourite  preacher;  3.  He  has  his  sensibilities 
stirred  by  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel :  he  is  an  interested, 
appreciative,  admiring,  excited  hearer,  feels  intellectual  gratifica- 
tion, aesthetic  pleasure,  emotional  glow,  etc.  ;  4.  Unlike  the 
Christian  he  is  not  permanently  influenced  by  the  preaching  of 
the  Gospel:  convinced  but  not  converted,  his  religion  a  matter 
of  taste  or  fancy,  or  emotion,  he  wants  a  living  faith.' 

The  coveioiis  ninn'a  pro i/cr.t.— About  eight  years  since  (says  a 
correspondent  of  the  A^ew  York  'ErangeU.if  of  183.1),  while  obtain- 
ing subscriptions  for  a  benevolent  purpose.  I  called  upon  a  gentle- 
man in  one  of  our  largest  cities,  who  generously  contributed  to 
the  object.  Before  leaving.  I  said  to  him,  "  How  much,  think 
you,  will  such  an  individual  subscribe  ? "  "  I  don't  know,"  said 
he  ;  '•  but  could  j'ou  hear  that  man  pray,  you  would  thir.k  he 
would  give  you  all  he  is  worth."     I  called  upon  him,  but  to  my 


Cap.  xxxiv.  1—6.] 


EZEKIEL. 


341 


Furprise  he  would  not  contribute.  As  I  was  about  to  take  my 
leave  of  him,  I  said  to  him,  "As  I  came  to  your  house,  I  asked 
an  individual  what  he  thought  you  would  probably  give.  '  I 
don't  know,'  paid  he  ;  '  but  could  you  hear  that  man  yiray,  you 
would  think  he  would  give  you  all  he  is  worth.' "  The  man's 
head  dropped,  tears  gu  hed  from  his  eyes,  he  took  out  his  pocket- 
book,  and  gave  me  seventy-five  dollars.  He  could  not  withstand 
this  argument ;  his  heart  relented,  and  his  purse  opened. 


CHAPTER  THE  TIIIBTY-FOURTII. 

1 — 6.  (1,  2)  slieplierds,  or  unfaithful  rulers  and  princes." 
feed  themselves/  comp.  2  Cor.  xii.  14  :  Ph.  ii.  21.  (3)  fat,  or 
perhaps  the  milk.  These  figures  imply  the  levying  of  exorbitant 
taxe.«.  kill,  etc.,  so  as  to  grasp  the  property  of  the  dead.  (4) 
diseased,  or  convalescent :  those,  weak  while  recovering  from 
disease,  broken,  as  by  wolves,  driven  away,  or  straying; 
seduced  into  error,  sought  .  .  lost,  contrast  Lu.  xv.  4.  force, 
etc..  comp.  Ex.  i.  13,  14.*^  (5)  meat,  or  a  jirey  ;  bee.  not  defended. 
Ref.  prob.  is  to  the  people  being  left  exposed  to  temjjtations  to 
idolatry.    (G)  mountains,  etc.,  the  special  scenes  of  idol  worship. 

The  D'nhic  >-}H'phcrd  (chapter  xxxiv.). — I.  That  all  rulers  have 
great  responsibilities,  they  are  shepherds.  II.  The  failure  of 
rulers  is  ever  a  great  misfortune  to  subjects.  III.  All  misrule 
will  only  come  to  an  end  in  the  proportion  that  God  Himself 
reigns  over  a  people.  1.  What  is  the  method  by  which  God  will 
become  consciously  the  ruler  of  man  .'  2.  "\Miat  wiU  be  the  results 
of  such  rule  ?'' 

i>1i''i'2)  in  the  East. — When  travelling  in  wilderness  parts  of  the 
world,  cattle  are,  on  various  accounts,  apt  to  wander  or  to  be 
Fcattered.  and  require  attentive  shepherds  to  watch  their  motions. 
Should  the  grass  near  the  encampment  of  the  traveller  not  suit 
their  taste,  or  be  scarce,  they  will  gradually  move  to  a  greater 
and  greater  distance,  till  bushes  or  clumps  of  trees  are  between 
them  and  the  wagons  ;  then,  perhaps,  having  the  scent  of  water, 
or  that  of  better  grass,  they  will  move  off  at  great  speed.  The 
distant  roar  of  a  lion  also  will  so  alami  them  that  they  Avill  start 
off  like  furious  or  frantic  animals.  I  remember  halting  for  a 
night  about  a  hundred  iniles  beyond  Lattakoo.  Knowing  that 
lions  were  numerous  in  that  part,  all  the  oxen  were  made  fast  by 
ropes  to  the  wagons.  During  the  night  lions  had  roared  within 
hearing  of  the  oxen,  when  all,  no  doubt,  had  through  terror 
endeavoured  to  break  loose  from  their  fastenings,  but  only  three 
had  succeeded,  which  having  fled,  were  pursued  by  two  lions, 
and  one  of  them  caught,  and  almost  entirely  devoured  by  those 
two  voiticious  animals.  After  they  had  fairly  killed  the  one,  they 
pursued  the  other  two  for  upwards  of  two  miles,  when  they  gave 
up  the  chase,  and  returned  to  feast  on  the  one  they  had  secured. 
All  this  we  knew  from  the  foot-marks  they  had  left  on  the 
ground.  In  the  morning  the  Hottentots  were  sent  in  search  of 
the  other  two.  which  they  found  feeding  several  miles  off.  The 
Jewish  shepherds  were  condemned  for  not  searching  for  the 
scattered  sheep.  When  men  are  fatigued  by  travelling,  they 
become  lazy  and  indolent,  and  feel  indisposed  to  set  off  in  search 
of  strayed  oxen  many  miles  distant ;  yet  I  never  noticed  our 


song  of  tlia 
iiijriit!  the  song 
of  tlieiiightl  has 
left  Die.'  "  —  [icH 
hi'i-ls. 

'•  Ambition,  sky- 
asspiriiig,  led  Uira 
on." — Umart. 


a  Je.  xxiii.  1. 

"  All  those  who 
.ire  invested  with 
the  duties, 
wlietlier  civil  or 
ecclesiasticnl,  of 
ruling,  tending, 
and  feeding  the 
fiook  of  My 
lif(j]5le."  -  IKo'ifo- 
uvrUi. 

b  "  It  was  cha- 
racteristic of  the 
last  kings  of 
Judah  that  while 
the  distress  and 
misery  of  the 
people  daily  in- 
creased, the  kin  ga 
e.xacted  more  and 
more  of  their 
subjects,  and 
lavished  more 
,".nd  more  on  per- 
sonal luxury  and 
&hov;."-Spk.  Com. 

c  Le.  XXV.  43,  46. 

"  A  magistrate 
should  look  upon 
himself  as  sus- 
taining tlie  office 
of  a  shejiherd, 
that  makes  it  his 
chief  business  to 
take  care  of  his 
flock ;  not  as  if 
•he  were  going  to 
a  feast  to  fill  him- 
self and  satiate 
his  appetite,  or 
to  a  market  to 
make  what  gain 
lie  can  to  him- 
self."—P.'d/o. 

d  U.  Ii.  Thomas. 

r.  2.  St.  AnflUf 
line,  Op.  vii.  225. 

r.  6.  Ab'p.  Sumntr 
152. 


842 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xxxiv.  7—14. 


e  Campbell. 


•  Conip.  Je.  lii. 
9—11. 

"Can  earth  afford 
such  gemiiiie 
state,  pre-emin- 
ence so  free,  as 
wlien  arraycl  in 
Clirist's  autho 
rity,  lie  from  the 
pulpit  lifts  liis 
awful  hand  ;  con- 
jures, implores, 
and  labours  all 
he  can  for  re- 
BuV)iecting  to 
Divine  command 
the  stubborn 

spirit  of  rebel- 
lious man  ?" — 
Woi'dswvilh. 

"  .Tust  as  a  dark 
lantern  is  of  no 
use  to  any  but  to 
him  who  can-ies 
it  dark  every- 
where, behind 
and  on  either 
side,  but  held 
by  its  possessor, 
it  casts  before 
him  a  stream  of 
informing  light." 
— £p.  of  Oxford. 

(  R.  T.  S. 


a  "Of  sin,  error, 
and  unbelief." — 
(S.  Augustine. 

b  Is.  Ixv.  9,  10; 
Je.  xxiii.  3  ;  Eze. 
xxviii.  25,  xx.wi. 
24,  x.xxvii.  21,  22. 

c  "  The  pastures 
of  the  mountains 
of  Israel,  on 
which  the  sheep 
feed,  and  the 
rivers  of  which 
they  drink,  m:iy 
be  interpreted  to 
mean  the  spiri- 
tual pastures  ami 
streams  of  Holy 
Scri|)tnre,  whicli 
have  flowed  into 
an  lands."— <S. 
Augustine. 

r.  12.  /.  Dotrnes, 
U.279. 


Hottentots  unwilling-  to  go  in  search  of  strayed  oxen,  ho^vever 
fatigued  they  might  be.  and  rarely  did  they  return  without  find- 
ing them,  though,  in  some  instances,  they  had  to  trace  their  loot- 
marks  for  ujjwards  of  twenty  miles." 

7—10.  (7.  8)  became  meat,  r.  .">.  search,  for,  bo  as  to  be 
sure  that  none  were  mit^sing.  and  so  as  quickly  to  bring  back  the 
wandering.  (9,  10)  require  my  tiock,  or  demand  an  account 
of  My  flock  from  them,  and  punish  them  if  there  are  any  missing." 
cease,  or  remove  fr.  the  oittce  in  wh.  they  have  proved  unfaithful. 

An  old  ivoman  in  ]\'i/ts/tirr. — A  minister  in  Wiltshire,  walking 
near  a  brook.  ob.scrved  a  poor  woman  washing  wool  in  the  stream  ; 
w/iich  is  done  by  placing  it  in  a  sieve,  and  dipping  it  in  the 
water  repeatedly,  until  it  is  white  and  clean.  lie  engaged  in 
conversation  with  her,  and,  from  some  expressions  of  regret  and 
gratitude  which  she  uttered,  was  induced  to  ask  her  if  she  knew 
him.     "  O  yes,  sir,'  she  replied.  "  and  hope  I  shall  have  reason  to 

bless  God  for  you  to  all  eternity.     I  heard  you  preach  at  W , 

some  years  back  ;  and  hope  your  sermon  was  the  means  of  doing 
me  great  good."  "  Indeed,  I  rejoice  to  hear  it ;  pray,  what  wa3 
the  subject/"  "Ah.  sir,  I  can't  recollect  that ;  mine  is  such  a 
bad  head."  "  How  then  can  it  have  done  you  good,  if  you  don't 
even  remember  it  ? "  '•  Sir,  my  poor  mind  is  like  this  sieve  ;  the 
sieve  doesn't  hold  the  water,  but  it  runs  through  and  cleanses  the 
wool  :  my  memory  docs  not  keep  the  words,  but,  blessed  be  God, 
He  made  them  touch  the  heart :  and  now  I  don"t  love  sin  ;  I  go 
whenever  I  can  to  hear  of  Jesus  Christ ;  and  I  beg  of  Him  every 
day  to  wash  me  in  His  own  blood,  which  cleanses  from  all  sin." 
This  jjractical  way  of  remembering  good  things  is  the  b;'st  of  all 
remembrance.  Our  stores  of  religious  iuformation  cannot  render 
us  service  unless  they  are  reduced  to  practice.  Reader,  do  you 
complain  of  want  of  memory,  as  to  what  you  read  of  the  Bible  .' 
Let  this  anecdote  give  you  a  hint.  Keep  the  sieve  wet ;  let  the 
water  constantly  be  running  through.  The  efEect,  by  God's 
blessing,  will  be  seen  in  your  conduct.* 

11—14.  (11)  search  . .  out,  God  Himself  will  do  what  the 
she^jherds  neglected.  He  is  the  proper  Owner  of  the  flock,  they 
were  only  uuder-shepherds.  The  repetition  of  the  pronoun  / 
makes  it  emphatic.  (12)  cloudy  .  .  day,"  of  national  calamity 
and  humiliation.  (13)  gather  them,  this  would  be  the  first 
sign  of  returning  favour.*  The  full  reference  points  to  the  in- 
gathering from  all  nations  to  the  Church  of  Christ.  (14)  good 
pasture,  Ps.  xxiii.  2.  high  mountains,  ch.  vi.  2,  3.<=  good 
fold,  secure  and  pleasant. 

Tlit^  lo.^t  shrrp. — Here's  a  farmer  owns  a  hundred  sheep.  Well, 
at  night  he  counts  'cm  ;  and  he  makes  one  short.  He  goes  over 
them  again  :  perhaps  he's  reckoned  wrong.  No:  it's  only  ninety- 
nine  again.  lie  goes  in  to  his  wife,  who  is  sitting  by  the  kitchen 
fire  waiting  till  ho  comes  to  supper.  "  Why,  lass,  there's  one 
gone.  Poor  thing  I  he  must  have  got  over  the  wall."  (Ah  I  the 
devil's  always  ready  to  help  a  poor  sheep  of  Christ  over  the  wall.) 
He  starts  in  search  of  him.  By-aud-by  he  sees  the  foot-marks. 
Ah,  yonder  he  is  !  But  now  he  has  to  mind  where  he  treads  :  he 
has  to  make  a  spring  now  and  then  over  some  boggy  place  ;  and 
the  land  is  all  sopping  wet.  But  he  sees  the  track  of  tho 
wanderer  ;  and  now  he  hears  "  Ba-a  I "  and  the  great  soft  eyes  of 


Cap.  xxxiv.  15—19.] 


EZEKIEL. 


343 


the  creature  stare  up  at  him  from  a  quagmire,  as  if  to  say,  "  O 
master,  help  me  out !  "  He  takes  him  up,  and  puts  him  over  his 
shoulders  ;  and  the  black  mud  drips  down  his  jacket :  but  he 
doesn't  mind  that.  At  last  he  comes  to  the  brook  that  skirts  his 
orchard  ;  and  then  he  washes  aU  the  filth  away,  and  the  poor 
thing  trots  into  the  fold  with  such  a  happy  bleat,  as  if  to  say, 
'•  Thank  you,  sir  ! "  Now,  that's  how  Jesus  fetches  back  His 
wanderer  ;  only  He  doesn't  put  him  across  His  shoulders.  He  puts 
him  into  His  bosom  :  and  then  He  takes  and  washes  him  in  the 
fountain  filled  with  His  own  precious  blood.  That's  what  He  did 
for  me  eight  years  ago.  And  that's  what  He  is  ready  to  do  for 
you.     Hallelujah!'' 

15 — 19.  (15)  lie  down,  the  sign  of  their  being  satisfied  and 
secure,  Ps.  xxiii.  2.  (It!)  destroy  the  fat,  i.e.  those  who  have 
made  themselves  fat  at  the  expense  of  the  sheep,  judgment, 
or  discretion ;  treating  each  one  according  to  his  deserts  :  see  v.  17. 
(17)  between  .  .  cattle,  i.e.  bet.  vv^eak  and  strong  cattle.'*  (18) 
tread  down,  etc.,  si>oiliug,  so  that  others  cannot  use,  what  they 
do  not  want  themselves.*  (I'J)  my  ilock,  wh.  for  My  sake  ought 
to  be  so  carefully  tended. 
Ajjoor  hut  good  jwcaclier. — 

A  good  man  ther  was  of  religioun, 

That  was  a  poure  persone  of  a  toun  : 

But  riche  he  was  of  holy  thought  and  werk. 

He  was  also  a  lerned  man,  a  clerk, 

That  Cristes  gospel  trewely  wolde  preche. 

His  parishens  devoutly  wolde  he  teche. 

Benigne  he  was,  and  wonder  diligent, 

And  in  adversite  ful  patient : 

And  swiche  he  was  yi^reved  often  sithes. 

Ful  loth  wer  him  to  cursen  for  his  tithes, 

But  rather  wolde  he  yeven  oat  of  doute, 

Unto  bis  poure  parishens  aboute, 

Of  his  offring.  and  eke  of  his  substance. 

He  coude  in  litel  thing  have  suffisance. 

"Wide  was  his  parish,  and  houses  fer  asonder, 

But  he  ne  left  nought  for  no  rain  ne  thonder, 

In  sickenesse  and  in  mischief  to  visite 

The  ferrest  in  his  parish,  moche  and  lite, 

Upon  his  fete,  and  in  his  hand  a  staf. 

This  noble  ensample  to  his  shepe  he  yaf, 

That  first  he  wrought,  and  afterward  he  taught. 

Out  of  the  Gospel  he  the  wordes  caught, 

And  this  figure  he  added  yet  therto, 

That  if  gold  ruste,  what  shuld  iren  do  ! 

For  if  a  preest  be  foule,  on  whom  we  trust, 

JsTo  wonder  is  a  lewed  man  to  nist : 
^Vel  ought  a  preest  ensample  for  to  yeve, 

By  his  clenenesse,  how  his  shepe  shulde  live. 
He  sette  not  his  benefice  to  hire. 

And  lette  his  shepe  acombred  in  the  mire, 

And  ran  unto  London,  unto  Scint  Poules, 

To  seken  him  a  chantfre  for  soules. 

Or  with  a  brotherhede  to  be  withold  : 
But  dwelt  at  liome,  and  kepte  wel  his  fold. 
So  that  the  wolfe  ne  made  it  not  miscarie.* 


He    preaches 

Christ  best,  who 
lifts  Hiia  up 
most. 

d  Richd.  Weaver, 


a  Lit.  "  Between 
the  small  cattle 
and  the  cattle  of 
rams  and  he- 
goats."  A  fig.  for 
'•  between  the 
poor  and.  the 
rich." 

h  "  The  flock  was 
obliged  to  eab 
what  they  hail 
troilden  into  the 
dirt,  and  drink 
that  wliieh  they 
had  muildied.  .  . 
The  great  men 
were  so  vexatious 
to  the  poor  thab 
what  little  coarse 
food  they  had. 
was  submitted  to 
them."  —  Ma  t. 
Henry. 

V.  17.    SI.  Augus- 
tine, Op.  vii. ;   B, 
Betidomp,  v.  67. 
v.\%.  Dr.J.  Donne, 
iv.  4U7. 

"  The  language  of 
reason,  unaccom- 
panied by  kind- 
ness, will  often 
fail  of  making  an 
impression ;  it 
has  no  effect  upon 
the  understand- 
ing, because  ifc 
touches  not  the 
heart.  The  lan- 
guage of  kind- 
ness, unassoci- 
ated  with  reason, 
will  frequently  be 
unable  to  per- 
suade ;  because, 
though  it  may 
gain  upon 
the  affections,  it 
wants  that  which 
is  necessary  to 
convince  the 
judgment.  Bub 
let  reason  and 
kindness  be 
united  in  a  dis- 
course, and  sel- 
dom will  even 
pride  or  prejudice 
find  it  easy  to 
resist."-ffii-6orn* 
c  Chaucer. 


844 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xxxiv.  20-27. 


a  Ps.  xxiL  12, 
Ixviii.  31 ;  Da. 
viii.  3,  5. 

h  Is.  xl.  11 ;  Jno. 
X.  11. 

c  Is.  Iv.  3,  4 ;  Je. 
XXX.  9  ;  Ho.  iii.  5. 

Alexander  the 
Great  was  much 
olleiided  with 
tliose  who  re- 
fused the  pre- 
sents tliat  he 
offered  them,  and 
once  wrote  to 
Phocion  that  lie 
could  no  longer 
number  him 
among  his 
friends  if  he 
rejected  tlie 
marks  of  his 
regard.  So  with 
Christ  to  His 
children.  He  is 
not  pleased  with 
ns  when  we  do 
not  expect  large 
things  from  liim, 
and  accept  the 
large  things  that 
He  offers  us. 
"We  honour  Him 
by  obeying  His 
every  word  in 
faith,  like  the 
man  at  the  pool 
of  Eetliofda,  and 
gi-atefnlly  accep- 
ting His  choicest 
blessings. 

d  French  S.  S. 
Magazine. 


O  Mai.  iii.  10. 

h   "  The     literal  | 
Ifnlfilment  is  the  > 
primary         one, 
thougli  the  spiri- 
tual   also  is   de-  \ 
signed.     In  cor-  ' 
res-^ondencewith 
the  settled  reign 
of  righteousness 
intprnally,  all  is 
to  be  prosperity 
externally,  I'erti-  I 
lising      sliowers,  ' 
and     productive 
trees  and  lauds." 
—Fausset.  I 


20 — 23.  (20)  judge  between,  so  as  to  relieve  the  sufferers 
and  punish  the  oppressors.  The  fat  str.uds  for  the  i-ich  aud 
arrogant  rulers  ;  the  lean  f.or  the  humble  poor  of  the  people. 
(21)  thrust,  etc.,  fig-,  taken  from  the  rou^'h  ways  of  rams  and 
he-goats."  (:^2)  save,  out  of  the  hand  of  such  SLlf-seekingp 
oppressors.  (23)  one  shepherd,  the  lull  and  iinal  reference 
mu.st  be  to  Messiah.*  servant  David,  a  second  and  a  greater 
David."^ 

Christ,  the  Good  Shepherd. — One  of  my  friends,  travelling-  in 
Greece  some  years  since,  met  three  sheijherds  with  tlieir  Hocks. 
One  had  under  his  care  about  six  hundred  and  fifty  sheep, 
another  about  seven  hundred,  and  the  third  about  seven  hundred 
and  fifty,  in  all  tw^enty-one  hundred  :  these  three  flocks  were  put 
together.  Each  sheep  had  a  separate  name  ;  it  would  not 
answer  to  any  other  name,  nor  even  to  its  own,  unless  called  by 
its  own  shepherd.  Each  shepherd  knew  all  his  sheep!  and  also 
their  names.  If  he  saw  that  one  was  going  in  a  dangerous 
direction,  he  called  it,  and  it  retraced  its  steps.  If  the  way  was 
narrow  or  steep,  he  walked  first,  and  the  sheei)  followed.  It  was 
cold  when  my  friend  met  the  sheiiherds.  feome  of  the  lambs 
appeared  very  vigorous  and  playful,  but  others,  ou  the  contrary, 
appeared  weak  and  delicate.  The  cold  made  them  tremble,  and 
they  could  scarcely  walk.  The  shej  herds  were  clothtd  in  large 
cloaks,  gathered  in  at  the  waist  by  a  girdle.  They  took  these 
little  lambs,  and  put  them  in  their  bosoms.  They  took  care  not 
to  stifle  them,  but  to  leave  their  heads  uncovered,  in  order  that 
they  might  breathe  freely  ;  but  thus  they  ke]3t  them  warm  !  It 
was  pleasing  to  see  these  old  shepherds,  Avith  their  long  grey 
beards,  aud  their  bosoms  filled  with  the  lambs.  It  is  thus  that 
Jesus  did.  "He  shall  gather  the  lambs  with  His  anns."  the 
Bible  tells  us,  "and  cTirry  them  in  Hi  s  bosom."  Children  have 
loved  Jesus,  and  Jesus  has  not  left  them  to  perish.  He  lakes 
care  of  them  as  well  as  of  grown  persons.  '-I  love  them  that 
love  Me,"  says  He  :  "  and  they  that  seek  Me  early  (or  i  artfully) 
shall  find  Me."  Amongst  the  twenty-one  hundred  sheep  that  my 
friend  saw,  he  found  some  weak  or  fatigued.  They  could  not 
walk  much,  especially  in  steep  or  miry  places.  Then  the  shep- 
herds approached  them,  and.  jilacing  their  crook  beneath  them, 
helped  them  to  advance.  They  always  treated  them  with  the 
greatest  tenderness.  The  Good  Shepherd  also  does  the  same  ; 
He  pities  the  weak,  and  assists  them  in  their  journey  :  He  never 
abandons  them  ;  He  makes  them  go  out  to  find  pasture.'' 

24—27.  (24)  their  God,  i.e.  I  will  be  in  manifest  and 
gracious  relations  with  them  as  their  God.  a  prince,  or  living 
representative  and  agent  of  God.  Gotl  iiuiniffxt.  {2'>)  covenant 
of  peace,  one  that  shall  ensure  peace  ffir  them,  sleep  .  . 
woods,  a  sure  sign  of  security.  The  i)eopling  of  a  o<pintry 
results  in  driving  the  wild  beasts  from  the  woods  and  foi'csts. 
(2())  shower,  periodical  rains,  on  which  the  fruitfulness  of  the 
land  depended."  (27)  safe,  ref.  prob.  is  to  the  harvest  of  land 
and  tree,  wh.  should  be  secured  to  the  people,  not  stolen  by 
maraudci's.'' 

Shim-crK  of  lle.'^.tinfj  (r.  20). — I.  We  are  to  observe  that  this 
conmiunication  is  needed  by  the  world.  1.  The  condition  of 
the  heathen  world  ;  2.  The  slow  progress  of  i-eligion  among  men. 
II.  That  this  communication  is  promised  by  God.     1.  Its  nature 


Cap.  xxxiv.  28—31,] 


EZEKIEL. 


345 


is  defiued  by  His  promise  ;  2.  Its  extent  is  also  defined  ;  3.  Ilis 
purpose  defines  the  result  of  this  communication.  III.  It  must 
be  sought  by  the  Church.  1.  By  removal  from  the  world  ;  2.  By 
the  cultivation  of  union  and  love  ;  3.  By  the  emi)loyment  of 
zealous  and  vigorous  exertions  ;  4.  By  the  offering  of  fervent  and 
importunate  prayer." 

Oriental  s/ii'jjlnrd,i. — The  Oriental  shepherds,  when  unprovided 
•with  tents,  erect  huts  or  booths  of  loose  stones,  covered  with 
reeds  and  boughs.  Pococke  found,  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Acre,  some  open  huts,  made  of  boughs  raised  about  three  feet 
from  the  ground,  inhabited  by  Arabs.  In  such  booths  many  of 
the  people  of  Israel  \\ere  obliged  to  take  shelter  in  the  wilder- 
ness, from  the  want  of  a  sufficient  number  of  tents,  the  remem- 
brance of  which  they  were  commanded  to  preserve  by  a  solemn 
festival.  But  even  these  meaner  and  more  inconvenient  habi- 
tations are  not  always  within  the  reach  of  an  Aiabian  shepherd  ; 
he  is  often  obliged  to  take  refuge  under  the  projecting  rock,  and 
to  sleep  in  the  open  air.  A  grove  or  woodland  occasionally 
furnishes  a  most  agreeable  retreat.  The  descrijition  which 
Chandler  has  left  us  of  one  of  these  stations,  is  so  strikingly 
picturesque,  that  it  must  be  given  in  his  own  words  :  '•  About 
two  in  the  morning  our  whole  attention  was  fixed  by  the  barking 
of  dogs,  which,  as  we  advanced,  became  exceedingly  furious. 
Deceived  by  the  light  of  the  moon,  we  now  fancied  we  could  see 
a  village,  and  were  much  mortified  to  find  only  a  station  of  poor 
goatherds,  without  even  a  shed,  and  nothing  for  our  horses  to  eat. 
They  were  l.ying.  wrapped  in  their  thick  capotes  or  loose  coats, 
by  some  glimmering  embers,  among  the  bushes  in  a  dale,  under 
a  spreading  tree  by  the  fold.  They  received  us  hospitably, 
heaping  on  fresh  fuel,  and  producing  sour  curds  and  coarse 
bread,  which  they  toasted  for  us  on  the  coals.  "We  made  a 
scanty  meal,  sitting  on  the  ground,  lighted  by  the  fire  and  by  the 
moon,  after  which  sleep  suddenly  overpowered  me.  On  waking.  I 
found  my  two  companions  by  my  side,  .sharing  in  the  com- 
fortable cover  of  the  janizary's  cloak,  which  he  had  carefully 
spread  over  us.  I  was  now  much  struck  with  the  wild  appearance 
of  the  spot.  The  tree  was  hung  with  rustic  utensils  ;  the  she- 
goats  in  a  pen  sneezed,  and  bleated,  and  rustled  to  and  fro  ;  the 
fihrubs  by  which  our  horses  stood  were  leafless,  and  the  earth 
bare  ;  a  Ijlack  caldron,  with  milk,  was  simmering  over  the  fire  ; 
and  a  figure,  more  than  gaunt  or  sjivage.  close  by  us,  struggling 
on  the  ground  with  a  kid.  whose  ears  he  had  slit,  and  was 
endeavouring  to  cauterise  with  a  red-hot  iron."  This  description 
forms  a  striking  comment  on  a  pa.ssage  in  Ezekiel,  in  which  God 
condescends  to  give  this  promise  to  His  people  :  "  I  will  make 
with  them  a  covenant  of  peace,  and  will  cause  the  evil  beasts 
to  cease  out  of  the  land  :  and  they  shall  dwell  safely  in  the 
wilderness,  and  sleep  in  the  woods."  No  reasonable  doubt  can 
be  entertained  that  they  were  often  exposed  in  the  same 
manner,  while  tending  their  flocks  ;  and  in  great  danger  when 
their  country,  from  the  thinness  of  the  population,  or  other 
causes,  happened  to  be  overrun  with  beasts  of  prey.  They  are 
accordingly  cheered  with  the  sure  prospect  of  those  ravenous 
animals  being  exterminated,  and  every  woodland  becoming  a 
place  of  safety  to  the  slumbering  shepherd.'* 
28 — 31.  (28)  prey,  v.  25.    Obs.  the  reference  to  the  perils 


c  J.  Parsons. 

The  painter 
woiiM  nevei-  at- 
tain to  ciuiuence 
if  lie  went  to  an 
e.xliibitiun  and 
devoted  himself 
to  the  stndy  of 
some  work  of 
motlerate  worth, 
anil  said,  "  I  will 
attempt  to  reach 
this,  and  there  I 
will  stop  con- 
tented." No,  he 
gbes  to  the  gal- 
leries of  the  great 
masters,  and 
though  his  timid 
pencil  may  not 
dare  to  hope  that 
he  shall  strike 
out  thoughts  so 
cle.arly  and  make 
life  stand  out 
upon  the  canvas 
as  they  have 
done,  yet  he 
seeks  to  drink  iii 
their  inspiration, 
hoping  that  he 
may  rise  to  some 
proud  eminence 
in  art  by  imitat- 
ing them.  Tlie 
Christian's  all- 
fufificient  pattern 
is  Christ. 

"  A  wall  of  crys- 
tal is  a  safe 
defence  against 
the  force  of  fire, 
yet  it  is  no  ob- 
struction to  the 
beams  and  che- 
rishing light  of 
the  sun.  buch  a 
crystal  wall  is 
Christ ;  He  keeps 
otf  Gods  fiery 
indignation  from 
us,  but  yet  con- 
veys to  lis  the 
clierishing  and 
reviving  influ- 
ences of  His 
love.  "  —  £ishop> 
Hopkins. 

d  Paxton. 


a     That    Is,    to 
bring  the  people 


346 


EZEKTEL. 


Cap.  XXXV.  1—6. 


glory,  or  "  a 
name,"  iustead 
(it  shame. 

6  /.  Laird. 

V.  29.  a:  Erskine, 
in.  343;  Dr.  U. 
Gordon,  iv.  235. 

"  All  the  glory 
anil  beauty  of 
Christ  are  mani- 
fested within, 
ami  tliere  He  de- 
lights to  dwell  ; 
His  visits  there 
are  frequent,  His 
con  d  escension 
ama  zi  ng.  His 
conversation 
sweet.  His  coin- 
forts  refreshing ; 
and  tlie  peace 
tliat  He  brings 
passethall  under- 
standing." -Thos. 
in  Kempis. 


a  De.  ii.  5;  Eze. 
XXT.  12—14. 

"Edom  is  the 
God-hating,  God- 
opposing  power, 
for  Edom  was 
ever  distinguisli- 
ed  for  its  bitter 
liatred  against 
Israel,  and  so  tlie 
ruiu  of  Edom  is 
the  triumph  of 
Israel  in  the 
power  of  God." 
— Syk.  Com. 

"  It  is  only  in 
their  nalimial 
character  of  foes 
to  God's  people 
that  the  Edom- 
ites  are  to  be 
utterly  destroy- 
ed."— Fausset. 

There  is  a  beau- 
tiful fable  told  of 
Amphion,  the  son 
of  Jupiter,  that 
bo  muved  great 


of  idolatry,  dwell  safely,  Je.  xxiii.  6.  (29)  plant  of  re- 
nown, or  "a  planting'  for  a  name.''"  Comp.  Is.  Ix. 21.  Ixi.  3. 
sliame  .  .  heathen,  i.e.  of  sharing  in  the  idolatries  and  moral 
evils  of  the  heathen.  Or  it  may  refer  to  the  rejiroaches  of  the 
heathen  on  account  of  the  national  humiliation.  (:50)  I  the 
Lord,  V.  2+.  (;n  )  my  flock,  Jno.  x.  11.  men,  only  men ;  so 
remember  the  contrast,  '•  ye  are  mni.  I  am  Gud." 

The  jiJant  of  renoirn  (?•.  21)). — 1.  Some  plants  are  renowned  for 
their  rareness  ;  2.  For  their  beauty  ;  3.  For  their  fragranco  ; 
4.  For  their  healing'  virtue  ;  .'').  For  their  shelter  from  the  sun  ; 
().  For  their  exeellcut  fruits.  The  person,  work,  ble.ssings.  and 
promises  of  the  Lord  Jesus  considered  under  each  of  these  repre- 
sentations.* 

The  plant  of  renoivn. — In  the  preceding  and  follo'wing  verses 
Israel  is  compared  to  a  flock  of  sheep,  by  observing  which  the 
propriety  of  the  following  illustration  will  be  apparent  : — 
'■  Looking  to  the  east,  flocks  and  herds  were  seen  spreading 
through  the  undulating  valleys.  In  one  place  we  saw  manj'  of 
thom  gathered  together  under  a  shady  tree,  waiting  till  the 
excessive  heat  of  noon  should  be  abated.  The  sight  of  these 
flocks  reclining  beneath  the  shady  trees  suggested  the  true 
meaning  of  the  passage,  '  I  will  raise  up  for  them  a  plant  of 
renown.'  This  plant  is  some  noble  shady  tree,  where  the  flock 
may  find  rest  and  shelter  ;  a  wide-spreading  covert,  renowned 
for  its  coolness,  under  whose  protecting  branches  they  shall  feed, 
and  be  '  no  more  consumed  with  hunger.'  The  great  Redeemer 
is  thus  represented  as  giving  to  His  flock,  first  shelter  from 
burning  wrath,  and  then  peace  to  feed  in  plenty  when  they  are 
delivered." 


CHAPTER  THE  THIRTY-FIFTH. 

1—6.  (1,  2)  Mount  Selr,  the  country  of  Edom,  inhabited  by 
the  descendants  of  Esau."  (3)  stretch  .  .  hand,  the  usual  fig. 
of  Divine  judgments.  (4)  waste,  as  cities  overrun  by  hostile 
armies.  (5)  perpet'ual  hatred,  hast  kept  up  thy  hatred  from 
of  old.  iniquity  .  .  end,  or  received  its  just  doom,  ch.  xxi.  21). 
(())  prepare  thee,  change  thee.  There  seems  to  be  a  play  on 
the  name,  '■  I  will  change  thee  from  Edom  into  Dam  (hlood). 
sith,  or  since,     not  hated,  but  rather  taken  delight  in. 

Idiima-a. — There  is  a  prediction  which,  being  peculiarly  remark- 
able as  aj)plicable  to  Iduma:!a.  and  bearing  reference  to  a  circum- 
stance explanatory  of  the  difficulty  of  access  to  any  knowledge 
respecting  it.  is  entitled,  in  the  first  instance,  to  notice  :  '*  K'one 
shall  pass  through  it  for  ever  and  ever."  Isaiah  xxxiv.  10.  '•  I 
■will  cut  off  from  Mount  Seir  him  that  passeth  out  and  him 
that  returneth."  Ezek.  xxxv.  7.  The  ancient  greatness  of 
Idumtca  must,  in  no  small  degree,  have  resulted  from  its  com- 
merce. Bordering  with  Arabia  on  the  cast,  and  Egj'pt  on  the 
south-west,  and  forming  from  north  to  south  the  most  direct  and 
most  commodious  channel  of  communication  between  Jerusalem 
and  her  dependencies  on  the  Red  Sea,  as  well  as  between  Syria 
and  India  (through  the  continuous  valleys  of  El  Ghor  and  El 
Arabia,  which  terminated  on  the  one  extremity  at  the  borders  of 
Juda:a,  and  on  the  other  at  Elath  and  Esiongabcr  on  the  Elanitio 
Gulf  of  the  Red  Sea),  Idumsea  may  be  said  to  have  formed  the 


Cap.  XXXV.  7—11.] 


EZEKIEL. 


347 


euiijorium  of  the  commerce  of  the  East.  A  Roman  road  passed 
directly  through  Idumtea,  from  Jerusalem  to  Akaba,  and  another 
from  Akaba  to  Moab  ;  and  when  these  roads  were  made,  at  a  time 
long  posterior  to  the  date  of  the  predictions,  the  conception  could 
not  have  been  formed,  or  held  credible  by  man,  that  the  period 
would  ever  arrive  wlien  none  would  pass  through  it.  Above 
seven  hundred  years  alter  the  date  of  tlie  prophecy.  Strabo  relates 
that  "  many  Romans  and  other  foreigners  "'  were  found  at  Petra 
by  his  friend  Athenodorus,  the  philosopher,  who  visited  it.  The 
prediction  is  yet  more  surprising,  when  viewed  in  conjunction 
with  another,  which  implies  that  travellers  would  pass  by 
Idumasa, — every  one  that  goeth  by  shall  be  astonished.  And  the 
hadj  routes  (routes  of  the  pilgrims)  from  Damascus  and  from 
Cairo  to  Mecca,  the  one  on  the  east,  and  the  other  towards  the 
south  of  Iduma3a,  along  the  whole  of  its  extent,  go  by  it,  or 
touch  partially  on  its  borders,  without  passing  through  it.  The 
truth  of  the  prophecy  (though  hemmed  in  thus  by  apparent 
impossibilities  and  contradictions,  and  with  extreme  probability  of 
its  fallacy  in  every  view  that  could  have  been  visible  to  man) 
may  yet  be  tried.* 

7—11.  (7)  most  desolate,  v.  3.  Heb.  "  desolation  and  deso- 
lation." passeth  .  .  returneth,  i.e.  such  shall  be  the  peril  of 
the  country  that  no  traveller  will  go  through  it.  (8)  moun- 
tains, Edom  is  characteristically  a  mountain  district,  ch.  xxxii. 
4,  .5.  (9)  cities  .  .  return,  to  habitation."  (10)  two  nations, 
Israel  and  Judah.''  whereas,  or  although  Jehovah  dwelt 
there.  (11)  known  .  .  them,  i.e.  among  My  people,  whom  I  will 
surely  defend  against  thee. 

Id iniura.— The  remark  of  Volney,  who  passed  at  a  distance  to 
the  west  of  Iduma3a,  and  who  received  his  information  from 
the  Arabs  in  that  quarter.  "  that  it  had  not  been  visited  by  any 
traveller,"  will  not  be  imobserved  by  the  attentive  reader.  Soon 
after  Burckhardt  had  entered,  on  the  north-east,  the  territories 
of  the  Edomites,  the  boundary  of  which  he  distinctly  marks,  he 
Bays  that  "  he  was  without  protection  in  the  midst  of  a  desert, 
where  no  traveller  had  ever  been  before  seen."  It  was  then  "  that 
for  the  first  time  he  had  ever  felt  fear  during  his  travels  in  the 
desert,  and  his  route  thither  was  the  most  dangerous  he  had  ever 
travelled."  Mr.  Joliffe,  who  visited  the  northern  shore  of  the 
Dead  Sea,  in  alluding  to  the  country  south  of  its  opposite  extre- 
mity, describes  it  as  "  one  of  the  wildest  and  most  dangerous 
divisions  of  Arabia,''  and  says  that  any  research  in  that  quarter 
was  impracticable.  Sir  Frederick  Henniker,  in  his  JVofcs  dated 
from  JMouut  Sinai,  on  the  south  of  Idumasa,  unconsciously  con- 
centrates striking  evidence  in  verification  of  the  prediction, 
while  he  states  a  fact  that  would  seem,  at  first  sight,  to  militate 
against  it.  "  Seetzen,  on  a  vessel  of  paper  pasted  against  the 
wall,  notifies  his  having  penetrated  the  country  in  a  direct  line 
between  the  Dead  Sea  and  Jlouut  Sinai"  (through  Idumaja).  "a 
route  never  before  riucompli.^hed.  This  was  the  more  interesting 
to  me,  as  I  had  previously  determined  to  attempt  the  same,  it 
being'  the  shortest  way  to  Jerusalem.  The  Cavalier  Frediani, 
whom  I  met  in  Egypt,  would  have  persuaded  me  that  it  was 
impracticable,  and  tlaat  he,  having  had  the  same  intention  him- 
self, after  having  been  detained  in  hope  five  w^eeks,  was  com- 
pelled to  relinquish  his  design.    While  I  was  yet  ruminating  over 


masses  of  stone, 
anil  raised  the 
walls  of  Thebes, 
simjjly  by  mak- 
ing melody  upon 
his  lute.  There 
is  One  greater 
than  he,  who  has 
built  the  walls  of 
His  Church,  and 
united  together 
His  people  in 
bonds  stronger 
than  death,  by 
the  sweet,  soft 
influences  of 
w  o  r  d  s  mo  r  e- 
gentle  than  the 
strains  that  flow 
from  the  lyre 
when  tuned  to 
sweetest  notes. 

b  Keith. 


(iComp.  Is.rsxiT. 
1—15. 

"  From  Mount 
Hor,  a  part  of 
Jlount  Peir,  no- 
thiug  is  to  be 
seen  but  nigged- 
ness  and  desola- 
tion."— Gadsby. 

b  Ps.  Lxxxiii.  12. 

"  One  thing  wh. 
contributed  to 
make  CfBsar's 
soldiers  Invin- 
cible was  their 
seeing  him  al- 
ways take  his 
share  in  danger, 
and  never  desire 
any  exemptioa 
from  labour  or 
fatigue.  We  have 
a  fur  higher  in- 
centive in  the 
war  for  truth, 
and  goodness 
when  we  con- 
sider Him  who 
endured  such 
contradiction  of 
sinners  against 
Himself."  -Spur' 
ijeon. 

Tertnllian  re- 
marks, ''If  thou 
endurest  wrong 
for  Christ's  sake. 
He  is  a  revenger; 
if  sorrow,  He  is 
a  comforter  ;  if 
sickness,  He  is  a 
physician;  if  los% 


348 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xxxvl.  1—4. 


He  is  a  rpstornr  ; 
if  life,    He   is  a 
leviver." 
e  Keith. 


a  LoioiTi. 

h  "  ■\\nien  all  the 
land  of  the  liviiif? 
rejoices,  aiul 
when  the  land  of 
the  saints  and  all 
other  lands  are 
converted  to  tlie 
service  of  God. 
then  thou,  O 
Jtount  Seir,  and 
all  Idunifea.  that 
is,  all  ye  powers 
of  this  world 
which  delight  in 
blood,  shall  be 
desolate,  and 
shall  know  Utai 
I  am  the  Lord." 
— S.  Jerome. 

God  in  Christ 
may  as  soon 
cease  to  bo  God. 
as  ce.ase  to  lie 
gracious  and 
good. 

The  profane 

swearer  is  com- 
pared to  a  fish 
who  bites  at  the 
naked  hook. 

«  Keith. 


A  Tirg.  Ororg.  lib. 
iii.  1.  11'. 

"  I  want,"  said  a 
young  corporal 
one  day  to  Hed- 
ley  Vicars,  "  to 
liave  more  of 
Jesus  in  this 
life."  Christ 
crucified  is  not 
a  mere  fund  in 
reserve— a  kind 
of  extreme  unc- 
tion to  help  men 
to  die  iu  pence  : 


this  scrap  of  paper,  tlie  superior  paid  me  a  morning'  visit ;  ho 
also  said  it  was  impossible,  but  at  leng'th  promised  to  search  for 
guides.  I  had  already  endeavoured  to  per.suade  those  who  had 
accompanied  me  from  Tor,  but  they  also  talked  of  dangers,  and 
declined."  Guides  were  found,  who,  after  resisliug  for  a  while 
his  entreaties  and  bribes,  agreed  to  conduct  him  by  the  desired 
route  ;  but.  unable  to  overcome  their  fears,  deceived  him,  and  led 
him  towards  the  Blediterraneau  coast,  through  the  desert  of 
Gaza."^ 

12 — 15.  (12)  blasplieinies,  evil  things  said  against  Israel 
are  regarded  as  blasphemies  against  Israel's  God.  (3)  against 
me,  not  against  the  nation  merely.  "  You  boast  as  if  I  could 
not  assert  My  right  in  Judaea.''"  (14)  rejoiceth,  in  restoration 
from  their  captivities  and  Divine  judgments.*  desolate,  the 
Edomites  never  recovered  their  country.  (13)  all  Idumsea,  i.e. 
all  tlie  several  tribes  and  divisions  of  it. 

Idumrca. — Iduma^a  was  situated  to  the  south  of  Judpoa  and  of 
Moab  :  it  bordered  on  the  east  with  Arabia  Petrasa.  under  which 
name  it  was  included  in  the  latter  part  of  its  history,  and  it 
extended  southward  to  the  east_n-u  gulf  of  the  Red  Sea.  A  single 
extract  from  the  Trarcis  of  Volney  will  be  found  1 1  be  equally 
illustrative  of  the  prophecy  and  of  the  fact.  "  This  country 
has  not  been  visited  by  any  traveller,  but  it  well  merits  such  an 
attention  :  for  from  the  reports  of  the  Arabs  of  Bakir.  and  the 
inhabitants  of  Gaza,  who  frequently  go  to  Maan  and  Karak.  on 
the  road  of  the  pilgrims,  there  are,  to  the  south-east  of  the  lake 
Asphaltites  fDead  Sea)  within  three  days'  journey,  upward^  of 
thirty  ruined  towns  absolutely  deserted.  Several  of  them  have 
large  edifices,  with  columns  that  may  have  belonged  to  the 
ancient  temples,  or  at  lea-t  to  Greek  churches.  The  Arabs  some- 
times make  use  of  them  to  fold  the  cattle  in,  but  in  general  avoid 
them  on  account  of  the  enormous  scorpions  with  which  they 
swarm.  "We  cannot  be  surprised  at  these  traces  of  ancient  jiopu- 
lation,  when  we  recollect  that  this  was  the  country  of  the 
Nabatheans,  the  most  powerful  of  the  Arabs,  and  of  the  Idu- 
ma;ans,  who,  at  the  time  of  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  were 
almost  as  numerous  as  the  Jews,  as  appears  from  Josephus.  who 
informs  us.  that  on  the  first  rumour  of  the  march  of  Titus 
against  Jerusalem,  thirty  thousand  Idumasans  instantly  assembled, 
and  threw  themselves  into  that  city  for  its  defence." 


CHAPTER  THE  TIIIRTY-SIXTIL 

1 — 4-.  (1)  mountains,  ch.  vi.  2.  (2)  the  enemy,  Edom,  as 
in  the  previous  chapter,  aha,  a  scornful  and  exulting  expres- 
sion, ancient  high  places,  comp.  '•  everlasting-  hills,'  Ge. 
xlix.  2().  in  possession,  ch.  xxxv.  10.  (3)  residue,  i.e. 
those  of  the  surrounding  nations  that  had  surviv'cd  the  fall  of 
Jerusalem,  infamy,  or  treated  as  infamous.  (4)  rivers,  lit. 
bottoms,  or  wadies. 

hhniurn. — A  greater  contrast  cannot  be  imagined  than  the  an- 
cient and  present  state  of  Iduma}a.  It  was  a  kingdom  previous  to 
Israel,  having  been  governed  first  by  dukes  or  princes,  afterward 
by  eight  successive  kings,  and  again  by  dukes,  before  there 
reigned  any  king  over  the  childi'en  of  Israel.     Its  fertility  and 


Cap.  xxxvi.  5—7.1 


EZEKIEL. 


849 


early  cultivation  are  implied,  not  only  in  the  blessings  of  Esau, 
wliose  dwelling  was  to  be  the  fatness  of  the  earth,  and  of  the 
dew  of  heaven  from  above,  but  also  in  the  condition  proposed  by 
Moses  to  the  Edomites,  when  he  solicited  a  jjassage  for  the 
Israelites  throixgh  their  borders,  '-that  they  would  not  pass 
through  the  fields  nor  through  the  vineyards  ;  "  and  also  in  the 
great  wealth,  especially  in  the  multitudes  of  flocks  and  herds, 
recorded  as  possessed  by  an  individual  inhabitant  of  that  country, 
at  a  period,  in  all  probability,  even  more  remote.  The  Idumajans 
■were,  without  doubt,  both  an  opulent  and  a  powerful  people. 
They  often  contended  with  the  Israelites,  and  entered  into  a 
league  with  their  other  enemies  against  them.  In  the  reign  of 
David  they  were  indeed  subdued  and  greatly  oppressed,  and  many 
of  them  even  disi)ersed  throughout  the  neighbouring  countries, 
particularly  Phceuicia  and  Egypt.  But  during  the  decline  of  the 
kingdom  of  Judah,  and  for  many  years  previous  to  its  extinction, 
they  encroached  upon  the  territories  of  the  Jews,  and  extended 
their  dominion  over  the  south- westein  part  of  Juda3a.  Though 
no  excellence  whatever  be  now  attached  to  its  name,  which 
exists  only  in  past  history,  IdumaDa,  including  perhaps  Judtea, 
was  then  not  without  the  praise  of  the  first  of  Roman  jDoets  : 

"  Primus  Idumeas  referam  tibi,  Mantua,  palmas."  "» 
And  of  Lucan  :  * 

"  Arbustis  palmarum  dives  Idume."  " 

5 — 7.  (5)  fire  .  .jealousy,  or  fervent  zeal  for  the  honour  of 
My  name.  Idumaea,  ch.  xxxv.  12.  ir>.  despiteful  minds, 
the  bad  feeling  of  Edom  towards  Israel  is  the  thing  specially 
noticed.  ((5)  my  fury,  active  indiijnation.  borne  the  sliam.e, 
ch.  xxxiv.  29,  xxxv.  12,  13.  (7)  lifted  . .  hand,  the  sign  of 
taking  an  oath,  bear  their  shame,"  wh.  would  be  the  disgrace 
of  perpetual  irremediable  desolation. 

Idiiincpa. — But  Idumaea,  as  a  kingdom,  can  lay  claim  to  a  higher 
renown  than  either  the  abundance  of  its  flocks  or  the  excellence 
of  its  palm  trees.  The  celebrated  city  of  Petra  (so  named  by 
the  Greeks,  and  so  worthy  of  the  name,  on  account  both  of  its 
rocky  vicinity  and  its  numerous  dwellings  excavated  from  the 
rocks)  was  situated  within  the  patrimonial  territory  of  the 
Edomites.  There  is  distinct  and  positive  evidence  that  it  was  a 
city  of  Edom,  and  the  metropolis  of  the  Nabatheans,  whom 
Strabo  expressly  identifies  with  the  Iduma3ans,  possessors  of  the 
same  country,  and  subject  to  the  same  laws.  "  Petra."  to 
use  the  woi'ds  of  Dr.  Vincent,  by  whom  the  state  of  its 
ancient  commerce  was  described  before  its  ruins  were  dis- 
covered, "  is  tlie  capital  of  Edom  or  Seir,  the  Iduma:a  or  Arabia 
Petrtea  of  the  Greeks,  the  Xabatea,  considered  both  by  geographers, 
historians,  and  poets,  as  the  source  of  all  the  precious  com- 
modities of  the  East."'  "  The  caravans,  in  all  ages,  from  Minea, 
in  the  interior  of  Arabia,  and  from  Gerrha,  on  the  Gulf  of  Persia, 
from  Iladramant  on  the  ocean,  and  some  even  from  Sabea  or 
Yemen,  appear  to  have  pointed  to  Petra  as  a  common  centre  ; 
and  from  Petra  the  trade  seems  to  have  again  branched  out  in 
every  direction  to  Egypt.  Palestine,  and  Syria,  through  Arsinoe, 
Gaza,  Tyre,  Jerusalem,  Damascus,  and  a  variety  of  subordinate 
routes  that  all  terminated  on  the  Mediterranean.  There  is  every 
proof  that  is  requisite  to  show  that  the  Tyrians  and  Sidonians 


it  is  the  power 
wliich  is  daily  to 
move  the  life, 
tliat  tliey  may 
live  in  lioiiuess, 

"  Dungeons  nnd 
thrones,  which 
the  same  hours 
retill'd  as  hereto- 
fore ;  because 
ambition  was 
self-will'd."— 
Byron. 


"  That  spirit  of 
his,  inspiration 
lifts  him  from 
tlie  earth." — 
lilmlcespeare. 

h  Phars.  Ub.  IIL 


c  Keith, 


a  "  The  shame 
whioh  tliey  cast 
on  you  sljall  re- 
coil on  them- 
selves."'—  ITti/'di- 
zcvrth. 

If  yon  look  to 
Christ  alone  for 
salvation,  you 
will  look  upon 
everything  else 
as  you  ought ; 
you  will  then 
put  every  doc- 
trine and  duty  in 
Scripture  in  its 
riglit  place. 

If  God  was  will- 
ing to  give  Christ 
for  us,  we  may 
be  quite  sure  He 
is  willing  to  save 
us. 

"  TJ  n  c  0  n  t  roll'd 
ambition  prasjis 
at  once.domiuion 
absolute,  and 
b  o  11  u  d  1  e  s  d 
w  e  a  1  t  h."  — 
Hannah  More. 

"  But     rare    on 

earth,  is  sucb 
sublime  ambition 
found."  —  Robert 
Montgo  mtry. 


S50 


EZEKIBL. 


[Cap.  xxxvl.  8—15. 


•'  Proud  anibitioK    were  the  first  merchants  who  introduced  the  produce  of  India  to 


Is  but  a  bcjjgar. 
b  Keith. 


a  Will  soon  cnme 
uuiler  Zerubba- 
bfl. 

"  To  see  Jesus 
clearly  with  th« 
eye  of  faitli  is  to 
sea  the  (let'p 
opening  away 
f roui  Egypt's 
shore  —is  to  see 
the  water  gush 
sparkling  from 
the  desert  rock —  \ 
is  to  see  the 
serpent  gleaming 
on  its  pole  over  a 
dying  camp— is  | 
to  see  the  life-  ! 
boat  coming 
•when  our  bark 
reels  among 
foaming  break- 
ers—is to  see  a 
pardon  when  the 
noose  is  on  our 
iieck  and  our 
foot  is  on  the 
drop."— Gii/An'tf. 

You  will  be  made 
willing  to  come 
to  Christ  when 
you  are  made 
"weary  of  stop- 
ping away. 

"Within  his 
breast,  as  in  a 
palace,  lie,  wake- 
ful ambition, 
leagued  with 
hasty  pride." — 
1\  Fletchm; 

b  Keith. 


a  "  The  neigh- 
bouring people 
raised  this  ill  | 
character  upon 
the  land  of 
Judiea,  bee.  of 
tlie  severe  judg- 
ments of  the  I 
sword,  famiir!, 
and  pestilencj, 
whieh  hal  de- 
stroyed the 
greater  part  of 
its  inliabitants." 
—  Liivlli. 
b  "  The  land  of 


all  the  nations  which  encircled  the  Jltditerranean  ;  so  is  then- 
the  strongest  evidence  to  prove  that  the  Tyriaus  obtained  ai. 
their  commodities  i'rom  Arabia.  But  if  Arabia  was  the  centj:'^ 
of  this  commerce.  Petra  was  the  point  to  which  all  the  Arabian, 
tended  from  the  three  sides  of  their  vast  peninsula."'' 

8—11.  (8)  shoot  forth,  in  the  time  of  your  restoration, 
they  .  .  hand,"  these  restored  days  were  really  near,  though 
no  bigns  of  them  then  ai:)peared.  God's  promise  is  ever  near,  it 
does  not  really  tarry,  (i))  for  yOTl,  acting  on  your  behalf, 
tilled  and.  sown,  after  the  time  of  captivity,  during  which  the 
land  shall  keep  her  Sabbaths.  (10)  multiply  men,  contrast 
ch.  xiv.  17.  (11)  better  ..  beginnings,  i.e.  give  j'ou  more 
secure  and  lasting  possession  of  the  land,  and  i:)rosperity  in  it. 

Petra. — At  a  peiiod  subsequent  to  the  commencement  of  the 
Christian  era,  there  always  reigned  at  Petra,  according  to  Strabo, 
a  king  of  the  royal  lineage,  with  whom  a  prince  was  associated 
in  the  government.  It  was  a  place  of  great  strength  in  the 
time  of  the  Romans.  Pompey  marched  against  it.  but  desisted 
from  the  attack,  and  Trajan  afterwards  besieged  it.  It  was  a 
metropolitan  see.  to  which  several  bishoprics  were  attached  in 
the  time  of  the  Greek  emperors,  and  Idumjea  was  included  in  the 
third  Palestine — Palest ina  tertia  sice  .lalutarit.  But  the  ancient 
state  of  Idumosa  cannot  in  the  i^resentday  be  so  clearly  ascertained 
from  the  records  respecting  it  which  can  be  gleaned  from  history, 
whether  sucred  or  profane,  as  by  the  wonderful  and  imperishable 
remains  of  its  capital  city,  and  by  "  the  traces  of  many  touoia 
and  villages,"  which  indisputably  show  that  it  must  once  have 
been  thickly  inhabited.  It  not  only  can  admit  of  no  dispute  that 
the  eountry  and  cities  of  Idum-ca  subsisted  in  a  very  different 
state  from  that  absolute  desolation  in  which,  long  jirior  to  the 
period  of  its  reality,  it  was  represented  in  the  prophetic  vision  ; 
but  there  are  prophecies  regardiag  it  that  have  yet  a  prospective 
view,  and  which  refer  to  the  time  when  '•  ihe  children  of  Israel  shall 
possess  their  possessions,"'  or  to  "'  the  year  of  recompenses  for 
the  controversy  of  Zion."  But,  dangerous  as  it  is  to  explore  the 
land  of  Idumaja,  and  difficult  to  ascertain  those  existing  facts  and 
precise  circumstances  which  form  the  strongest  features  of  its 
desolate  a-?pect  (and  that  ought  to  be  the  siibject  of  scientific 
as  well  as  of  religious  inquiry),  enough  has  been  discovered  to 
show  that  the  sentence  against  it.  though  fulfilled  by  the  agency 
of  nature  and  of  man,  is  precisely  such  as  was  first  recorded  in 
the  annals  of  inspiration.* 

12 — 15.  (12)  npon  you,  i.e.  upon  the  moimtains  of  Israel, 
V.  1.  (13)  devourest  up  men,  it  was  represented  as  a  land 
exi)Osed  to  famine  and  pestilence."  Comp.  Nu.  xiii.  .S2.  (14)  be- 
reave, marg.  ca,u,He  to  fall,  an  expression  which  may  refer  to 
falling  into  idolatry.  (15)  shame,  or  contemptuous  speeches, 
i\  G.    cause  . .  fail,  as  ?•.  14.* 

JTnman  vitrhs. — In  the  age  succeeding  the  flood,  they  piled  old 

Babel's   tower,  and  said,  '•  This  shall  last  for  ever.'"     But  God 

confounded  their  language  :  thoy  finished  it  not.     Old  ])haraoh 

j  and  the  Egyptian  monarchs  heaped  up  their  Pj'ramids.  and  they 

said.    "They   shall   stand   for  ever:"    and  so,  indeed,    they  do 

'  stand,  but  the  time  is  approaching  when  age  shall  devour  even 


Cap.  xxxvi.  16—24.] 


EZEKIEL. 


351 


these.  The  most  stable  things  have  been  evanescent  as  shadows 
land  the  bubbles  of  an  hour,  speedily  destroyed  at  God's  bidding-. 
Where  is  Nineveh?  and  vi'here  is  Babylon.'  Where  the  cities  of 
Persia  I  Where  are  the  high  places  of  Edom  ?  Where  are  jVIoab 
and  the  princes  of  Ammou  ?  Where  are  the  temples  of  the 
heroes  of  Greece  ?  Where  are  the  millions  that  j^assed  from  the 
gates  of  Thebes  1  Where  are  the  hosts  of  Xerxes .'  or  where  the 
vast  armies  of  the  Roman  emperors  /  Have  they  not  passed 
away .'  And  though  in  their  i^ride  they  said,  '■  This  monarchy  is 
an  everlasting  one,  this  queen  of  the  seven  hills  shall  be  called 
the  eternal  city,"  its  jaride  is  dimmed  ;  and  she  who  sat  alone, 
and  said,  '•  I  shall  be  no  widow,  but  a  queen  for  ever,"  she  hath 
fallen  ;  and  in  a  little  while  she  shall  sink  like  a  millstone  in  the 
flood,  her  name  being  a  curse  and  a  byword,  and  her  site  the 
habitation  of  dragons  and  of  owls.  Man  calls  his  works 
eternal ;  God  calls  them  fleeting  ;  man  conceives  they  are  built 
of  rock  :  God  says,  '•  Nay,  sand ;  or,  worse  than  that,  they  are 
air.''  Man  says  he  erects  them  for  eternity;  God  blows  but  for 
a  moment,  and  where  are  they  ?  Like  baseless  fabrics  of  a  vision, 
they  are  passed  and  gone  for  ever.^ 

16—20.  (16,  17)  defiled  it,  making  it  unclean,  and  unfit 
to  be  regarded  as  God's  holy  land.  (18)  blood  .  .  slied,  esp.  in 
idolatrous  sacrifices,  such  as  the  worship  of  Moloch."  (10)  ac- 
cording to,  or  with  judgments  proportioned  and  fitted  to  their 
■wickedness.  (20)  profaned,  i.e.  dishonoured,  disgraced.*  Give 
a  false  and  unworthy  impression  of  Jehovah,  the  God  of  their 
land. 

The  messenger  (vv.  16,  17). — I.  This  portion  of  Scripture,  from 
Ver.  10.  presents  an  epitome  of  the  Gospel :  ver.  17,  man  sinning  ; 
ver.  18,  suffering  ;  ver.  21,  an  object  of  pity  ;  ver.  24,  his  salva- 
tion resolved  upon  ;  ver.  20,  27,  renewed  and  sanctified  ;  ver.  28, 
restored.  II.  Who  is  commissioned  to  deliver  God's  message  ?  not 
an  angel,  but  a  man.  Observe — The  kindness  of  God  to  man  ; 
the  honour  conferred  by  God  on  man  ;  the  wisdom  of  God.« 

Profanity. — Some  years  ago,  as  a  party  were  drinking  in  a 
public-house  at  a  village  near  Dundee,  two  of  them  agreed  to 
make  a  trial  who  «.hould  invent  the  newest  and  most  profane 
oaths.  'While  one  of  them  was  just  opening  his  mouth  to 
make  the  dreadful  attempt,  his  jaws  were  suddenly  arrested, 
so  that  he  was  unable  to  close  his  mouth,  or  speak  a  word.  He 
was  carried  to  the  infirmary  and  died  soon  after.  Let  profane 
swearers  tremble  for  their  danger.** 

21—24.  (21)  had  pity,  or  a  pitiful  regard  to;"  eh.  xx.  9. 

(22)  not  . .  sakes,  i.e.  not  on  the  ground  of  any  good  deservings 
of  yours.*  (2:5)  sanctify  my  name,  as  a  holy -name,  the 
name  of  One  who  cannot  bear  iniquity,  and  will  "  by  no  means 
clear  the  guilty."  be  sanctified,  have  My  name  cleared  and 
honoured  by  ]\Iy  judgments.  (24)  take  yoU,''  after  enduring  the 
judgments  and  chastisements. 

(ilo/r.i  i.Ki/ire  ill  Kdlrnliiiri  (v.  22). — I.  Attend  to  the  expression, 
for  My  name's  sake.  II.  "We  are  to  understand  that  the  motive 
which  moved  God  to  save  man  has  regard  to  His  own  glory.  I 
III.  In  saving  man  for  His  holy  name's  sake,  God  exhibits  the  i 
mercy,  holiness,  love,  and  other  attributes  of  the  Godhead. —  | 
u^an  an  object  of  Diane  mei'cy. — I.  The  doctrine  that  God  is  not  \ 


Israel  will  receivi 
an  outpcimiiig  o' 
grace.  Ilsiilula- 
tiy  will  be  re- 
moved from  it. 
liigli  places.  This 
\\as  fulfilled  a1 
tlie  return  froir 
Babylon,  aii(' 
bow  much  mort 
by  tlie  restora- 
tion iu  Clirist !" 
—  Woidsirorili. 

"  Painted  deceit, 
tyrannical  ambi- 
tion. Chase  these 
far  from  you." — • 
Buuring. 

c  Spurgcon. 


a  Eze.  xvi.  36, 38, 
xxiii.  37. 

h  Is.  lii.  5 ;    Eo. 

ii.  24. 

See  Dr.  Gitlhrie, 
Gospel  in  Ezek. 

c  Dr.  Guthrie. 

Profanity  is  said 
to  be  a  tribute 
which  the  ser- 
vants of  the 
devil  pay  to 
tlieir  master  in. 
token  of  allegi- 
ance ;  as  tiie 
tenants  of  a 
Scotch  Ian  d- 
holder  pay  Him 
a  pc  pper-corn  an- 
nually in  tokeu 
of  submission. 

d  Whiltcross. 


a  "And  a  thou- 
sand pities  it  was 
that  tliat  should 
be  tranjpled  on 
and  abused.  He 
looked  with  com- 
passion on  His 
own  honour,  wh. 
lay  bleeding 
among  the 
heathen,  on  that 
jewel  which  was 
trodden  into  the 
d  i  r  t."  —  Mat. 
limn/. 
6  De.'ix.  (i. 
c  Eze.  xxxiv.  13, 


352 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xxxvl.  25—38 


xxxvii.  21,  xxxix. 

d  Dr.  Gnlhrie. 
a  Nu.  viii  5-22; 
li.  l\i.  6;  lie.  x. 
2i. 

'■  The  rite  thus 
prescribed  by  the 
Liiw  anil  ex- 
plaineil  by  the 
Pr.iptiets,  gave 
ocoiision  to  the 
use  of  water  at 
tlie  admission  of 
proselyte-sin  la  cr 
days,  and  so  to  its 
adoption  by  John 
in  his  baptism 
nnto  repejit- 

ance." — Spk.Com. 
b  Is.  xxxii.  15, 
xHv.  3 ;  Joel  ii. 
98 :  Zoo.  xii.  10  ; 
Jno.  vii.  38  ;  Ac. 
ii.  17,  18. 
V.  -iS.  Ii.  ErxJcine, 
viii.  2-iU  ;  W.  Rn- 
m'line,  iv.  389;  C. 
li-urlley,  ii.  63. 
V.  26.  G.  Harder, 
ii.  3;  W.  O-ileUl. 
215  ;  T.  Ilof/frs,  ii. 
25;) ;  J.  Cawood, 
i.  396 

i>.    27.       Br.    n. 
J)r'ippr,  ii.  576. 
d  G.  Brooks. 


a  Eze.  xvi.  61. 

b  "  Tlio  Prophet 
repoats  this  sen- 
tence on  purpose 
to  check  all  vain 
presumption  in 
the  .lews,  and 
confidence  of 
their  own  in- 
trin^c  worth  or 
merit,  a  fault 
tiiey  liave  been 
Very  prone  to  in 
all  ages." — Lowth. 

c  C.  Simeon. 

d  Ibid. 

V.  29.  //.  B.  Wil- 
son, 51. 

t'.  31.  R.  Baxter, 
xvii.  122  ;  R. 
\Yalker,  iv.  214. 

V.  32.  lip.  Fleet- 
wood,  435. 


Ols.li.3. 


h  "What  is   the 
matter  of  God's 


moved  to  save  man  by  any  merit  or  worth  in  him,  is  a  truth 
of  the  highest  imjiortauce  to  sinners.  II.  It  is  important  for  the 
saint  also.  III.  AVhile  it  keeps  the  saint  humble,  this  doctrino 
will  help  to  make  the  saint  holy.'' 

25 — 28.  (2.-))  sprinkle,  etc.,  the  sig-n  of  the  recovered  rem- 
nant being  sepai'ated  as  priests  unto  the  Lord."  filthiness, 
the  moral  evils  always  associated  with  idolatry.  (2U)  new 
heart,  the  sign  of  changed  feelings  and  views;  eh.  xi.  !!>; 
Je.  xxxii.  ;>9.  stony  heart,  so  long  unimpressible  by  teach- 
ings and  by  judgments,  heart  of  flesh,  impressible  and  docile. 
(27)  my  spirit,  as  a  spirit  of  obedience.  The  full  gift  of  the 
Si^irit  was  reserved  for  Messiah's  times.  (28)  dwell,  perma- 
nently and  secui'ely,  and  in  the  full  covenant  relations. 

The  new  heart  (r.  2(;).  — I.  The  heart  of  msn  is  by  nature  a 
heart  of  stone  ;  it  is  impervious  to  religious  impressions.  Try 
it — 1.  By  the  beauties  of  nature  ;  2.  By  the  wonders  of  Provi- 
dence ;  3.  By  the  joys  and  sorrows  of  common  life  ;  4.  By  the 
solemnities  of  the  future  world  :  5.  By  the  disclosures  of  the 
Bible  ;  6.  By  the  attractions  of  the  cross.  II.  It  is  the  prero- 
gative of  God  alone  to  change  the  heart.  1.  This  may  be  argued 
from  the  explicib  testimony  of  Scripture  ;  2.  From  the  nature 
and  extent  of  human  dspravity  ;  3.  From  the  figures  which  are 
employed  by  the  sacred  writers  to  represent  the  change  ;  4.  From 
the  frequent  inefficiency  of  the  most  abundant  and  best-assorted 
means.  III.  The  new  heart  is  a  heart  of  flesh.  Try  it — 1.  By 
the  law  of  God  ;  2.  By  the  Gospel  ;  3.  By  affliction  ;  4.  By  the 
sins  of  others  ;  5.  By  the  glories  of  heaven."^ 

29—32.  (29)  save  .  .  uncleannesses,  i.e.  from  falling  into 
them  :  from  being  contaminated  with  th3m.  corn,  type  of 
both  material  and  spiritual  i^rosperity  and  increase.  Material 
prosperity  was  part  of  the  Divine  pledge  given  in  the  Mosaic 
covenant.  (30)  reproach  of  famine,  .ice  n:  13—15.  (31) 
remember,  with  due  penitence  and  humility."  lothe  your- 
selves, ch.  vi.  i).    (32)  your  sakes,*  r.  22. 

The  duty  of  .teJf-luathing. — I.  The  duty  enjoined.  It  implies — 
1.  A  calling  of  our  evil  ways  to  remembrance  ;  2.  A  loathing  of 
ourselves  on  account  of  them.  II.  When  it  is  to  be  performed. 
1.  Conversion  qualifies  us  for  it ;  2.  We  need  it  as  much  after 
conversion  as  before.  Infer — (1)  How  opposite  to  a  Christian 
state  is  self-righteousness  ;  (2)  How  dear  must  Christ  be  to  every 
true  penitent.'^ — GorV.'i  mercies:  not  gicen  for  our  merits  (r.  32). — 
I.  God,  in  imparting  His  blessings  to  us,  has  not  respect  to  any 
good  in  us  ;  nothing  in  us  meritorious  to  which  He  can  have 
respect,  nor  would  it  con.sist  with  Ilis  honour  ;  experience  shows 
that  God  is  not  influenced  by  such  motive.  II.  There  is  in  us 
nothing  which  is  not  rather  a  ground  for  shame  and  confusion — 
the  sins  of  our  unregenerate  state,  the  infirmities  of  our  regene- 
rate state.  III.  The  importance  of  our  being  reminded  of  these 
things.  1.  That  we  may  be  led  to  humility  ;  2.  That  we  may  be 
excited  to  thankfulness.  Apply  : — (1)  Concede  to  God  the  liberty 
of  dispensing  His  favours  as  Ho  will ;  (2)  Be  thankful  for  the 
merits  of  Christ.'' 

33 — 38.  (33)  cleansed,  this  was  the  gracious  issue  of  the 
chajtisement  of  the  captivity.  The  Jews  have  never  since  then 
relapsed  into  idolatry.    (34,  35)  garden  of  Eden,  a  fig.  of  rich 


Cap.  xxxvli.  1—4.] 


EZEKIEL. 


353 


aud  perfect  beauty."  (36)  I  the  Lord,  the  signs  of  IVEy  power 
£ind  grace  will  be  so  manifest,  that  in  your  blessing-  and  pros- 
perity My  name  will  be  gloriiied.  (37)  inquired,  of,  i.i\  sought 
iu  jjrayer.*  It  will  be  characteristic  of  the  restored  conditions 
tha'u  God  will  then  be  ready  to  answer  prayer,  liook,  ch.  xxxiv. 
23.  31.  (3S;  holy  flock,  the  great  flock  of  choice  animals  for 
sacrifice. 

Tin-  ncccsnify  of  prayer  {v.  37). — I.  The  blessings  for  which  we 
should  inquire.  1.  For  ourselves  ;  2.  For  the  Church  of  God  ; 
3.  For  the  world.  II.  The  manner  iu  which  we  should  inquire 
for  them.  1.  In  the  method  which  He  appoints  ;  2.  With  devout 
dispositions  of  inind  ;  3.  In  every  situation  of  life  ;  4.  With 
diligent  perseverance  unto  death.  III.  The  reasons  why  we 
should  inquire  of  the  Lcrd.     1.  Prayer  is  a  Divine  ordinance  ; 

2.  Proves  the  dependence  of  the  creature  on  the  Creator  :  3.  And 
the  connection  between  duty  and  interest.' 

Yet  ! — "  I  will  yet  for  this  b%  inquired  of  "  (Ezek.  xxxvi.  37). 
Yet  be  inquired  of — though  His  goodness  has  been  so  long  abused 
hj  our  sins  1  Yet — though  He  has  promised  to  bless  !  For  it  is 
a  characteristic  of  God's  dealings  with  His  people,  that  what  lie 
promises  to  do  for  them  He  will  be,  and  is  to  be  inquired  of  by 
them  to  do  it  for  them.  He  connects  means  with  ends,  the 
praj^ers  of  His  people  with  the  blessings  He  confers  upon  them. 
After  making  •■  exceeding  great  and  precious  promises  "  to  His 
Church,  He  adds,  "  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God,  I  will  yet  for  this 
be  inquired  of  by  the  house  of  Israel,  to  do  it  for  them  ;  I  will 
increase  them  with  men  like  a  flock."  There  is  a  deep  lesson  to 
be  learned  from  this  "yet."  It  is  a  little  word,  but  it  implies 
much.  It  teaches  us  the  connection  of  means  and  ends ;  so,  if 
we  would  have  a  blessing,  \ve  must  not  be  idle,  but  work  :  if  we 
would  receive,  we  must  ask  :  if  we  would  have  an  outpouring  of 
the  Spirit  and  a  revival  of  God's  work,  we  must  pray.  "  Ask,  and 
ye  shaU  receive."'^ 

CHAPTER  THE  THIRTY-SEVENTH. 

1—4.  (1)  hand,  etc.,  ch.  i.  3.  in  the  spirit,  meaning,  in  a 
vision.  This  was  one  mode  of  Divine  commtiiiication  with 
Ezekiel.  valley,  poss.  the  Chebar,  jtoss.  the  valley  by  Jerusalem. 
(2)  open  valley,  or  wide  j^lains."  very  dry,  "representing 
the  Israelites  dispersed  abroad,  destitute  of  life,  national  and 
spiritual."  (3)  thou  knowest,  the  words  imply,  "it  seems 
impossible  to  me."  *  (4)  prophesy,  in  sense  of  "  preach," 
"proclaim."     O  .  .  hones,  etc.,  comp.  Jno.  v.  28,  29. 

tSji'n-itiud  rrxiirrection  (rv.  1 — 10). — I.  The  condition  of  the 
•workl.     1.  Spiritually  dead,  bones  ;   2.  Hopelessly  so,  dry  bones  ; 

3.  Universally  so.  valley  full.  II.  The  means  for  its  recovery. 
1.  A  Divine  appointment,  preaching  ;  2.  The  claim  of  attention  ; 
3.  The  offer  of  salvation.  III.  The  wonderful  result.  1.  The 
Gospel  is  accompanied  by  Divine  power  ;  2.  The  Spirit  is  essenti;il 
to  complete  sticeess ;  3.  In  the  use  of  the  means  success  is 
certain.'  —  Oni  these  hones  lire?  (r.  3).  —  I.  That  all  men  are 
Bpiritua''ly  dead.  1.  Destitute  of  the  principle  of  spiritual  life  :  2. 
Insensible  to  the  beauty  and  attractions  of  the  spiritual  world  ; 
3.  Incompetent  to  discharge  the  functions  of  holy  beings ;  i. 
Under  the  doniinion  of  sinful  propensities,     II.  That  no  created 

VOL.  IX.     O.T.  Z 


promises  must  be 
the  matter  of  our 
prayers.  By  ask- 
ing for  the  mercy 
promised  we 
must  give  glory 
to  tlie  donor,  ex- 
press a  value  for 
the  gift,  own  oar 
dependence,  and 
put  lionour  upon 
prayer  which  God 
lias  put  honour 
u  p  on." —  Mat. 
Ilau-y. 

c  Eta  iu  400  Ska. 

He  who  causeth 
the  soul  to  linn- 
ger  and  thirst 
after  righteous- 
ness lias  also 
already  provided 
an  abundant 
supply  by  mak- 
ing His  own  Son 
unto  us  "  wis- 
dom, and  right- 
eousness, and 
sa  net  i  fieation, 
ami  redemption." 
1  Cor.  i.  3U. 

d  Christmn  InleU 
telligencer. 


a  "  Tlie  bones 
were  lying,  like 
bones  of  men 
slain  iu  a  battle, 
jiarohed  and 

bleached  by  the 
sun,  in  a  low 
plain ;  and  the 
i'rophet  was  led 
round  the  higher 
ridge  of  the 
plain,  as  round 
tlie  verge  or 
margin  of  a  vol- 
canic crater,  in 
order  to  survey 
them,  lying  be- 
low him  in  its 
ilark  bosom." — 
Wo?'dsworth. 

b  "  Faith  leaves 
the  question  o( 
po>siMlity  tnrest 
with  God,  with 
whom  nothing  11 


354 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  XXX vil.  5—17. 


impossible." — 

e  W.  JK.  Whijte. 
i  G.  Brooks. 


o"Tlii3  was  ful- 
filleil  when,  upon 
Cjriis's  procla- 
mation of  liberty, 
t  li  o  s  e  whose 
spirits  Goil  liad 
stirreil  up  began 
to  thiiilc  of  mak- 
ing use  of  tlicir 
liberty,  and  get- 
ting ready  to  be 
go  n  e."  — Mat. 
Henry. 

b  Dr.  II.  Bonar. 


r.  9.  E.  Ersl-ine, 
i.  51  :  //.  Bliml, 
iii.  98;  Dr.  R. 
Jiidmfr.  ii.  479; 
//.  AicNeile,  70. 

A  man  without 
Christ  is  a  world 
without  a  sun. 

"Divine  grace 
even  in  tlie  heart 
of  weak  and  sin- 
ful man  is  an 
i  n  viacible 
thing."-  Lciijhlon. 

a  R.  Cecil,  M.A. 
b  Dr.  J'/iomas. 
V.  14.  J.  Cennick, 
2. 

God  gave  us  to 
tlie  Sun,  and  the 
Bon  gave  Him- 
self for  us. 
"  As  leaves  fall 
from  the  trees, 
so  the  graces  of 
God  decay  ami 
drop  away,  in  the 
wicked,  one  after 
another,  as  if 
there  was  a  con- 
8  u  m  p  t  i  o  n." 
—Cawdray. 

a  Add,  however, 
Levi,  and  part  of 
Simeon,  and  the 
Jehovali  -  wor- 
sliippers  from  the 
northern  nation. 


power  cau  communicate  spiritual  life  to  man.  1.  Not  the  diffu- 
fc;ion  of  kuowlfdre  :  2.  Not  external  reformation  ;  3.  Not  civil 
govcrnuicnt ;  -1.  Not  ecclesiastical  rites  :  .O.  Nob  moral  suasion. 
111.  That  it  is  the  prerog-ative  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  quicken  the 
spiritually  dead.  1.  His  influence  is  obtained  in  aiicwcr  to  prayer  ; 
2.  It  operates  throug-li  the  instrumentality  of  the  "Word  ;  3.  Ifc 
products  faith  in  Christ :  4.  The  mode  of  His  ■\vorkins»'  is  in- 
scrutable. Apply: — (1)  Prophesy  unto  the  bones  ;  (2;  rroi>hesy 
unto  the  winds.*' 

5 — 8.  (.'))  cause  breath,  the  sign  of  returning  life.  Ge.  ii.  7. 

(0)  sinews,  etc.,  the  parts  which  corruption  speedily  and  com- 
pletely destroj'f>.  A  lig.  for  the  reviving  and  restoring  of  a 
nation.  (7)  noise,  of  movement :  symbol  of  the  gathering  of 
Israelites  fr.-.m  different  parts,  bone"  to  Ills  bone,  each  fitting 
into  the  j.)roper  place  and  relation.  (S;  no  breatll,  so  only  as 
yet  the  forms  of  life." 

Nij  breath,  no  life  (v.  8). — I.  0%r  creed  may  be  sound  and  yet 
we  may  not  be  Christians.  II.  Our  religion  may  be  externally 
complete  and  yet  we  may  not  be  Christians.  III.  Our  good 
works  may  be  numerous  and  praiseworthy,  yet  we  may  not  be 
Christians.  IV.  Our  life  may  be  exemplary,  and  yet  we  may  not 
be  Christians.  A  life  with  no  breath  must  be — 1.  A  very  imper- 
fect life  ;   2.  A  very  unhappy  life  :   3.  A  very  unsuccessful  life.* 

9,  10.  f!))  wind,  or  breath,  symbol  of  the  sjDirit  of  life, 
four  winds,  implying  that  Israel  had  been  scattered  to  all 
quarters,  slain,  this  expression  suggests  that  the  place  of  the 
vision  was  the  neighbotirhood  of  Jerusalem,  where  those  slain  by 
the  Chalda^ans  lay.  (10)  lived,  showed  signs  of  movement  and 
expression,  great  army,  to  indicate  the  large  numbers  who 
will  gather  for  the  return  and  restoration. 

The  vallei/  of  dry  hones  (r.  10). — I.  The  desperate  condition  of 
unregenerate  man.  II.  The  agency  by  which  God  saves  men 
from  a  state  of  unregeneracy.  1.  By  His  Word  :  2.  By  Hia 
Spirit.   III.  The  eif  ects  which  this  deliverance  produces,  -'^pply  : — 

(1)  How  important  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel ;  (2)  What  com- 
fort for  downcast  sinners. 

11 — 14.  (11)  are,  i.e.  they  represent  the  deplorable  and  forlorn 
condition  of  the  house  of  Israel,  cut  off,  hopelessly.  We  shall 
never  be  a  nation  again,  our  parts,  or  for  our  lot ;  as  far  as 
we  are  concerned.  Indicating  a  condition  of  extreme  despair. 
(12)  open  your  graves,  so  that  you  need  not  desjiair  of  being 
beyond  God's  power.  He  can  even  raise  the  dead.  (13)  know, 
by  a  great  and  impressive  proof  and  persuasion.  (14)  spoken 
it,  in  promises,  and  performed  it  in  act. 

Nature  and  graee  (rr.  12 — 1.5). — This  passage  presents  to  U3 
the  grave  of  nature  and  the  resurrection  of  grace." — Soiil-re.fiir- 
reotiim  (rr.  13,  14). — I.  This  is  a  matter  of  individual  iesponsi- 
bility.  II.  It  is  a  good  in  itself.  III.  It  is  the  givaud  end  of  all 
God's  dealings  with  man.  IV.  It  involves  the  highest  agency  of 
God.     V.  It  is  the  only  jjlcdge  of  a  glorious  bodily  resurrection.* 

15 — 17.  (15,  in)  one  stick,  com-p.  Nu.  xvii.  2.  One  wood,  or 
rod.  Judah,  and  Benjamin,  wh.  formed  the  kingdom  of  Judah." 
(17)  join  them,  as  a  symbol  that  in  the  restoration  they  should 
alike  share,  and  i'lom  that  time  only  one  nation  occupy  the  Holy 
Land. 


Cap.  xxxvii.  18—23.] 


EZEKIEL. 


355 


Joininq  the  stichx  (ri:  15 — 17). — I.  The  sad  condition  of  the 
people  of  Israel  at  the  time  the  Prophet  wrote.  It  ^^as — 1.  Con- 
trary to  nature  ;  2.  Displeasing  to  God  ;  8.  Disastrouf?  to  them- 
Belves.  II.  The  happy  condition  to  which  the  people  were  about 
to  be  restored.     1.  It  is  of  great  importance  to  the  Church  itself  ; 

2.  It  is  an  immense  advantage  to  the  surrounding  community  ; 

3.  It  is  well-pleasing  and  highly  honouring  to  God.  III.  The 
agency  by  which  this  delightful  change  has  to  be  effected.  1.  He 
breathed  into  them  the  ijriuciple  of  spiritual  life  ;  2.  He  sent 
them  wise  advisers  and  earnest  intercessors  ;  3.  He  visited  them 
■with  a  sore  trial  ;  4.  He  appointed  them  a  common  work  ;  5.  He 
makes  His  residence  in  their  midst.* 

18,  19.  (18)  show  US,  this  would  seem  to  be  unnecessary, 
but  the  question  may  be  asked  in  a  contemptuous  spirit.  (]  U) 
hand,  of  Epliraim,  regarded  as  the  ruling  tribe." 

lliinic  .stares. — At  Umea.  in  Sweden,  a  person  whom  Dr.  Clarke 
visited,  ''  produced  several  ancient  Runic  staves,  such  as  are 
known  in  Sweden  under  the  name  of  Runic  almanacs,  or  Runic 
calendars.  They  were  all  of  wood,  about  three  feet  and  a  half 
long,  shaped  like  the  straight  swords  rejiresented  in  churches 
upon  the  brazen  sepulchre-plates  of  our  Saxon  ancestors.  The 
blades  were  on  each  side  engraved  with  Runic  characters  and 
eigns,  like  hieroglyphics,  extending  their  whole  length.  The 
signs  were  explained  to  us  as  those  of  the  mouths,  and  the  cha- 
racters denoted  the  weeks  and  days.  The  Runic  staves  which 
had  been  given  to  us  were  afterwards  exhibited  at  Morvana,  and 
in  the  different  places  through  which  we  passed,  in  the  hope  of 
procuring  more.  AVe  afterward  saw  others :  bttt  they  were 
always  rare,  and  considered  more  as  curious  antiquities  than 
things  in  actual  use  :  although  the  inhabitants  were  well 
acquainted  with  them,  and  were  often  able  to  exjilain  the  mean- 
ing of  the  characters  itijon  them,  and  the  purpose  for  which  these 
instrtimeuts  were  made,  especially  in  this  part  of  Sweden.  "VVe 
saw  one  of  more  elaborate  workmanship,  where  the  Rttuic  cha- 
racters had  been  vei'y  elegantly  engraved  upon  a  stick  like  a 
physician's  cane  ;  bitt  this  last  seemed  to  be  of  a  more  modern 
date.  In  every  instance  it  was  evident,  from  some  of  the  marks 
upon  them,  that  their  first  owners  were  Christians  :  the  different 
lines  and  characters  denoting  the  fasts  and  festivals,  golden 
numbers,  domiuical  letter,  epact,  etc.  But  the  citstom  of  thus 
preserving  written  records  tijion  rods  or  sticks  is  of  the  highest 
anti<iuity.  There  is  an  allusion  to  this  citstom  in  Ezekiel  xxxvii. 
1() — 2U,  where  mention  is  made  of  something  very  similar  to  the 
Runic  staff."  Nearly  nine  centuries  before  the  age  of  Ezekiel's 
prophecy,  Mo°es  used  rods  in  the  sante  manner  (Numbers  xvii. 
2.  ?> ).  We  may  now  .see  satisfactorily  the  use  to  which  these 
written  rods  were  in  after-ages  applied,  as  illustrated  by  the  Runic 
staves  which  have  generally  the  form  of  a  sword  or  sceptre,  being 
the  ensigns  of  office  and  dignity  borne  in  the  hands  by  the  priests. 
the  elders,  and  princes  of  the  people.  The  recurved  rods  of  the 
priests  among  the  Greeks,  and  the  crosier  of  a  modern  bishop, 
had  the  same  origin,* 

20 — 23.  (20)  before  their  eyes,   "  as  a  visible  token  or 

pledge  of  the  truth  of  what  I  enjoin  thee  to  speak  to  them."    (21, 

22;  one  king,  the  Messiah.     (23)  idols,"  as  we  have  already 

Z2  ' 


who  settled  in 
Judrea. 

There  is  infi- 
nitely more  glory 
ill  tlieiuan  Ciirist 
Jesus  tliiin  iu  all 
generations  of 
men  put  to- 
gether; in  Him 
alone  divinity 
and  humanity 
are  for  ever 
united. 

b  F.  Morgan. 

a  Je.  iii.  18,  1.  4  } 
Zee.  X.  6. 
'■  If  a  thing  re- 
flects no  light,  it 
is  black  ;  if  it 
reflects  part  of 
the  rays,  y;  is 
blue,  or  indigo, 
or  red ;  but  if  it 
reflects  them  all, 
it  is  Avhite.  If 
we  are  like 
Christ,  we  shall 
seek,  not  to  al>> 
sorb,  but  to  re- 
flect the  light 
which  fulls  upoa 
VIS  from  heaven 
upon  others,  and 
thus  we  shall 
become  pure  and 
spotless ;  for  this 
is  the  meaning  of 
the  'white robes' 
which  tlie  saints 
wear  in  glory."— ^ 
Ba'cher. 

Christ  pleased 
not  Himself,  in 
order  to  s:ive  us. 
How  many  of  us 
please  ourselves, 
and  /never  think 
that  we  are  dis- 
pleasing Him. 

It  is  hard  work 
for  the  saul  to 
pick  up  a  living 
iu  light  litera- 
ture. 

h  Burder. 


a  2  Co.  vl.  16. 


Christ,    in      our 
nature,  was  pur 


856 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xxxvii.  24-28, 


and  spotless.  His 
app.'aniiice  in 
this  worlil  was 
ns  if  a  crystal 
stream  were  to 
niii  through  a 
lUUildy  cliamiol, 
without  beiug 
defilea  by  it. 
"  Without  booaS, 
Goil  is  .silent, 
justice  doriiiaut, 
natural  science 
at  a  stand,  phi- 
losophy 1  am  e, 
letters  dumb, 
ftnd  all  things 
Involved  in  Cim- 
merian d  a  r  k- 
ness."  -Bari/inlin. 
b  Dr.  Gi  fen 's 
Lectures  to  Clill- 
dreii  on  llie 
Bible. 

a  Is.  Ix.  21  ;  Joel 
iii.  2U ;  Am.  ix. 
15. 

h  Ps.  Ixxxix.  3,  4 ; 
Is.  Iv.  3;  Je. 
xx.xii.  40. 

e  Am.  i.x.  11 ;  .Inc. 
i.  14  ;  lie.  xxi.  3. 

V.  24.  H.  Tliomp- 
son,  179. 


"All  the  sobriety 
which  religion 
needs  or  requires, 
is  that  which  real 
earnestness  pro- 
duces. Tears  and 
shadows  are  not 
neeilful  to  so- 
briety. Smiles 
and  cheerfulness 
are  as  much  its 
elements.  When 
men  say.  Be 
sober,  they  usu- 
ally mean.  Be 
stupiil ;  but  when 
the  Bible  says.  Be 
sober,  it  means. 
Rouse  up,  and 
let  fly  the  ear- 
nestness and  vi- 
vacity of  life. 
The  old  Scrip- 
tural sobriety 
was  etfectually 
doing;  the  later 
ascetic  sobriety 
is  effectual  ditl- 
Kr.w.-  —  H.  »-. 
Beecher, 


seen,  this  has  been  fulfilled  to  the  present  clay.    No  people  witness 
more  simply  and  purely  to  the  Divine  vnifrj  than  do  the  Jews. 

Chrixt  in  tlic  Scripturrs-. — I  remember  reading-  once,  among 
the  stories  of  old  times,  of  a  certain  architect  who  had  to  build  a 
temple.  It  was  to  be  a  very  large  and  splendid  one  :  and  the 
architect  was  very  anxious  that  it  should  be  known  in  after  ages 
that  he  had  planned  and  built  it.  But  he  was  not  allowed,  by 
the  king  who  employed  him.  to  write  his  name  ui^on  any  part  of 
it.  After  much  thought,  therefore,  he  most  cleverly  so  arranged 
it  that  the  building  itself  should,  in  a  hundred  different  ways, 
take  the  form  of  the  letters  of  which  his  name  was  made  up.  No 
one.  perhaps,  on  first  walking  in  would  notice  any  more  than  the 
walls  and  pillars,  the  figures  upon  the  ceiling,  or  the  lines  of  the 
variously-coloured  floor.  But  after  a  time,  as  he  looked  atten- 
tively, the  shapes  of  letters  would  appear  ;  some  large  and  stretch- 
ing all  across  the  building,  others  very  small  ;  but  all  so  placed 
together  as  to  spell  the  same  word.  And  it  would  not  be  long 
before  above,  below,  and  all  around  he  would  read,  whichever 
way  he  turned  his  eye,  the  name  of  the  architect  of  the  temple.* 

24—28.  (24)  David,  etc.,  Is.  xl.  11  ;  Je.  xxiii.  5,  xxx.  9  ; 
Eze.  xxxiv.  23.  (2.3;  dwell,  securely  and  permanently."  (25) 
covenant  of  peace,  ch.  xxxiv.  21.*  my  sanctuary,' fulfilled 
in  the  spiritual  sense.  The  Church  is  God's  earthly  temple.  (27) 
tabernacle,  or  earthly  dwelling-place."^  Zerubbabel's  temple 
was  a  partial  fulfilment.  (28)  sanctify,  in  sense  of  setting 
apart,  and  consecrating. 

Confessing  Chriit. — St.  Augustine  relates,  in  his  Confctsion.^, 
that  one  Victorinus.  a  great  man  at  Rome,  who  had  many  rich 
heathen  friends  and  relations,  was  converted  to  the  Christian 
religion.  He  repaired  to  a  friend  of  his,  also  a  convert,  and  told 
him  secretly  that  he  too  was  a  Christian.  "  I  will  not  believe 
thee  to  be  a  Christian,''  said  the  other,  '•  until  I  see  thee  openly 
profess  it  in  the  church."  "What,"  said  Victorinus,  "do  the 
church  walls  make  a  Christian  ?  "  But  directly  the  answer  came 
to  his  own  heart — "  Whosoever  shall  be  ashamed  of  IMe  and  of 
My  words,  of  him  also,  shall  the  Son  of  man  be  ashamed  when 
He  cometh  in  the  glory  of  His  Father,  with  the  holy  angels." 
He  was  ready  to  bear  the  scorn  and  persecution  of  his  heathen 
friends,  that  he  might  honour  his  Master  in  a  public  confession 
of  His  name.  It  cost  something  to  acknowledge  Christ  in  those 
early  days  of  His  Church.  When  Symphorianus,  a  young  Roman, 
acknowledged  himself  a  believer  in  Jesus,  he  "was  seized  and 
scourged  nearly  to  death,  and  then  dragged  away  to  a  place  of 
execution.  His  heroic  Christian  mother  walked  by  his  side,  not 
shrieking  and  bewailing  his  terrible  fate,  as  her  mother's  heart 
prompted,  but  encouraging  and  cheering  him  with  such  words  aa 
these  :  "  Son.  my  son.  remember  life  eternal !  Look  up  to  heaven  I 
Lift  up  thine  eye  to  Him  that  reigneth  there  !  Life  is  not  taken 
from  thee,  but  exchanged  for  a  better."  At  these  words,  the 
young  man's  heart  was  wondrously  cheered,  as  if  God  had  sent 
an  angel  to  strengthen  him.  He  went  to  the  block  with  a  face 
all  glowing  with  holy  joy.  What  power  but  that  of  a  "living 
God"  could  stistain  a  mother  and  son  in  such  an  hour?  What  a 
glorious  exchange  was  f^uch  a  belief  for  the  dead  system  ol 
heathen  worship  in  which  they  had  been  born  1 


Cap.  xxxvlii.  1—23.] 


EZEKIEL. 


357 


CHAPTER  THE  TIIIRTY-EIGIITE. 

1—7.  (1,  2)  GrOg,  a  symbolical  name."  Magog,  Ge.  x.  2. 
Meshech  and  Tubal,  ch.  xsvii.  13,  xxxii.  2G.  (8,  4)  hooks, 
etc.,  ch.  xxxix.  2.  The  fig.  is  taken  from  the  mode  of  securiug 
the  Nile  crocodiles.  (.5)  Persia,  etc.,  ch.  xxvii.  10,  xxx.  .5.  ((i; 
Gomer,  the  Cimmerians  of  Crim-Tartary,*  Ge.  x.  2.  Togarmali, 
Armenians.  The  northern  parts  of  Asia  Minor,  ch.  xxvii.  14. 
(7)  1)6  thou  prepared,  this  is  Gods  challenge  to  a  contest. 
"In  it  there  is  a  strain  of  irony,  as  if  it  were  foolish  indeed  to 
measure  strength  with  Jehovah." 

Gof]  and  ilagog  (chapters  xxxviii.,  xxxix.). — The  vision  of 
Gog  and  Magog,  or  the  Church's  struggle  with  the  world.  I. 
The  strife.  1.  Fiercely  aggressive  ;  2.  Insidious  ;  3.  Widespread  ; 
4.  Terrible.  II.  The  victory.  1.  Divinely  wrought ;  2.  Over- 
whelming destruction  of  evil ;  3.  Complete  flourishing  of  the 
good."^ 

8 — 13.  (8)  latter  years,  beyond  the  historical  events  with 
which  Ezekiel  has  been  dealing.  Comp.  the  conflict  in  the  Bk. 
of  Rev.  always  waste,  better,  for  along  time.  (9)  storm, 
suddenly,  and  with  a  great  show  of  terror.  (10)  think  an  evil 
thought,  i.e.  one  that  designs  evil  to  others,  and  works  evil 
to  thyself.  (11)  unwalled  villages,  comp.  Zee.  ii.  4,  5. 
safely,  securely,  without  thought  of  approaching  danger. 
(12)  take  a  spoil,  easily,  without  any  conflict.  (13)  Sheba, 
etc.,  nations  far  removed  from  each  other." 

14 — 17.  (14)  know  it,  and  try  to  take  advantage  of  such 
prosperity  and  security."  (15)  north  parts,  v.  6.  (10)  as  a 
cloud,  r.  9.  sanctified  in  thee,  i.e.  honoured  in  thy  over- 
whelming destruction.  (17)  thou  he,  ^?'c.,  the  final  opposer  of 
God,  represented  by  the  Pharaohs  and  Sennacheribs  of  former 
times.     God  is  not  previously  mentioned  by  name. 

Cardinal  JMazar'ui. — Cardinal  Mazarin,  reputed  the  most  con- 
summate statesman  of  his  age,  but  whose  great  aim  in  life  was 
to  gratify  his  ambition,  when  on  his  death-bed,  alarmed  by  the 
stings  of  conscience,  cried  out,  "  Oh  my  poor  soul  !  what  must 
become  of  thee  !  Whither  wilt  thou  go  ?  "  Then  turning  to  the 
queen  mother  of  France,  he  said,  '•  Madame,  your  favours  have 
undone  me  ;  were  I  to  Uve  again,  I  would  be  anything  rather  than 
a  courtier."  * 

18 — 23.  (18)  my  fury,  as  human  passion  makes  the  blood 
to  fly  up  into  the  face.  (19)  jealousy,  etc.,  ch.  xxxvi.  5, 
xxxix.  2.").  shaking,  indicating  alterations  of  kingdoms  and 
governments.  (20)  fishes,  etc.,  the  figs,  of  the  verse  are  taken 
from  the  effects  of  a  terrible  earthquake."  steep  places,  or 
towers.  (21)  sword,  comj?.  ch.  xiv.  17.  against  his  brother, 
the  sign  of  intestine  quarrels,  which  are  fatal  to  any  enterprise. 
(22)  plead,  urge  my  cause  by  the  agency  of  pestilence  and 
fighting,  hailstones,  ch.  xiii.  11,  (23).  magnify  myself, 
ch.  xxxvi.  23,  xxxvii.  28. 

Madnr.^.1  of  anhhilion. — I  have  read  of  Menecrates,  a  physician, 
that  would  needs  be  counted  a  god,  and  took  no  other  fee  of  his 
patients  but  their  vow  to  worship  him.    Dionysius  Syraousanus, 


a  fUanilinpr  tot 
the  world  re- 
garileii  as  auta« 
guuistio  to  God. 

6  Wordsworth. 

"  He  loves  not 
Christ  at  all  who 
does  not  love 
Christ  above  all.'* 
—Austin. 

c  U.  n.  Thomas. 


a  Merchants 
from  these  na- 
tions are  repre- 
sented as  coming 
to  God's  camp  to 
see  if  they  can 
buy  the  spoil. 


a  Comp.  Re.  xvi. 
13,  14. 

Love  Christ  not 
for  what  He  lias, 
or  gives  simjily, 
but  love  Hini  for 
His  own  sake. 

6  E.  T.  S. 


a  "  The  Prophets 
often  describe 
God's  judgments 
upon  particular 
countries  or  per- 
sons, as  if  it  were 
a  disFolution  of 
the  whole  world, 
bee.  His  particu- 
lar judgiuents 
are  an  earnest  of 
the  general  judg- 
ment."— Lowlh. 

"  'Wliere  lust  nnd 
tni-liulent  ani'i.i- 
tiou  reign,  death 


358 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xxxlx.  1— 10k 


took  swift 
geaiicp."— } 
6  T.  Adams. 


ven- 

'oung. 


a  "  Tlie  details 
•re  set  forth  in 
order  to  carry 
out  tlie  allegory, 
and  their  very 
extravaganee,  so 
to  speak,  points 
out  that  we  have 
but  the  shadow 
of  a  great  spiri- 
tual reality,  wh. 
man  can  only 
faintli'  repre- 
sent, and  feebly 
grsLspinaJlyure." 
^Spk.  Com. 

"  lU-weaved  am- 
bition, how  much 
art  tliou  shrunk." 
— Shakespeare. 


a  Joel  ii.  11,  31; 
Zep.  i.  14;  He.  vi. 
17,  xvi.  17,  xxi.  6. 

h  "  The  features 
of  the  prophecy 
show  clearly  that 
it  is  not  to  be 
understood  lite- 
rally but  spiii- 
tually." —  Wurds- 
icorlh. 

c  "  The  burning 
of  tlie  foe's  wea- 
pons implies  that 
iiotl^ig  belong- 
ing to  them 
shoulil  be  left  to 
pollute  the  land. 
Tlie  seven  years 
syient  on  this 
work  implies  the 
completeness  of 
the  cleansing, 
and  the  people's 
zeal  for  purity." 
— Fau.ixel. 
r.  8.  //.  W.  Suli- 
ran.  i.  18. 
d  lluberli. 


hearing  of  this,  invited  him  to  a  banquet  ;  and,  to  honour  him 
according  to  his  desire,  set  before  him  nothing  but  a  censer  of 
frankincense,  with  the  smoke  whereof  he  was  feasted  till  he 
starved,  while  others  fed  on  good  meat.  This  showed  the  great 
naturalist  a  natural  fool,  a  madman.  Sapor,  a  Persian  king, 
wrote  himself  "  King*  of  kings.  Brother  to  the  Suu  and  JVloon, 
and  Partner  with  the  Stars."  Yet.  akxs  !  he  was  a  man,  therefore 
a  madman  in  the  arrogatiou  of  his  style.* 


CHAPTER  THE  THIETF-N'INTH. 

1 — 7.  (1)  Gog,  ch.  xxxviii.  1.  (2)  leave  . .  thee,  marg.  "  strike 
thee  with  six  plagues,"  or  '•  draw  thee  back,  with  a  hook  of  six 
teeth,"  ch.  xxxviii.  4.  (3)  thy  'bo'W',  chief  of  the  war  weapons. 
(4)  fall,  smitten  and  defeated,  raveno'us  birds,  that  crowd 
battle  fields.  (5)  open  field,  where  shall  be  no  shelter  from  the 
ravenous  creature.-?.  It  was  a  great  indignity  to  leave  dead 
bodies  exposed.  (0)  fire,  eumjj.  Re.  xx.  'J.  isles,  including 
coast  lands.  (7)  so,  i.e.  by  this  manifestation  of  power  in  the 
discomfiture  of  My  people's  enemies."  , 

Ambition  .tclf -condemned. — After  his  final  defeat  at  Waterloo, 
the  first  Napoleon  continued  for  some  hours  in  moody  silence, 
without  food.  None  of  his  attendants  ventured  to  atldress 
him  :  but  at  length  some  coffee  was  sent  in  by  the  handa 
of  a  little  peasant  lad,  known  to  the  emperor.  After  waiting 
awhile,  the  child  with  frank  simplicity  exclaimed,  "  Eat,  sire  : 
it  will  do  yo.i  good."  "Do  you  not  belong  to  Gonesse.'"  asked 
Napoleon.  "No  sire;  I  come  from  Pierrefite."  ''Where  your 
parents  have  a  cottage  and  some  acres  of  laud.'"  "Yes,  sire." 
"  This  is  happiness,"  was  the  emphatic  comment  of  the  modem 
Alexander. 

8—10.  (8)  it  is  come,  i.e.  the  time  of  the  great  threatened 
destruction."  The  Prophet  declares  it  to  be  so  certain  that  it  is 
"as  good  as  done."  (!))  d'well  .  .  cities,  the  small  remnant 
left  in  the  land  would  find  a  supply  of  fuel  for  seven  years  in 
the  multitude  of  weapons  left  on  the  battle-field.  This  is  to  be 
regarded  as  a  poetical  figure  rather  than  historical  fact.'  hand- 
staves,  or  javelins,  seven  years,":  the  number  seven  is  here 
treated  as  the  ideal  or  perfect  number.  (10)  spoil,  etc.,  Is.  xiv. 
2,  xxxiii.  1. 

The  predicted,  day  (i:  8). — I.  There  have  been  great  historic 
days  whose  events  were  clearly  predicted.  II.  There  have  been 
important  days  in  individual  history  whose  events  were  pre- 
dicted. III.  We  may  take  these  facts  as  the  basis  of  an  argument 
for  the  fulfilling  of  Divine  threats  and  promises  to  various 
characters. 

iSmr!/  flf  a  ha  f  tie-field. — This  refers  to  the  dreadful  stench  which 
should  arise  from  the  dead  bodies  of  Gog.  The  Tamul  transla- 
tion has  it,  "  cause  to  stop  the  noses."  The  moment  people  smell 
anything  offensive,  they  immediately  press  the  nostrils  together 
with  their  fingers.  They  say  of  a  bad  smell.  "  It  has  stopped  my 
nose  ;  "  which  means  the  nose  is  so  full  of  that,  it  is  not  sensible 
I  of  any  other  smell.  The  figure  is  much  used  in  reference  to  the 
decayed  oysters  at  the  pearl  fishery.'' 


Cap.  xxxix.  11—22.] 


EZEKIEL. 


359 


11 — 16.  (11)  Gog,  poetical  name  for  the  enemies  of  Israel, 
place  .  .  graves,  whero  he  expected  a  triumph  he  shall  hnd  a 
grave,  valley,  etc.,  this  may  be  an  imaginary  valley,  seen  in 
the  Prophet's  vision,  or  a  place  on  the  high  road,  E.  of  the  Dead 
Sea,"  the  highway  between  Syria  and  Petra,  and  Egypt,  pas- 
sengers, or  travellers.  stop  tlie  noses,*  with  the  stench 
of  the  corpses.  Hamon-gog,  or  "the  multitude  of  Gog.' 
(12)  seven  months,  during  all  this  time  they  v/ould  be  finding 
scattered  corpses."  (13j  to  them,  i.e.  to  Israel.  A  day  of  joy 
and  triumph.  (14)  sever  out,  set  apart  to  this  work,  men  .  . 
employment,  dedicated  entirely  to  this  work  until  it  was  com- 
pleted.'' with  the  passengers,  i.e.  with  the  help  of  the 
passers  by.  as  next  v.  (15)  set .  .  sign,  to  direct  the  attention 
of  the  buriers  to  it.     (1(5)  Hamonah,  or  '-the  multitude." 

TIte  rival  armies. — I.  The  enemies  of  the  Lord.  1.  Their 
character.  (1)  The  idolater  ;  (2)  The  forgetful  ;  (3)  The  indif- 
ferent ;  (4)  The  undecided ;  (.*>)  The  reckless.  2.  Their  doom. 
They  jDerish — (1)  Without  God,  and  so  cut  oif  from  the  only 
source  of  true  life  ;  (2)  Without  hope  ;  (3)  Fighting  against 
God.  II.  The  friends  of  the  Lord.  The  cour.se  of  the  sun  is — 
1.  Very  quiet;  2.  Gladdening  ;  3.  Regular  and  sure  ;  4.  One  of 
increasing  brightness.' 

Cuntinual  employment  (v.  14). — Men  of  continual  employment  ! 
and  women  also.  These  are  the  persons  everywhere  needed  to 
originate  and  sustain  Christian  enterprise  throughout  the  world. 
From  those  who  come  forward  to  offer  themselves  for  th^  work 
it  is  not  easy  to  discriminate  at  first,  but  on  making  a  farther 
selection  from  those  who  have  undergone  a  measure  of  testing 
or  probation,  it  is  on  those  who  have  shown  themselves  to  be 
'■  men  of  continual  employment  "  that  we  would  rely.  The 
remark  has  been  repeatedly  made,  and  experience  confirms  it, 
that  to  accomplish  much  it  is  only  necessary  for  us  to  proceed 
steadily  and  patiently  in  the  doing  of  a  little  :  we  must,  in  the 
words  of  the  philosopher,  be  whole  men  to  one  thing  at  a  time  ; 
shunning  alike  the  temptation  to  attempt  two  or  three  things  at 
once,  and  do  each  of  them  badly,  or  that  much  more  common, 
probably,  to  pause  after  the  completion  of  some  work  in  hand, 
and  spend  too  much  time  in  the  consideration  of  what  is  to 
follow  and  how  it  is  to  be  carried  out.  '•  "Work  like  a  star, 
unhasting  but  unresting,"  says  a  great  modern  author,  an 
example  himself  of  what  he  commends  :  and  it  is  thus  by  the  con- 
tinuity of  our  employment  that  we  acquire  and  strengthen  habits 
which  are  so  valuable  as  powers  for  good.  Even  our  relaxations 
(for  such  must  have  their  place)  need  not  interrupt  the  flow  of 
our  work,  though  forming  a  variation  ;  if  life  be  compared  to  a 
stream,  we  must  not  allow  ourselves  any  stagnation,  though  the 
current  of  our  employment  runs  more  softly  and  slowly  for  a 
time,  as  a  river  does  when  it  widens  out  temporarily  into 
shallows,  to  pursue  its  course  again  beyond  in  its  ordinary 
channel.  And  in  our  inner  life,  in  the  culture  of  the  heart  and 
affections,  it  is  most  necessary  that  the  work  should  be  steadily 
pursued.  A  day"s,  a  week's,  a  month's  suspension  has  conse- 
quences extending  far  bej-ond  the  period  of  intermission,  and 
casts  a  shadow  which  may  be  projected  far  into  the  future. 

17 — 22.  (17)  feathered  fowl,  all  carrion  birds,  sacrifice, 
the  heaps  of  elain  are  regarded  as  a  sacrificial  feast  provided  by 


I  ""Aplacefright- 

!  fuliii  its  pliysical 
cluiracter,  and 
admonitory       of 

\  past  juilgments." 

j  — lipk.  Com. 

I  b  Comp.  the  same 
I  Heb.  word,  trans. 
]  muzzle,     in     De. 
.xxv.  4. 

c  "  Usually  the 
survivors  of  an 
army  bury  their 
ovvn  dead ;  but 
here  the  rout  is 
so  complete  that 
the  house  of 
Israel  bury  the 
corpses  of  their 
foes."  —  Words- 
truii/i. 

d  Is.  l.xvi.  24. 

e    H.   G.  Parish, 

n.A. 

"  Employment, 
which  Galen  calls 
'  Nature's  physi- 
cian,' is  so  essen- 
tial to  human 
luippiness,  that 
indolence  is 
justlj'  considered 
the  mother  of 
misery."  -Buiion. 
'•  Assure  yourself 
that  employment 
is  one  of  the  best 
remedies  for  the 
d  i  sappointments 
of  life.  Let  even 
your  calamity 
have  the  liberal 
effect  of  occupy- 
ing you  in  some 
active  virtue,  so 
shall  you  in  a 
manner  remem- 
ber others  till 
you  forget  your- 
self."—;-"/■«». 

"As  fire  is  kept 
up  1)3'  blowing, 
and  putting  on 
wood ;  to  the 
grace  of  God 
must  be  daily 
stirred  by  the 
use  of  the  Word, 
sacraments,  and 
prayer,  by  medi- 
tating, striving, 
seeking,  and 

k  n  oc  ki  n  g." — 
Cuudniy. 

a  "The  cattle  of 
ralestiiie  are 
generally    small. 


360 


EZEKJEL. 


[Cap.  xxxix.  23—29, 


and  deciiledly  in- 
ferior to  those 
of  more  northern 
climes.  The  cause 
is  doubtless  to 
bo  found  in  the 
seauty  pastures 
of  a  land  laid 
waste  for  many 
centuries  by  ever- 
returning  foes, 
and  many  of 
whose  sjjrings  of 
water  have  been 
drying  up  ;  but 
there  are  dis- 
tricts in  whicli 
the  cattle  are 
finer,  and  in  a  far 
better  condition. 
There  are  ])rob. 
as  fine  '  bulls  of 
Baslian  '  now 
grazing  on  the 
plains  of  the 
Hauran  as  there 
were  in  king 
David's  time." — 
Van  Letinep. 
6Comp.  Ps.  Ixxvi. 
6. 
c  McCosh. 

a  "  They  were 
not  carried  away 
by  their  enemies 
bee.  I  wanted 
power  to  rescue 
them,  but  as  a 
just  punishment 
of  their  sins." — 
Lotcth. 

b  "After  theyhave 
become  sensibli' 
of  their  puilt, 
and  ashamed  of 
it." — Fausset. 

"  We  have  em- 
ployments as- 
signed to  us  for 
every  circum- 
stance in  life. 
AVlien  we  are 
alone,  we  have 
our  thoughts  to 
watch  ;  in  the 
family,  our  tem- 
pers ;  and  in 
company,  our 
tongues." — Han- 
nah More. 

e  Detliam. 


a  "The  pouring 
out  of  His  Sjiirit 
Is  a  plcdu'e  tliat 
He  will  hide  His 


God  for  them.  (1 S)  ram.s,  etr.,  prob.  here  fi^-urcs  of  the  various 
classes  of  i)eople  in  the  slain  armies,  fatiings  of  Basliaii," 
De.  xxxii.  H.  (li))  drunken,  or  satiated.  (20)  my  ta'jle, 
poetical  carrying  out  of  the  figure  of  the  sacrificial  feasts, 
chariots,  better,  charioteers.''  (21)  set  .  .  heathen,  ch. 
xxKviii.  K).  23.  (22)  know,  or  fully  apprehend  and  realise. 
God  is  thus  knoTSTi  in  His  mercies  and  judgments. 

(jdd  rrjlvcldd. — The  beautiful  rays  coming  from  the  face  of 
God,  and  shining  in  such  loveliness  ai-ouud  us.  are  reflected  and 
refracted  when  they  come  in  contact  with  the  human  heart. 
Each  heart  is  apt  to  receive  only  such  as  please  it,  and  to  reject 
the  others.  Hence  the  many-coloured  aspects,  some  of  them 
hideous  in  the  extreme,  in  whicli  God  is  presented  to  different 
nations  and  individuals.  Hence  the  room  for  each  man  fashioni7jg 
a  god  after  his  own  heart.  An  evil  conscience,  refleciiug  only 
the  red  rays,  calls  up. a  god  who  delights  iu  blood.  The  man  of 
fine  sentiment,  reflecting  only  the  softer  rays,  jiaints  from  the 
hues  of  his  own  feelings  a  god  of  mere  s;nsibility,  tender  as  that 
of  the  hero  of  a  modern  romance.  The  man  of  glowing  imagi- 
nation will  array  in  gorgeous  but  delusive  colouring,  and  iu  the 
flowing  drapery  of  majesty  and  grandeur,  beneath  which,  how- 
ever, there  is  little,  or  no  reality.  The  observer  of  laws  will 
represent  Him  as  the  embodiment  of  order,  as  blank  and  as  black 
as  the  sun  looka  when  we  have  gazed  upon  him,  till  we  are  no 
longer  sensible  of  his  brightness."^ 

23—26.  (23)  hid  I  my  face,"  the  character  of  Israel's  cap- 
tivity, as  Divine  cluuti.soncnt  for  sin  will  be  made  plain  when  God 
has  restored  and  sauctitied  them.  (21)  uncleanness,  by  reason 
of  their  idolatry.  (2."))  bring  again,  ch.  xxxiv.  13.  etc.  whole 
house,  the  entire  covenant  people.  (2(i)  borne  their  shame, 
i.e.  the  .shame  which  is  the  due  of  their  iniquities.* 

Evidence  of  God. — A  man  that  should  meet  Mith  a  palace  beset 
with  pleasant  gardens,  adorned  with  stately  avenues,  fnruished 
with  well-contrived  aqueducts,  cascades,  and  all  other  appendages 
conducing  to  convenience  or  jileasure,  would  easily  ima,t;ine  that 
proportionable  architecture  and  magnificence  were  within  :  but 
we  should  conclude  the  man  was  out  of  his  wits  that  should 
assert  and  plead  that  all  was  the  work  of  chance,  or  other  than 
of  some  wise  and  skilful  hand.  And  so,  when  we  survey  the 
bare  outworks  of  this  our  globe,  wlicn  we  see  so  vast  a  body 
accoutred  with  so  noble  a  furniture  of  air.  light,  and  gravity, 
with  everything,  in  short,  that  is  necessary  to  the  prcserv.ation 
and  security  of  the  globe  itself,  or  that  conduceth  to  the  life, 
health,  and  happiness,  to  the  propagation  and  increase  of  all  the 
prodigious  variety  of  creatures  the  globe  is  stocked  with  :  when 
we  see  nothing  wanting,  nothing  redundant  or  frivolous, 
nothing  botching  or  ill-made,  but  that  everything,  even  in  the 
very  appendages  alone,  exactly  answereth  all  its  ends  and  occa- 
sions,— what  else  can  be  conclueled  but  that  all  was  made  with 
manifest  design,  and  that  all  the  whole  structure  is  the  woi'k  of 
some  intelligent  Being,  some  Artist  of  |;ower  and  skill  equivalent 
to  such  a  work  I' 

27—29.  (27)  am  sanctified,  ch.  xxxvi.  23,  (28)  which 
caused,  lleh.  "  by  My  causing  them."  (29)  poured  .  . 
spirit,"  Joel  ii.  28.    There  ie  immediate  reference  to  the  grace 


Cap.  xl.  1—10.] 


EZEKIEL. 


361 


given  to  the  returned  captives  ;  but  further  and  fuller  reference 
to  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost  to  the  earl}'  Church.* 

Injiiicncrs  of  the  JIolij  i>jyirit. — Ihe  same  shower  blesses  various 
lands  in  different  degrees,  according  to  their  respective  suscep- 
tibilities. It  makes  the  grass  to  spring  up  in  the  mead,  the 
grain  to  vegetate  in  the  field,  the  shrub  to  grow  on  the  plain, 
and  the  flovver,s  to  blossom  in  the  garden  ;  and  these  are  garnished 
with  every  hue  of  loveliness,  the  lily  and  the  violet,  the  z'ose  and 
the  daisy  ;  all  these  worketh  the  same  spirit  that  renews  the 
face  of  the  earth.  The  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  descending 
on  the  moral  soil,  produce  "  blessing  in  variety,'  convictions  in 
the  guilty,  illumination  in  the  ignorant,  holiness  in  the  defiled, 
strength  in  the  i'eeble,  and  comfort  in  the  distressed.  As  the 
Spirit  of  Holiness,  He  imparts  a  pure  taste ;  as  the  Spirit  of 
Glory.  He  throws  a  radiance  over  the  character  ;  as  the  Spirit  of 
Life,  He  revives  religion  ;  as  the  Spirit  of  Truth,  He  gives  trans- 
parency to  the  conduct  ;  as  the  Spii-it  of  Prayer,  He  melts  the 
soul  into  devotion  ;  and  as  the  Spirit  of  Grace,  He  cmbues  with 
benevolence,  and  covers  the  face  of  the  earth  with  the  works  of 
faith  and  labours  of  love.' 


CHAPTER  THE  FORTIETH. 

1—5.  (1)  in  . .  captivity,  "  this  was  the  fiftieth  year  from 
the  eighteenth  of  Josiah,  the  year  of  his  memorable  passover.'  " 
hand  ..  me,  ch.  i.  3.  (2)  visions  of  God,  or  Divinely-sent 
visions,  higdi  mountain,  fr.  which  a  broad  and  general  view 
could  be  obtained.  Ileference  may  be  to  Mount  Zion,  from 
wh.  a  good  view  of  Mt.  Moriah  could  be  obtained,  frame,  or 
fabric*  The  Heb.  seems  to  intimate  that  this  was  vjnm  the 
Mount.  (3)  brass,  i.e.  brightly  shining,  line  of  flax,''  for 
measuring  the  ground,  measuring  reed,''  for  the  walls.  (4)  de- 
clare, etc.,  so  that  it  may  be  to  them  a  model  in  rebuilding  the 
temple.  (5)  wall, /.p.  boundary  wall,  and  an  handbreadth, 
or  the  cubit  used  by  the  man  in  measui-ing  was  one  handbreadth 
over  the  cubit  used  in  Chaldaaa. 
lievereyiee  for  the  hoiixe  of  God. — 

"  When  once  thy  foot  enters  the  church,  beware  I 
God  is  more  there  than  thou  ;  for  thou  art  there 
Only  by  His  permission.     Then,  beware  ; 
And  make  thyself  all  reverence  and  fear. 
Kneeling  ne'er  spoil'd  silk  stocking  :  quit  thy  state  ; 
All  equal  are  within  the  churchs  gate. 
"  Let  vain  or  busy  thought  have  there  no  part ; 

Bring  not  thy  plots,  thy  plough,  thy  pleasure  thither  ; 
Christ  purged  His  temple — so  must  thou  thy  heart. 
All  worldly  thoughts  are  but  thieves  met  together 
To  cozen  thee  :  look  to  thy  actions  well, 
For  churches  either  are  our  heaven  or  hell."  « 
6 — 10.  (6)  gate  .  .  east,  the  east-gate  building  is  described  as  a 
model  for  all  the  buildings  at  the  other  gates,     stairs,  for  their 
number  see  v.  22.     threshold,  or  lintel,  the  upper  part  of  the 
door-case.     The  threshold  proper  is  the  lower  part  of  the  door- 
case :  and  he  would  not  need  to  go  upstairs  to  measure  this.     (7) 
little  chamber,  prepared  for  the  Levitical  guard,  'who  attended 


face  no  more."— 

t'ausstt. 

b  "  St.  Peter  dis- 
tinctly appro- 
priates tliese 
prophecies  to  the 
outpouring  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  ou 
the  day  of  Pen- 
tecost, and  the 
inauguration  of 
the  Church  of 
Christ  by  that  mi- 
raculous event." 
—Spk.  Com. 

V.  29.  J.  Howe,  r. 

2uy. 

c  Dr.  Jenkyn, 


a  2  Ki.  xxiii.  22. 

In  this  and  the 
remaining  chap- 
ters of  Ezekiel, 
is  given  an  ideal 
picture  of  the 
restored  Jewish 
temple. 

6  "  The  -words 
describe  the 
situation  of  the 
temple  on  the 
south  side  of 
Mount  Zion,  wh., 
with  ail  its 
courts,  build- 
ings, and  walls 
en  com  passing 
the  courts  and 
the  whole  area, 
or  lioly  moun- 
tain, resembled  a 
city  for  bigness." 
— Lowth. 

c  Zee.  ii.  1. 

d  Re.  xxi.  15. 

e  G.  Herbert. 


a  "  Along  tha 
wall  of  the  porch 
were  chauibers, 
three  on  each 
side;    v.    XQ." — 

LCMth, 


863 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xl.  11-23. 


"Guard -rooms." 
—Kiel. 

Those  chambers 
were  about  lUt't. 
6in.  square. 
"Be  always  em- 
ployed about 
Boiue  rational 
thing,  that  the 
devil  find  thee 
iioi\fX\c." -Jerome. 

t  St.  Crjprian. 


a  "  This  hall  or 
colonnade  ex- 
tended the  whole 
breadth  of  the 
building  to  tlie 
pavement ;  v,  18. 
Outside  the 
building,  on  the 
pavement,  was  a 
series  of  pillars." 
— Spk.  Com. 
"  To  be  emploj'ed 
is  to  be  happy." 
—Gray. 

b  Ingram  Cobbin, 
M.A. 


a  "  Closed  win- 
dows, with  shut 
lattices,  tlie  bars 
of  which,  being 
let  into  the 
wall,  coulil  not 
bo  opened  or 
shut  at  plea- 
sure."—  Gesenius. 

"  Taste  is,  in 
general,  con- 
sidered as  that 
faculty  of  the 
human  mind 

by  which  we  per- 
ceive and  enjoy 
whatever  is  beau- 
tiful orsublime  in 
the  works  of  iia- 
ture  or  art." 
— Archibald  Alli- 
son. 

b  Jluskin. 


There  are  men 
with  eyes  in 
their  heads, 
shrewd  and  self- 
willing  withal, 
who  are  yet 
blind  to  half  the 


to  and  kept  the  ^.ate."  between,  i.fi.  the  passage  running 
between.  (8)  porcll,  or  portico.  ('.))  inward,  i.e.  towards  the 
court  of  the  temple.     (10)  posts,  or  ba.-^es. 

Tfir  frmplc  af  God. — Be  dilig'ent.  Sometimes  speak  to  God,  at 
other  times  liear  Him  speak  to  you.  Let  Him  regulate  your  soul. 
Whom  He  hath  made  rich,  none  shall  make  poor.  Thei"e  can  be 
no  penury  with  him  whose  heart  has  once  been  enriched  with 
celestial  iDounty.  Hoofs  arched  with  gold,  and  palaces  adorned 
with  marble,  are  vile  in  comparison  with  that  house  which  the 
Lord  has  chosen  to  be  His  temple,  in  the  which  the  Holy  Ghost 
dwells,  niuminate  this  house  with  the  li;.rht  of  righteousness. 
Its  ornaments  shall  never  fade,  and  it  shall  dwell  hereafter  in 
spotless  beauty  and  eternal  majesty.* 

11  — 15.  (11)  length  of  the  gate,  or  gateway.  The  extent 
of  rhe  gate.  (12)  space,  a  limit,  or  barrier,  to  in'otect  the 
guard-rooms.  (13)  from  the  roof,  etc.^  i.e.  across  the  gate- 
building  from  north  to  south.  From  "the  roof  of  one  chamber  to 
the  roof  of  the  corresponding  opposite  one.  (14)  posts,  or 
columns."     (15)  face,  or  front. 

T/ie  gate  Beautiful. — This  was  the  highest  gate  of  the  temple, 
being  fifty  cubits  high,  or  ten  cubits  higher  than  the  other  gates, 
the  cubit  being  the  length  of  a  man's  arm  from  the  elbow  to  the 
tip  of  the  middle  finger.  Nine  gates  were  completely  covered 
with  gold  and  silver,  but  this  with  Corinthian  brass,  which  was 
of  greater  value.  Its  doors  were  forty  cubits  high.  The  ascent 
to  it  was  by  fifteen  steps.  The  whole  of  the  workmanship  was 
of  the  very  best  kind,  and  it  was  an  addition  made  to  the  temple 
by  Herod  the  Great.* 

16—19.  (IB)  narrow,  Heb.  clo.ml:  fitted  with  network,  or 
lattices."  arches,  prob.  projections,  or  bays  in  the  wall.  (17) 
outward  court,  answering  to  the  Conrt  of  the  Women  in 
Herod's  temple.  The  first  on  passing  the  gate,  pavement,  of 
mosaic  work,  thirty  chambers ,  over  the  cloLsters,  and  sup- 
ported by  them.  (18)  lower  pavement,  on  the  outer  court,  wh. 
was  lower  than  the  inner  court.  (1*J)  without,  inarg.  "  from 
without." 

Three  distinct  scJiooh  of  Eurnpran  arcliitectvre. — Now  there 
have  as  yet  been  three  distinct  schools  of  European  architecture. 
I  say  European,  because  Asiatic  and  African  architectures  belong 
so  entirely  to  other  races  and  climates,  that  there  is  no  question- 
ing of  them  here  ;  only,  in  passing,  I  will  simply  assure  you  that 
whatever  is  good  or  great  in  Egypt,  and  Syria,  and  Judasa,  is  just 
good  or  great  for  the  same  reasons  as  the  buildings  on  our  side 
of  the  Bosphorus.  We  Europeans,  then,  have  had  three  great 
religions :  the  Greek,  which  was  the  worship  of  the  God  of 
Wisdom  and  Power  :  the  Mediasval,  which  was  the  worship  of 
the  God  of  Judgment  and  Consolation  ;  the  Eenaissance.  which 
was  tlie  worship  of  the  God  of  Pride  and  Beauty  :  these  three  we 
have  had — they  are  past — and  now.  at  last,  we  English  have  got 
a  fourth  religion,  and  a  God  of  our  own.* 

20—23.  (20)  that  looked,  ILh.  "whose  face  was."  (21) 
arches,  r.  Ifi.  (22)  seven  steps,  r.  0.  '-There  was  the  samo 
number  of  steps,  no  doubt,  to  each  of  the  gates  from  the  precincts 
to  the  outer  com-t."  (23)  over  against,  better,  proportionable 
with. 


Cap.  xl.  24—38.] 


EZEKIEL. 


363 


National  aroJutcctvre  the  exponent  of  a  national  relir/ion. — 
Every  great  national  architecture  has  been  the  result  and  expo- 
nent of  a  great  national  religion.  You  can't  have  bits  of  it  here, 
bits  there  ;  you  must  have  it  everywhere,  or  nowhere.  It  is  not  the 
exponent  of  a  theological  dogma, — it  is  not  the  monopoly  of  a 
clerical  company, — it  is  not  the  hieroglyphic  writing  of  an  initiated 
priesthood  ;  it  is  the  manly  language  of  a  people  inspired  by 
rcsohite  and  common  purpose,  and  rendering  resolute  and  com- 
mon fidelity  to  the  legible  laws  of  an  undoubted  God." 

24—27.    (24)   according  .  .  measures,    Ic.   to  those  pre- 
viously given.    (2.j)  windows,  r.  16.    (2G)  seven  steps,  i-.  22. 
(27;  gate  to  gate,  or  the  distance  between  the  gates. 
Grandeur  of  an  abhetj. — • 

How  reverend  is  the  face  of  this  tall  pile, 
Whose  ancient  pillars  rear  their  marble  heads 
To  bear  aloft  its  arch'd  and  pond'rous  roof. 
By  its  own  weight  made  steadfast  and  immovable, 
•  Looking  tranquillity  1     It  strikes  an  awe 

And  terror  on  my  aching  sight ;  the  tombs 
And  monumental  caves  of  death  look  cold, 
And  shoot  a  chillness  to  my  trembling  heart." 

28—31.  (28)  by  .  .  gate,  or  through  the  south  gate.  (29) 
little  chambers,  couq).  v.  7.  (30)  arches,  v.  16.  (bl)  utter, 
or  outward. 

^1  carced  pillar  (v.  31). — A  fanciful  text  for  a  fanciful  hearer. 
The  rudest  people  find  pleasure  in  contemplating  sculpture  and 
carving.  Here  is  a  carved  pillar  ;  a  palm  tree  is  an  emblem  of 
the  righteous  ;  a  reminder  to  him  who  treads  the  courts  of  the 
temple  that  he  should  be  planted  there,  then  he  will  flourish  as  a 
palm,  become  fruitful,  and  himself,  like  the  carved  emblem, 
become  a  pillar  in  the  house  of  God. 

Old  cathedrals. — When  we  enter  one  of  those  antique  piles  in 
southern  German3^  or  in  Spain — for  there  only  can  a  Catholic 
Gothic  cathedral  be  seen  in  all  its  glory. — I  know  not  that  it  is 
possible  for  the  heart  of  man  to  desire  any  addition  to  the  mag- 
netic solemnity  of  the  whole  scene.  The  tall,  narrow  windows, 
quite  dark  wi^h  the  long  purple  garments  of  pictured  martvrs, 
apostles,  and  kings,  tinge  eveiy  ray  that  passes  through  them 
with  the  colours  and  the  memory  of  a  thousand  years  of  devotion." 

32 — 34.  (32)  into,  before,  they  were  looking  at  the  inner 
court,  now  they  actually  entered  it.  (33,  34)  eight  steps,  coiiip. 
the  seven  steps  of  the  other  gates  :  rv.  22,  26. 

Wondem  of  the  Uihle. — If  you  ever  tried  it,  you  must  have 
been  struck  with  the  few  solid  thoughts,  the  few  suggestive 
ideas  which-survive  the  jjerusal  of  the  most  brilliant  of  human 
books.  Few  of  them  can  stand  three  readings  ;  and  of  the 
memoriabilia  which  you  have  marked  in  your  first  reading,  on 
reverting  to  them,  you  find  many  of  those  were  not  so  striking  or 
weighty  or  original  as  you  thought.  But  the  Word  of  God  is 
eolid  :  it  will  stand  a  thousand  readings  ;  and  the  man  who  has 
gone  over  it  the  most  frequently  and  carefully  is  the  surest  of 
finding  new  wonders  therefl 

35 — 38.  (35)  north  gate,  similar  in  all  respects  to  the 
others.  (3(>.  37)  chambers,  etc.,  see  a-.  7, 16.  (38)  washed  .  . 
offering,  Le.  i,  U— 13, 


pleasures  of  ex- 
istence. The 
many-tinted  sky, 
tUe  sparkling  rir- 
njaineut,  ihe 
varied  earth,  the 
lioundless  ocean, 
are  not  for  them  ; 
they  see  them, 
indeed,  and  so 
does  an  ass. 
a  liuskin. 


Taste  is  that 
sen-sibility  by 
which  we  recog- 
nise the  beauties 
and  deforudties 
of  nature  or  art, 
deriving  plea- 
sure from  the 
one,  and  sufler- 
ing  pain  from 
the  other."- iray- 
land. 
a  Congreve. 


"  Taste  is  an 
attainment  after 
a  poet  has  been 
disciplined  by 
experience,  auii 
has  added  to 
genius  that 
talent  by  which 
he  knows  what 
^lart  of  his  genius 
lie  can  make 
acceptable  and 
intelligible  to  the 
portion  of  man- 
kind for  which 
he  writes." — 
Coleridge. 

a  Wa  shinglon 
Jrcing. 


"  May  not  taste 
be  compared  to 
that  exquisite 
sense  of  the  bee, 
which  instantly 
discovers  and  ex- 
tracts the  quin- 
tessence of  every 
flower,  and  dis- 
regards all  the 
rest  ?" — Ureville, 


a      Rev. 
Hamilton. 


Jamet 


•'  A      thing  of 

beauty  is  a  joy 

for     ever.  Its 

lOTelicess  io* 


864 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xl.  39-49. 


creases ;  Ik  will 
never  pa»o  into 
not  liiiigiicss." — 
Keais. 

a  Lady  Morgan. 


a  "If  the  gate- 
building  pro- 
jecteil  with  its 
porch  forwaril  on 
to  the  paveitieiit 
of  the  inner 
court,  the  tables 
were  fitly  placed 
for  carrying  out 
the  directions  of 
the  law." — Spk. 
Com. 

"Taste  and  ele- 
gance, thnu.ali 
they  are  reckouud 
only  among  tlie 
Bmaller  and 

secondary  mo- 
rals, yet  are  of  no 
mean  importance 
in  the  regula- 
tion of  life.  A 
moral  taste  is  not 
of  force  to  turn 
vice  into  virtue  ; 
but  it  recom- 
mends virtue, 
with  sometliiug 
like  the  blandisli- 
ments  of  plea- 
sure."— liarke. 

b  Armstrong. 


a  "  The  priests 
who  keep  watch 
as  guards  of  tlie 
temple."  —  Vul- 
gate. 

b  The  breadth 
does  not  agree 
with  that  of 
Sol.'s  porch,  the 
length  does. 

c  Comp.  1  Ki.  vii. 
21;  2  Clir.  iii.  17. 

"Beauty  was  lent 
to  nature  .as  the 
t3rpe  of  heaven's 
unspeakable  and 
holy  joy,  where 
all  perfection 
makes  the  sum  of 
bliss. '  '-Mrs.  llale. 


JILitorical  value  of  architccfure. — Architecture  is  the  printin.ij- 
pres^  of  all  ai^es.  and  ."-ives  a  history  of  the  .stale  of  the  f>ocicty  in 
which  it  was  erected,  from  the  cromlech  of  Ihe  Druids  to  those  toy- 
shops of  royal  bad  taste — Carlton  Hou-e  and  the  Brig-htoii  Pavi- 
lion. The  Tower  and  Westminster  Abbey  are  glorious  pa^^es  in 
the  history  of  time,  and  tell  the  story  of  an  iron  despotism,  and 
the  cowardice  of  unlimited  power." 

39 — 43.  (.30)  porch,  "not  under  the  covered  portico,  wh. 
was  only  ten  cubits  broad,  but  in  the  angles  formed  by  the  porch 
and  gate-front.  These  tables  v/ere  blocks  for  killing  and  pre- 
paring the  sacrifices."  (^40)  without,  on  either  side  the  entrance 
of  the  north  gate,  from  the  inner  court.  (41)  eight  tables, 
these  were  prob.  of  wood.  (4J)  four  tables,  i.e.  four  others. 
(43)  hooks,  to  wh.  the  beasts  might  be  fastened  :  or  perhaps  on 
which  the  carcases  might  be  hung,  the  tables,  prob.  the  stone 
tables. 

Situation  for  hitllding. — 

Meantime  the  moist  malignity  to  shun 

Of  burthen'd  skies,  mark  where  the  dry  champaign 

Swells  into  cheerful  hills  ;  where  marjoram 

And  thyme,  the  love  of  bees,  perfume  the  air ; 

And  where  the  cynnorrhodon  with  the  rose 

For  fragrance  vies  :  for  in  the  thirsty  soil 

Most  fragrant  breathe  th'  aromatic  tribes. 

There  bid  thy  roofs  high  on  the  basking  steep 

Ascend,  there  light  thy  hospitable  fires, 

And  let  them  see  the  winter  morn  arise, 

The  summer  ev'ning  blushing  in  the  west ; 

While  with  umbrageous  oaks  the  ridge  behind 

O'erhung,  defends  you  from  the  blusfring  north, 

And  l)leak  affliction  of  the  peevish  east. 

0  !  when  the  growling  winds  contend,  and  all 

The  sounding  forest  fluctuates  in  the  storm. 

To  sink  in  warm  repose,  and  hear  the  din 

Howl  o"er  the  steady  battlements,  delights 

Above  the  luxuiy  of  vulgar  sleep.* 

44—49.  (44)  singers,  1  Chr.  vi.  31.  32.  (45)  prospect,  or 
outlook,  charge  of  the  house,"  Xu.  iii.  2.">.  etc.  (4(5)  charge 
of  the  altar,  Le.  vi.  12,  13.  Zadok,  1  Ki.  ii.  27,  35.  (47) 
court,  i.e.  the  inner  court.  (48)  porch  .  .  house,  i.e.  of  the 
sanctuary,  or  temple  itself.  Comp.  Sol.'s  porch,  1  Ki.  vi.  3.*  (49) 
Steps,  LXX.  has  "  ten  steps."  pillars  .  .  posts,'  "  meaning 
that  upon  the  bases  (pests)  stood  shafts  (pillars).  These  shafts 
were  prob.  in  the  form  of  palm  trees." 
Musie. — 

Amid  the  golden  gifts  which  Heaven 

Has  left,  like  portions  of  its  light  on  earth, 

None  hath  cuch  influence  as  music  hath. 

The  painter's  hues  stand  visible  before  us 

In  power  and  beauty — we  can  trace  the  thoughta, 

Which  are  the  workings  of  the  poet's  mind  : 

But  music  is  a  mystery,  and  viewless 

Even  when  present,  and  is  less  man's  act, 

And  less  w'ithin  his  order  ;  for  the  hand 

That  can  call  i'orth  the  tonesj  yet  cannot  tell 


Cap.  xli.  1-12.] 


365 


Whither  they  go.  or  if  they  live  or  die. 
When  floated  once  beyond  his  feeble  ear  ; 
And  then,  us  if  ib  were  an  unreal  thing, 
The  wind  will  sweep  from  the  neglectjd  strings, 
As  rich  a  swell  as  ever  minstrel  drew.'' 


d  L.  E.  Lcuidon 


CHAPTER  THE  FORTY-FIRST. 

I — 6.  (1)  temple,  the  actual  sanctuary,  the  holy  place:"  1 
Ki.  vi.  17.  posts,  i.e.  the  piers,  or  door-cases  on  each  side  of  the 
entrance,  tabernacle,  Heb.  oJwl,  prop,  the  tabernacle  of  the 
congregation.  Here,  the  interior,  or  covered  portion  of  the 
temple.  (2)  door,  or  entrance.  (3)  inward,  or  inside.''  (4) 
measured,  etc.,  comp.  the  holy  of  holies  of  SoL's  temple.' 
raost  lioly,  the  Oracle  as  distinguished  fr.  the  temple  or  holy 
place.  (5)  wall,  or  outer  wall,  wh.  was  of  immense  thickness. 
side  chamber,  comjj.  1  Ki.  vi.  5—10.  ((j)  three,  i.e.  there 
were  3  stories  of  30  chambers  in  each,  hold  .  .  house,  i.e.  the 
beams  were  made  to  rest,  not  on  the  actual  wall,  but  on  rests 
projecting  from  the  wall. 

U'/w  huniinri  of  the  temple. — While  the  holy  house  was  on  fire, 
everj'thing  was  plundered  that  came  to  hand  ;  and  ten  thousand 
of  those  that  were  caught  were  slain.  Nor  was  there  a  com- 
miseration of  any  age,  or  any  reverence  of  gravity  ;  but  childi'en, 
end  old  men,  and  profane  persons,  and  priests,  were  all  slain  in 
the  same  manner.  So  that  this  war  went  round  all  sorts  of  men, 
and  brought  them  to  destruction  ;  and  as  well  those  that  made 
Supplication  for  their  lives,  as  those  that  defended  themselves  by 
fighting.  The  flame  was  also  carried  a  long  way  and  made  an 
echo,  together  with  the  groans  of  those  that  were  slain.  And 
because  this  hill  was  high,  and  the  works  of  the  temple  were 
very  great,  one  would  have  thought  the  whole  city  had  been  on 
fire.  Nor  can  one  imagine  anything  either  greater  or  more 
terrible  than  this  noise.  For  there  was  at  once  a  shout  of  the 
Roman  legions,  who  were  marching  altogether  :  and  a  sad  clamour 
of  the  seditious  who  now  were  surrounded  with  fire  and  sword.  The 
people  also  that  were  left  above  were  beaten  back  upon  the 
enemy,  and  under  a  great  consternation,  and  made  sad  moans  at 
the  calamity  they  were  under.  The  multitude  also  that  was  in 
the  city  joined  in  this  outcry  with  those  that  were  upon  the  hill. 
And  besides  many  of  those  that  were  worn  away  by  the  famine, 
and  their  mouths  almost  closed,  when  they  saw  the  fire  of  the 
holy  house,  they  exerted  their  utmost  strength,  and  brake  out 

into  groans  and  outcries  again One  would  have  thought 

that  the  hill  itself,  on  which  the  temple  stood,  was  seething  hot ; 
as  full  of  fire  in  every  part  of  it.  that  the  blood  was  larger  in 
quantity  than  the  fire,  and  those  that  were  slain,  more  in  number 
than  those  that  slew  them.  For  the  ground  did  nowhere  appear 
visible  for  the  dead  bodies  that  lay  on  it  ;  but  the  soldiers  went 
over  heaps  of  those  bodies,  as  they  ran  upon  such  as  fled  from 
them.'' 

7 — 12.  (1)  enlarging,  of  the  upper  chambers,  by  the  thin-  a  "Winding 
ni..g  of  the  outer  wall  to  form  rests  for  the  joists,  winding  ,  stairs  wliich  en- 
about,  of  the  staircase,  by  the  midst,  or  middle  story.  The  I  J.^,^",f,jg  ^j'^;^  ^.",|^ 
Btaircasea  were  inside  the  house,  and  so  went  through  the  middle   up  between  eacU 


a  "  The  holy 
place,  to  which 
we  have  come 
from  tlie  fore- 
court. The  mea- 
surement begins 
from  the  east 
wall,  where  the 
entrance  was. 
Tliis  waU  had 
pillars  si.\  cubits 
bruavl,  and  bet. 
the  pillars  a  door 
ten  cubits  broad, 
with  doorposts 
five  cubits  broad 
on  each  side ;  so 
that  the  whole 
breadth  of  tlie 
wall  was  thirty- 
two  cubits."  — 
Keil. 

b  "  It  is  not  said, 
Ne  hnniyltt  me  in, 
but  JJe  icent  in, 
because  the  holy 
of  holies  was  not 
to  be  entered 
even  by  a  priest 
like  Ezekiel." — 
•Sp/c.  Cum. 

c  1  Ki.  vi.  20. 

"  The  criterion 
of  true  beauty 
is,  that  it  in- 
creares  on  ex- 
amination ;  of 
false,  that  it 
lessens."  —  Lord 
O'reville.  "Beauty 
u  n  a  c  corapanied 
by  virtue  is  a 
flower  without 
p  e  rf  n  m  e."  — 
'•  Beauty  is  like 
an  almanac :  if 
it  last  a  year,  it 
is  well."  —  T. 
Adams, 

d  Josephus, 


sm 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xli.  13-17. 


two  chambers 
from  tliL'  bottom 
to  the  top  ;  uiid 
th^re  were  two 
doors  at  the  top 
of  each  pair  of 
stairs,  one  door 
opening  into  one 
room,  the  otlier 
into  that  over 
against  it."  — 
Zowl/i. 

but.  "SixcnbiLs 
to  the  armpit." 

e  "  Eather,  '  ami 
so  also  was  what 
w.as  left  free  to 
the  side  cham- 
bers of  the 
house.' "-iro;-dj- 
tcorlh, 

d  "  As  tliR  rows 
of  cliambers  ran 
E.  and  W.,  one 
set  of  'cliambers 
opened  to  the 
soutli,  another 
set  to  tlie  north." 
— Sj)/c.  Com. 

e  Irving. 


a\  Ki.vi.  15,16. 

"  Tlie  word  cieled 
means  ocerlnid, 
pan  filed.  'Ciel' 
in  French  mean- 
ing '  canopy '  was 
soon  speit  In 
English  '  seele,' 
lience  the  par- 
ticiple '  seeled,' 
also  written 
'  cieled.'  "  —  Bib. 
Things. 

"The  hnman 
heart  yearns  for 
the  beautiful  in 
all  ranks  of  life. 
The  beautiful 
things  that  God 
makes  are  His 
gift  to  all  alike. 
I  know  there 
are  many  of  the 
poor  who  have 
fine  feeling  and 
a  keeji  sense  of 
the  beautiful, 
which  rusts  out 
and  dies  because 
they  are  too 
hard  pressed  to 
procure  it  any 
gratification."  — 
Mrs.  :Slowe. 


b  Ilive. 


story  to  the  ui)ikt."  i  S)  six  great  cubits,*  ch.  xl.  5.  This 
wa«  the  hoi.t!:ht  cf  each  i-jory.  ('J)  that  .  .  left/  riz.  the  passage 
bet.  these  side  chambers  aud  the  temple-wall.  (10)  between, 
etc.,  from  the  outer  wall  to  the  wall  of  the  court.  (11)  left,  the 
passage  runniug- along-.''  (12)  building,  behind  the  sanctuary, 
iu  the  vacant  space,  and  prob.  used  for  receiviug  the  olfal,  etc., 
of  the  sacrifices. 

An  ancient  chamhcr. — My  chamber  wa.s  in  the  o''J  part  of  tho 
mansion,  the  ponderous  furniture  of  which  mij<nt  have  been 
fabricated  in  the  days  of  the  giants.  The  room  was  panelled 
with  cornices  of  heavy  carved  work,  in  which  flowers  and 
grotesque  faces  were  strangely  intermingled  :  and  a  row  of  black- 
looking  portraits  stared  mournfully  at  me  from  the  walls.  The 
bed  was  of  rich  .hough  faded  daniask,  with  a  lofty  tester,  and 
stood  in  a  niche  opposite  a  bow  window.  I  had  scarcely  got  into 
bed  when  a  strain  of  music  seejned  to  break  forth  in  the  air  just 
below  the  window.  I  listened,  and  found  it  proceeded  from  a 
band,  which  I  concluded  to  be  the  waits  from  some  neighbouring 
village.  They  went  round  the  house,  playing  under  the  windows. 
I  drew  aside  the  curtains  to  hear  them  more  distinctly.  The 
moonbeams  fell  through  the  upper  part  of  the  casement,  partially 
lighting  up  the  antiquated  aiiartmeut.  The  sounds,  as  they 
receded,  became  more  soft  and  aerial,  and  seemed  to  accord  with 
the  quiet  and  moonlight.  I  listened  and  listened — they  became 
more  and  more  tender  and  remote  ;  and  as  they  gradually  died 
away  my  head  sunk  upon  the  pillow,  and  I  fell  asleep.* 

13—17.  (1.-))  house,  or  sanctuary  proper,  the  holy  place, 
separate  place,  or  holy  of  holies,  building,  that  mentioned 
in  V.  12.  (U)  face,  or  front.  (L"))  galleries,  terrace-buildings  ; 
pos.  the  w^ord  means  the  side-chambers,  vv.  G,  7.  (1(1)  cieled 
with  wood,  or  overlaid  with  woodwork."  covered,  or  hidden 
from  view  from  below.  Or  the  meaning  may  be,  covered  with 
lattice-work.  (17)  by  measure,  i.e.  even  this  woodwork  was 
done  by  careful  measurement. 

Children  and  huu-tci. — You  all  know  what  a  house  is.  I  will 
tell  you  why  it  is  I  think  that  girls  and  boys  are  like  houses. 
I.  How  bright  and  fresh  a  newly-built  and  completely-furnished 
house  is.  II.  A  house  has  distinct  compartments,  rooms.  There 
is.  in  children,  the  mind-room,  the  heart-room,  the  soul-room. 
The  uses  and  relations  of  these  (Ps.  cxxxix.  14).  III.  A  house  is 
of  no  use  if  an  entrance  be  not  gained.  Two  doors, — ear,  mouth. 
Two  windows, —  eyes.  Bunyan's  "ear-gate,"  "eye-gate,"  etc. 
IV.  A  house  is  a  place  to  live  in.  Conscience  the  head  of  family  ; 
and  desire,  hope,  thought,  etc.,  members.  V.  A  house  may  be 
broken  into.  Evil  tempers,  etc.  '-"Watch!"  YI.  A  house  may 
catch  fire.  A  bad  passion  wiU  set  a  boy  on  fire.  VII.  Sometimea 
all  inside  are  startled  by  a  knock  at  the  door.  Desire,  thought, 
conscience,  etc.,  listen.  "  Behold  I  stand  at  the  door  and  knock," 
etc.  Conscience  wishes  to  open.  Passion  says  "  You  shall  not." 
So  say  habit,  desire,  etc.  VIII.  There  comes  a  time  iu  tho  hi.'Jtoiy 
of  every  house  when  it  stands  empty,  when  the  tenants  have  left 
it  to  crumble  into  ruins  and  decay.  Bodily  house  empty.  Death. 
"  How  w'ill  it  be  with  you  when  you  leave  your  bodily  house  ? "  .  .  . 
I  earnestly  hope  you  will  go  out  with  the  sure  hope  of  tiiking  up 
your  abode  in  that  house  of  which  our  Saviour  said, "  In  ]My  Father's 
house  are  many  mansions,  I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you."  * 


Cap.  xli.  18-26.] 


EZEKIEL. 


3G7 


18 — 22.  (18)  made,  or  oruamented  with  carved  work,  in  the 
wood,  wh.  took  shape  of  cheruhims,  palm  trees,  etc.  tv/0  faces, 
iwnij).  oh.  i.  10.  As  carved  on  the  Hat  they  could  not  show  four 
faces.  (19)  made  through,  or  the  design  was  repeated  all 
through  the  house.  (20)  unto  .  .  door,  couip.  up  to  the  windows, 
V.  l(i.  (-'1)  posts,  or  side  pilasters,  squared,  not  round,  nor 
arched,  face,  or  front.  (22)  altar,  of  incense,  Ex.  xxx.  l,etc.« 
table,  another  word  for  an  altar.*  before  the  Lord,  in  front 
of  the  holy  of  holies.'^ 

PvuxUclcs. — Praxiteles,  who  flourished  3G4  years  before  Christ, 
was  the  sculptor  of  some  of  the  most  famous  statues  of  antiquity. 
Among  these  were  two  Venuses,  one  clothed  and  the  other  naked. 
The  first  was  purchased  by  the  Khoans,  ■nho  preferred  it  as  the 
most  decent.  The  Cnidians  took  the  rejected  one,  which  was  so 
exquisitely  beautiful,  that  many  persons  took  a  voyage  to  Cnidus 
for  the  sole  purpose  of  seeing  it.  Nicomedes,  king  of  Bythnia, 
was  so  desirous  of  possessing-  it,  that  he  offered  to  pay  all  the 
public  debts  of  Cnidus,  which  were  large,  as  the  price  ;  but  the 
citizens  refused  to  part  with  it  on  any  terms,  regarding  it  as  the 
principal  glory  of  the  state.  Praxiteles  having  promised  the 
choice  of  his  works  to  Phryne,  a  lady  to  whom  he  was  attached, 
she,  in  order  to  discover  which  he  most  valued,  ran  to  him  one 
day  with  the  false  intelligence  that  his  house  was  on  fire.  "I 
am  undone,''  he  cried,  '■  unless  I  save  my  Satyr  and  my  Cujiid." 
The  lady  having  thus  obtained  an  indisputable  criterion,  chose 
the  Cupid  as  the  most  valuable  of  all  his  performances.'* 

23—26.  (2:5)  two  doors,  1  Ki.  vi.  31.  The  holy  place  and 
the  holy  of  holies  had  two  doors  each.  (24)  turning  leaves, 
i.e.  each  would  turn  back.  (25)  made,  or  carved,  thick 
planks,  made  to  form  a  kind  of  wainscot-work.  (26)  narrow 
windows,  ch.  xl.  IG.     thick  planks,  or  wainscoting." 

Clidnilcrs  in  the  Temple,  and  their  fiirnitnrc. — With  three  of 
the  four  rooms  we  have  nothing  to  do.  Two  were  bedrooms, 
and  in  the  third  and  dreariest  snuffled  a  restless  boy,  something 
proud  of  his  dignity  of  clerk,  something  interested  in  the  last 
number  of  the  Avenger  of  Blood,  yet  something  pining  for  the 
undignified  j>itching  and  tossing,  carried  on  by  mere  boys,  who 
were  not  clerks,  in  a  yard  behind.  Sometimes  the  clink  of  the 
copper  and  the  instant  clamour  of  the  antagonists  were  too 
much  for  him,  and  he  left  the  Avenger  roasting  his  father's 
murderer,  and  went  sulkily  to  the  window  to  gaze  on  the  plebeians, 
and  to  wish  that  he  had  not  risen  from  the  ranks.  Then  nobler 
thoughts  came  over  him  ;  he  i-emembercd  his  salary,  and  the 
occasional  order  for  the  Adelphi,  from  his  good-natured  masters, 
and  ho  went  back  to  the  half- cooked  assassin  who  was  being  so 
signally  served  out  by  filial  retribution.  But  the  principal  chamber 
was  a  pleasant  one,  handsomely  carpeted,  pictured  from  various 
collections,  and  not  without  its  easy  chairs  for  its  owners,  and 
similar  accommodation  for  any  friend.  Philip  Arundel's  tastes 
were  a  little  in  the  way  of  the  Epicui'ean's  above  mentioned,  but 
anything  like  fastidiousness  had  been  corrected  in  Philip  at 
college  :  and  though  there  were  some  engravings,  statuettes,  aiid 
knick-knacks  which  the  elegant  gentleman  would  not  have  dis- 
dained. 1  hey  were  interspersed  with  articles  that  he  would  have 
removed  with  a  jiair  of  tongs  via  the  window.  Pipes  of  all 
kinds  hung  about,  or  littered  the  mantlepiece,  which  was  further 


a  "  The  altar 
here  is  a  cubit 
higher,  and 
double  the 
breadth  to  that 
of  Moses,  which 
is  supposed  to  be 
agreeable  to  the 
dimeusions  of  the 
altar  niaiie  by 
Solomon,  who  did 
not  exactly  ob- 
serve the  propor- 
tions prescri  bed 
to  Moses,  in  mak- 
ing the  cheru- 
bims  and  other 
furniture  of  the 
temple." — Loiot/i. 

b  Mai.  i.  7. 

c  "  The  altar  of 
incense  was  be- 
fore the  veil  of 
the  holy  of  ho- 
lies, where  wag 
the  Divine  pre- 
sence over  the 
ark.  "  —  Woids- 
wort/i. 

d  Peraj  Anee, 


a  "  The  sense 
would  be  plainer 
if  we  read — 'The 
figures  of  paira 
trees  were  carved 
upon  that  wain- 
scot ; '  described 
in  t).  25." — Lowth. 

Socrates  called 
beauty  a  short- 
lived tyranny ; 
Plato,  privilege 
of  nature  ;  Theo- 
phrastus,  a  silent 
cheat  ;  Theocri- 
tus, a  delightful 
jjrejudice  ;  Ca- 
reades,  a  solitary 
kingdom  ;  Domi- 
tian  said  that 
nothing  was 
more  grateful  ; 
Aristotle  af- 
f  i  r  m  e  d  that 
beauty  was  bet- 
ter than  all  the 
letters  of  recom- 
mendation in  the 
world  ;  Homer, 
that  'twas  a  glo- 
rious gift  of 
nature ;  ami  Ovid 
calls  it  a  favour 
bestowed  by  the 
gods. 


868 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  rlii.  1—9. 


"  oil,  liow  much 
moreiloth  beauty 
beauteous  seem, 
by  tlmt  sweet 
oniainent  whicli 
trutli  (li)th  give! 
Tlie  rose  is  fair, 
but  fairer  we  it 
deeui,  for  that 
Bweet  odour  wli. 
dotli  in  it  live." 
— Shakespeai-e. 


b  Shirley  Brooks. 


a  "  There  were 
two  equal  clus- 
ters of  chambers 
on  tlie  north  and 
south  of  tlie  Gn- 
rah,  or  separate 
place.  These  two 
clusters  of  cham- 
bers were  one 
hundred  cubits 
from  east  to 
west,  and  fifty 
cubits  fr.  north 
to  south,  and 
they  had  three 
stories."  -  Words- 
worth. 


b  Milton, 


a  "The  building 
rose  in  terraces, 
as  was  usual  in 
Bab.  architec- 
ture, and  so  each 
of  the  two  upper 
stories  receiled 
from  the  one 
below  it." — Sjit. 
Com. 

6  L.  Amy. 
"The  Bible,  with- 
out a  spiritual 
life  to  interpret 
it,  is  like  a  trellis 
on  which  no  vine 
grows — bare,  an- 
gular, and  in  the 
way.  The  Bible, 
with  a  spiritual 
life,  is  like  a 
trellis  covereil 
with  a  luxuriant 
vine  —  beautit'al, 


encumbered  with  quaint  tobacco  jars,  in  which  teiTiers'  heads, 
and  even  the  feminine  form,  were  pi-ofaned  into  receptacles  for 
the  malijjned  weed.  There  was,  ag'ainst  a  wall,  a  noble  stag-'s 
head,  but  on  its  branches  hung  a  travelling  cap,  a  shot  flask,  a 
lliohland  dirk,  and  other  disiigurements,  that  made  it  rcsembla 
a  stern  Christmas  tree.  A  Gothic  bookcase  was  not  ill-furnished, 
but  between  a  Lvcretivn  of  l.")l  1  and  the  P'ichwick  Fnprrs  was  a 
cifiar  cabinet ;  and  the  last  volume  of  Uo.sn-cU  would  have  fallen 
as  tiat  as  Jemmy  himself  did  on  the  pavement  of  that  assize  town 
M'hcre  he  got  so  terribly  tipsy,  but  that  a  jiair  of  fencing-gloves 
buttressed  the  book,  and  made  you  look  round  for  foils  and 
masks.  These  you  sought  not  in  vain,  for  they  wei"e  set  as  an 
approjjriate  halo  around  a  bracket,  from  which,  and  from  the  sea, 
rose  Venus  Anadyomene.* 


CHAPTER  THE  FORTY -SECOND. 

1 — 4.  (\)  utter,  or  outer.  This  would  be  the  priests'  court ; 
some  prefer  to  regard  these  chambers  as  connected  with  the 
separate  builJing,  ch.  xli.  12.  and  so  in  the  outer  court  of  the 
people,  chamber,  better,  block  of  chambers."  (2)  before,  f/c, 
better,  "  unto  the  place  whose  length  was,"  etc.  (o)  gallery,  or 
row  of  chamber.s.  (4)  walk,  or  cloister,  dividing  the  building' 
into  two  sets  of  rooms,  one  half  of  wh.  looked  into  the  outer 
court,  the  other  into  the  inner. 
Cloistern  of  an  ahhnj. — 

But  let  my  due  feet  never  fail 

To  walk  the  studious  cloisters  pale. 

And  love  the  hitrh  embowed  roof, 

With  antique  pillars  massy  proof  ; 

Ard  storied  windows  richly  dight, 

Casting  a  dim  religious  light  : 

There  let  the  pealing  organ  blow 

To  the  full-voiced  choir  below 

In  service  high  and  anthems  clear, 

As  may  with  sweetness,  through  mine  ear, 

Dissolve  me  into  ecstasies, 

Aud  bring  all  heaven  before  mine  eyes.* 

5—9.  (5)  shorter,  or  shortened."  were  higher,  or  "did 
abate  of  these."  (<!)  not  pillars,  "the  two  iipper  stories  had 
balconies  standing  out  of  them,  the  breadth  of  which  was  taken 
out  of  the  rooms  themselves,  and  made  them  so  much  naj-rower, 
bee.  the  weight  of  the  balconies  was  not  supported  by  pillars,  as 
the  roojris  over  the  cloisters  of  the  outward  court  were,  but  only 
by  the  wall."  *  (7)  wall,  or  fence.  (8)  length,  from  N.  to  S. 
(9)  entry,  or  passage  into  the  court. 

IniiJrViiii  and  ihe  li'ihJc. — An  honest  peasant  surprised  an 
infidel  the  other  day,  who  was  jceriug  him  for  believing  the 
Bible,  by  the  reply.  "  We  country  people  like  to  have  two  strings 
to  our  bow."  '•  What  do  you  mean  .' "  inqiiircd  the  infidel. 
"  Only  this."  rejoined  the  poor  man.  "that  believing  the  Bible, 
and  acting  up  to  it.  is  like  having  two  strings  to  one's  bow  ; 
for  if  it  is  not  trup.  I  shall  be  a  better  man  for  living  according 
to  it.  and  so  it  will  be  for  my  good  in  this  life. — that  is  one  string 
to  my  bow ;  and  if  it  should  be  true,  it  will  be  better  for  me  in 


Cap.  xliL  10-16.] 


EZEXTEL. 


369 


the  next  life, — that  is  another  string,  and  a  jDretty  strong  one  it   odorous,    and 

is.  Bat,  sir,  if  you  do  not  believe  the  Bible,  and  on  that  account  ''f^^f  \""^  fl^''* 
,  ,,■••;  ■  1  i  ^   •         ^  ,  pie  clusters  sin a- 

do  not  live  as  it  requires,  you  have  not  one  ytnng  to  your  bow.  i„g  tbrough  the 
And  oh!  SU-.  if  its  tremendous  threatenings  prove  true,  ohl  leaves.' -/Jt-ec/jer. 
think  what  then  will  become  of  you  !  '  "  I '  Ca^ughey. 


10 — 12.  (10)  cliainbers,  etc.,  better  read,  "  breadthwise  was 
the  wall  toward  the  east.""  (11)  way  before  them,  ap- 
pearance to  one  looking  at  them  froui  the  front.  {12)  to- 
wards tlie  south,  this  and  prev.  v.  prob.  describe  the  corre- 
sponding set  of  chambers  on  the  south  side  of  the  Ghrah,  or 
building  behind  the  temple. 

Tkc  BWe. — As  in  Beethoven's  matchless  music  there  runs  one 
idea,  worked  out  through  all  the  changes  of  measure  an^  of 
key.  now  almo:?t  hidden,  now  breaking  out  in  rich,  natural 
melody,  whispered  in  the  treble,  murmured  in  the  bass,  dimly 
suggested  in  the  prelude,  but  growing  clearer  and  clearer  as  the 
work  proceeds,  winding  gradually  back  until  it  ends  in  the  key 
in  which  it  began,  and  closes  in  triumphant  harmony ;  so 
throughout  the  whole  Bible  there  runs  one  great  idea  :  man's 
ruin  by  sin,  and  his  redemption  by  grace  ;  in  a  word.  Jesus 
Christ,  the  Saviour.  This  runs  through  the  Old  Testament, 
that  prelude  to  the  New,  dimly  promised  at  the  fall,  and  more 
clearly  to  Abraham ;  typified  in  the  ceremonies  of  the  law  ;  all 
the  events  of  sacred  history  paving  the  way  for  His  coming  ; 
His  descent  proved  in  the  genealogies  of  Ruth  and  Chronicles  ; 
spoken  of  as  Shiloh  by  Jacob,  as  the  Star  by  Balaam,  as  the 
Prophet  b}'-  Moses  ;  the  David  of  the  Psalms  :  the  Redeemer 
looked  for  by  Job  ;  the  Beloved  of  the  Song  of  Songs.  AVe  find 
Him  in  the  sublime  strains  of  the  lofty  Isaiah  ;  in  the  writings 
bf  the  tender  Jeremiah  ;  in  the  mysteries  of  the  contemplative 
Ezekiel  ;  in  the  visions  of  the  beloved  Daniel  ;  the  great  idea 
growing  clearer  and  clearer  as  the  time  drew  on.  Then  the  fuU 
harmony  broke  out  in  the  song  of  the  angels,  "  Glory  to  God 
in  the  highest ;  on  earth  peace,  goodwill  towards  men."  And 
Evangelists  and  Apostles  taking  up  the  theme,  the  strain 
closers  in  the  same  key  in  which  it  began  :  the  devil,  who 
troubled  the  first  paradise,  for  ever  excluded  from  the  second  ; 
man  restored  to  the  favour  of  God ;  and  Jesus  Christ  the  key- 
note of  the  whole.* 

13—16.  (13)  eat,  etc.,  Le.  s.  1.3.  (14)  there,  i.e.  in  these 
appointed  places,  within  the  specially  holy  precincts."  (15)  gate 
. .  east,  i.e.  the  eastern  gate  of  the  outer  court.  (16)  measuring 
reed,  whose  length  is  given  in  ch.  xli.  8. 

rartiality  for  parts  of  the  Bible. — There  are  men  who  go 
through  the  Bible,  taking  out  its  promises — its  joyous,  hopeful, 
cheering,  comforting  passages,  and  elect  these  things  to  them- 
selves. They  do  not  see  that  there  is  any  controversy  or  conflict, 
simply  because  they  do  not  consider  the  other  side  at  all.  They 
let  it  alone.  As  the  disciples,  when  they  walked  through  the 
fields  eating  corn,  rubbed  the  ears  in  their  hands  to  get  rid  of 
the  chaff,  so  there  are  a  great  many  people  who  take  the 
Scripture,  and  rub  it  in  their  hands,  and  cut  out  the  part  that 
they  like,  and  throw  the  rest  away.  Tlieref ore  there  are  many 
persons  who  talk  about  religion  as  being  a  life  of  supreme  and 
continuing  joy,  and   for    ever   appeal    to    persons    to  become 

VOL.  IX.     O.T.  A  A 


as  Comp.  Eze.  xU. 
12. 

"Kow,  the  Bible 
is  my  book.  I 
own  it,  from 
Genesis  to  Reve- 
lation. Anil  it 
owns  me.  I  have 
a  right  to  sit 
down  in  ths 
sanctuary  of  my 
conscience,  and 
under  the  illumi- 
nation" of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  and 
read  that  Bible. 
And  if  I  win 
take  the  conse- 
quences of  my 
own  faith,  I  have 
a  riKht  to  that 
creed  which  my 
understanding 
gives  me,  with- 
out asking  you  or 
anybody  else  on 
the  face  of  thu 
globe  wh.ati  may 
belie  ve."-/?crr/i(>r. 
It  is  the  faithful 
mirror  of  God's 
holy  perfections, 
an  J  of  man's 
miserable  fail- 
ings ;  the  more 
you  look  into  it, 
the  more  you 
will  grow  like 
God,  and  be 
changed  from 
glory  to  glory, 
even  as  by  the 
Spirit  of  our 
God. 
b  H.  IT.  Beecher. 


a  Le.  xvi.  23. 
"  What  a  pin 
is  wlien  the 
diamond  has 
dropjjed  from  its 
setting,  that  is 
the  Bible  when 
its  emotive 
truths  have  been 
taken  away." — 
Brrcher, 

•'Men's  graces 
must  get  the 
better  of  their 
faults  as  a  far- 
mer's crops  do  of 
the    weeds, — by 


370 

g  r  o  w  t  h."— 
J:,  n-h,  r. 
b  Uccliri: 

a  Here  meaning, 
devoted  to  imly 
common  uses. 

b  "  The  lowness 
of  tlie  wall  ren- 
ders it  unlit  for 
the  purpose  of 
defence.  But  its 
square  iorm  is 
tlie  emblem  of 
the  kins,'il()m  that 
cannot  be 
shaken,  resting 
on  Prophets  and 
Apostle.s,  Je.sus 
Christ  being  the 
chief  corner- 
stone. ' '  — Fit  usset. 

"  What  a  babe's 
clothes  are  when 
tlie  babe  has 
slipped  out  of 
them  into  death, 
and  the  mother's 
arms  clasp  only 
r.aiment,  would 
be  the  Bible  if 
the  Babe  of 
Bethlehem  and 
the  truths  of 
deep-heartedpess 
that  clothed  His 
life  should  slip 
out  of  it."  — 
Beecher. 

e  Beecher, 


a  "  The  noise  of 
purling  streams 
is  grateful,  of  a 
roaring  sea 
dreadful." — Mat. 
Jlrnry. 

'•  Nor  is  there  in 
the  Word  of  God, 
from  begiuiiins 
to  end,  any  direct 
instruction  on 
the  subject  of 
art.  Ai-t  must 
be  evolved  ac- 
cording to  its 
own  laws,  and  in 
tlie  best  way 
that  the  human 
mind  can  find 
o\it." — Beecher. 

b  Ambrose, 

a  "  Their  kings 
advanced  to 

greater     degrees 


EZKKiEL.  [Cap.  xliii.  1-9. 

Christians    because    it    is    eo    joj^ful.      Well,    it    is    jo^-ful — in 
spot.-:.'' 

17—20.  (17,  IS)  round  about,  i.e.  includinj^  the  precincts. 
(ID,  20)  profane  place,"  i.i-.  Jerusalem  itself  only  called 
yrofane,  as  not  being  specially  consecrated.* 

The.  Bible  to  he  leurucd  bij  the  heart. — Bring  doAvn  from  the 
dusty  garret  an  old  file  of  papers,  and  while  the  venerable  old 
dame  sits  near  the  fire,  almost  unconscious  of  passing  things, 
read  l^iere  the  simple  names  of  two  that  long  years  ago  were 
married.  They  are  nothing  at  all  to  the  antiquarian  reader, 
a  stranger,  seeking  more  lore  ;  but  how  much  thay  are  to  the 
aged  one,  who  feels  as  if  resurrection  had  dawned  upon  her 
mind,  and  before  whom  all  the  long  past  rises  up.  brighter  and 
clearer  the  further  it  goes  back  towards  childhood  I  For  a 
moment  she  sees  all  this  in  the  residing  of  those  words,  and  but 
for  a  moment  ;  then  they  sink  again  under  the  ashes,  and  go  out. 
Even  thus  it  is  with  the  passages  of  God's  AVord.  On  the  sur- 
face they  are  smooth  and  simple  :  but  if  your  heart  knows  how 
to  plumb  them,  great  depfe!is,  and  often  unsearchable,  there  are 
in  them.  But  as  the  Bible  is  but  a  record  of  life,  and  as  it 
addi-esses  itself  to  life  again,  so,  for  its  comprehension,  there 
mu.sthave  been  life-experience.  Dictionnries  and  grammars  are 
like  keys  to  a  house.  A  key  can  unlock  the  outward  door,  but 
cannot  introduce  you  to  the  pf'ople  that  live  there,  nor  tell  you 
what  they  are.  And  so,  though  dictionaries  and  grammars,  and 
exegetical  and  hermeneufcical  helps  can  introduce  you  into  the 
books  of  the  Bible,  your  own  heart  must  be  your  teacher  after 
that,  or  you  will  have  none.  If  you  have  no  depths,  no  wants, 
no  joys,  no  sorrows,  Avith  which  to  read,  and  through  which  to 
understand,  then  j'ou  cannot  intei'pret  this  world-book.  For  the 
Bible  is  the  heart-book  of  the  world.  Only  the  heart  can  ever 
tell  its  secret  meanings  ;  for  "  with  the  heart  man  believeth  unto 
righteousness." " 


CHAPTER  THE  FORTY-THIBD. 

1 — 6.  (1)  gate  .  .  east,  the  eastern  gate  of  the  priests'  court. 
(2)  glory,  etc.,  the  visible  token  of  God's  coming  to  dwell  in 
this  new  temple.  See  for  His  forsaking  the  temple,  ch.  x.  19,  xi. 
2.3.  voice  ...  waters,  see  Re.  i.  l.")."  (8)  vision,  ch.  i.  3,  iii. 
23.  to  destroy,  i.e.  to  prophesy  the  destruction  of.  (4)  came 
.  .  house,  returning  to  His  place  in  the  holy  of  holies.  (5) 
filled  the  house,  comp.  Ex.  xl.  3-1,  35  :  1  Ki.  viii.  10,  11.  (G) 
the  man,  who  had  been  giving  Ezekiel  the  measurements. 

Fulne-t-i  of  the  Bible. — The  Bible  is  a  sea,  having  its  deep 
senses,  the  fulness  of  proiAetic  mysteiy  into  which  many  rivers 
have  run.  But  there  are,  besides  this,  SAvect  and  clear  rivers, 
fresh  springs,  that  yield  water  unto  eternal  life  ;  good  words,  a 
honeycomb,  acceptable  sentences,  which  may  refresh  the  mind  of 
the  hearers  with  spiritual  drink,  and  delight  them  with  the 
sweetness  of  moral  precepts.  Various,  therefore,  are  the  streams 
of  the  Bible.  Thou  hast  what  thou  mayest  drink  first,  what 
thou  mayest  drink  second,  and  what  thou  mayest  drink  last.* 

7 — 9.  (7)  he  said,  this  was  the  voice  the  Prophet  heard  from 
the  Glory,    the  place,  better,  "  this  is  the  place."    throne  , . 


Cap.  Kliii.  10-17.] 


EZEKIEL. 


371 


feet,  comp.  Is.  Ixvi.  1,  2.  defile,  by  yielding  to  idolatries,  and 
bringing-  into  it  idolatrous  rites,  in  places,  omit  in,  and  read, 
"  the  dead  bodies  of  their  kings,  their  high  places,"  etc.  (8) 
their  tliresholds,  i.e.  those  of  altars  to  their  vain  and  corrupt 
idols."^  (!))  carcases,  by  this  severe  word  the  idols  are  referred 
to,  as  being  withoat  life  and  motion,  and  loathsome  to  God. 

Writrrs  of  the  BihJe. — Although  good  men  wrote  the  Bible, 
our  faith  in  the  Bible  does  not  rest  on  the  goodness  of  the  men 
who  wrote  it.  The  fatal  facility  with  which  men  glide  into  the 
worship  of  men  may  suggest  another  reason  why  some  of  the 
channels  chosen  for  conveying  the  mind  of  God  were  marred  by 
glaring  deficiencies.  Among  many  earthen  vessels,  in  various 
measures  purged  of  their  filthiness,  may  not  the  Divine  Adminis- 
trator in  wisdom  select  for  actual  use  some  of  the  least  pure,  in 
order  by  that  grosser  argument  to  force  into  grosser  minds  the 
conviction  that  the  excellency  of  the  power  is  all  of  God  ?— if  no 
Btain  of  sin  could  be  traced  on  their  character,  no  error  noted  in 
their  life,  it  is  certain  that  the  Bible  would  not  have  served  all 
the  purposes  which  it  now  serves  among  men.  It  wculd  have 
been  God-like,  indeed,  in  matter  and  in  mould,  but  it  would  not 
have  reached  down  to  the  low  estate  of  man — it  would  not  have 
penetrated  to  the  sores  of  a  human  heart.  For  engraving  the 
life  lessons  of  His  Word,  our  Father  uses  only  diamonds  ;  but  in 
every  diamond  there  is  a  flaw,  in  some  a  greater  and  in  some  a 
less.* 

10—12.  flO)  measure  the  pattern,  so  as  to  prove  their 
returning  obedience  by  exactly  cari-ying  out  the  directions  given. 
(11)  write  it,  so  that  they  may  carefully'  study  it.  (12)  wliole 
limit,  all  embraced  within  the  enclosing  walls,  and  even  the 
mountain  itself." 

The  temple  of  the  future  (r.  10). — This  vision  illustrates  for  us — 
I.  The  characteristics  of  the  kingdom  of  God  ;  it  is  sacred,  it  is 
conspicuous,  it  is  vast,  it  is  complete,  it  is  sacrificial,  it  is  beautiful, 
it  is  God-inhabited.  II.  The  qualification  for  having  to  do  with 
this  kingdom.* 

13—17.  (13)  cubit,  see  ch.  xl.  5.  higher  place,  or  back. 
The  edge  was  arranged  to  keep  the  blood  from  running  on  to  the 
pavement.  It  formed  a  kind  of  shooting  and  led  into  a  drain. 
(14)  settle,  or  stage.  "  The  narrowings,  or  in-benchings,  of  the 
altar  are  here  called  .lettlen."  (1.5)  four  horns,  Ex.  xxvii.  2." 
(l(j)  square,  we  should  call  it  a  cube  :  see  Ex.  xxvii.  1 ;  Re.  xxi. 
IG.    (17)  settle,  the  lower  one.    stairs,  or  steps. 

Variety  in  the  Bihle. — Whether  we  look  at  the  Old  or  New 
Testament,  the  same  richness  and  variety  of  form  reveal  them- 
Belves,  until  it  may  truly  be  said,  that  out  of  the  ground  of  this 
paradise  also  the  Lord  God  has  made  "  to  grow  eveiy  tree  that  is 
pleasant  to  the  sight  and  good  for  food  ; "  all  that  the  earth  has 
fairest  appearing  here  in  fairer  and  more  perfect  form — the  fable, 
only  here  transformed  into  the  parable — the  ode  transfigured  into 
the  psalm — oracles  into  prophecies  —histories  of  this  world  into 
histories  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  Nor  is  tragedy  wanting, 
though  for  CEdipus  we  have  the  man  of  Uz  ;  nor  epos,  though 
for  "  the  tale  of  Troy  divine,"  ours  is  the  story  of  the  New 
Jerusalem,  '"coming  down  out  of  heaven  as  a  bride  adorned  for 
her  husband."  I  would  willingly  show  how  this  also  was  need- 
A  A2 


of  idolatry,  in 
setting  up  altars 
and  images  for 
their  idols  in  the 
temple  itself  and 
the  courts  before 
it."— Lowtfi. 

2  Ki.  xvi.  14,  xxi. 
4,  5,  7;  Eze.  v. 
11,  viii.  6,  15. 

In  1632  Baker 
and  Lucas  pub- 
lislied  au  edition 
termed  since 
"  The  wicked 
Bible,"  because 
the  little  word 
not  was  omitted 
in  the  seventh, 
c  o  m  m  andment. 
The  printers 
were  heavily 
fined  by  the  High 
Commission,  and 
the  wliole  edition 
destroyed. 

6  Dr.  Amot. 


a  Is.  ii.  2,  3 ;  ML 
iv.  1,  2. 

V.  10.  Bp.  WilS07i, 
i.  155;  F.  D. 
Maurice,  Pro.  and 
Kgs.  464. 

V.  12.  R.  Erskine, 

V.  284. 

b  V.  E.  Tlwmas. 


a  "  The  altar  re- 
garded as  to  its 
height  is  called 
Har-El,  the 
Mount  of  God ; 
an  d  in  its 
area,  or  upper 
surface,  is  called 
Arie  ,  the  lion  of 
God,  or  as  some 
render  it,  the 
hearth  of  God,  aa 
consuming  the 
sacrifices." — 
Wurdsworth. 

"  Lady  Jane  Grey 
was  once  asked, 
in  a  tone  of  sur- 
prise, how  she 
could  consent  to 
forego  the  plea- 
sures of  the 
chase,  which  her 
parents  ever  en- 
joyed, and  prefer 


■372 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xliii.  18-27. 


Bitting  at  home, 
reading  the 
Bible.  Slie  snii- 
linply  replied — 
'All  amusements 
of  that  descrip- 
tion are  but  a 
shadow  of  the 
pleasures  which 
I  eujoy  in  read- 
ing this  book.' " 
—  ir.  Nicholson. 
h  Trench. 

a  Ex.  xxix.  3G ; 
Eze.  xlv.  18,  19. 

6  Le.  iv.  12  ;  He. 
xiii.  11. 

e  Le.  iv.  27,  28, 
30. 

•'  The  truths  of 
the  Biljle  are 
like  gold  in  the 
soil.  Whole  ge- 
nerations walk 
over  it,  and  know 
not  what  trea- 
sures are  hidden 
beneath.  So  cen- 
turies of  men 
pass  over  th^ 
Scriptures,  and 
know  not  what 
riches  lie  under 
the  feet  of  their 
interpretation. 
Sometimes,  when 
they  discover 
them,  they  call 
them  new  truths. 
One  might  as 
well  call  golil, 
newlv  dug,  new 

gold."  —  //.    jr. 

Meechei: 
d  Chardin, 


fl  "  In  the  second 
temple  no  sacri- 
fice was  com- 
plete without  the 
■use  of  salt,  and 
the  Rabbis  tell 
tis  that  there  was 
a  great  heap  of 
salt  close  to  the 
altar,  always 
ready  for  use,  and 
that  the  inclined 


ful,  if  the  book  whereof  we  are  speaking'  should  indeed  leaven 
the  world,  should  offer  nutriment,  not  merely  for  some  men,  but 
for  all  men  ;  and,  far  from  all  tyrannous  lopj  ing  of  all  to  one 
and  the  same  length,  should  encourage  in  every  man  the  free 
development  of  whatever  had  been  given  him  of  God.  Thus  it 
must  needs  have  been,  if  the  Si)irit  by  this  "Word  was  to  sanctify 
all  in  every  man  which  was  capable  of  being  sanctified  :  all 
which,  coming  originally  from  God,  could  be  redeemed  from  the 
defilement  of  this  world,  and  in  purer  shape  be  again  restored 
unto  Him.* 

18—22.  (18,  19)  young  bullock,  Le.  viii.  14."  (20)  four 
horns,  r.  15.  (21)  appointed  place,  com2).  Ex.  xxix.  \i.^  (22) 
cleanse,  by  sprinkling  the  blood."^ 

Thresholds. — "  The  Hindoos  have  a  very  solemn  oath  connected 
with  the  threshold  of  the  temple.  If  a  man  is  accused  of  any 
great  crime,  he  goes  to  the  temple,  makes  his  prostrations,  and 
then  approaches  the  threshold  ;  ho  pauses,  then  steps  over  it, 
declaring,  at  the  same  time,  that  he  is  not  guilty  of  the  crime 
laid  to  his  charge.  It  is  therefore  very  common  to  ask  a  person 
who  denies  anything  he  is  suspected  to  have  done,  '  Will  you  step 
over  the  threshold  of  the  temple,''  The  Lord,  in  His  s&vere 
denunciations,  by  the  Prophet  Zephaniah,  against  the  Jews  for 
their  idolatry,  says,  '  In  the  same  day  also  will  I  punish  all  those 
who  leap  on  the  threshold ; '  from  which  it  appears  that  they 
also  used  thus  to  take  an  oath,  or  to  perform  some  other  heathenish 
ceremonies.  But  the  threshold  is  also  sacred  in  private  houses : 
it  is  not  propitious  for  a  person  to  remain  on  it.  neither  to  eat, 
sneeze,  yawn,  nor  spit  whilst  there.  Should  they  do  so,  the 
peoi^le  in  the  house  will  throw  water  upon  them  to  prevent  the 
evil.  I  must  not  forget  to  notice  the  pointed  observations  of  the 
Prophet  Ezekiel  on  the  same  subject.  He  beheld  that  '  the  glory 
of  the  God  of  Israel  went  up  from  the  cherub,  and  stood  over  the 
threshold  of  the  house.'  In  the  preceding  chapter  the  Prophet 
gives  a  fearful  description  of  the  idolatry  of  Israel,  and  that  the 
glory  of  the  Lord  had  gone  from  the  cherub,  in  contempt  of  their 
idolatry :  or  to  indicate  its  nature,  shows  that  he  is  gone  to  the 
threshold,  and  is  about  to  depart  from  them.  "WTien  the  glory  of 
God  was  about  to  return  to  the  temple,  the  sin  of  Israel  hindered 
it,  and  the  Prophet  exhorted  them  to  repentance,  and  the  Lord 
reproved  them  for  '  setting  their  thresholds  by  His  threshold.' 
'  They  have  even  defiled  My  holy  name  by  their  abominations.' 
At  length  the  judgments  of  the  Lord  were  denounced  against 
Moab,  Amnion,  and  A.<syria ;  for  the  Prophet  Zephaniah  says, 
'  Nettles  and  saltpits '  shall  be  amongst  them  ;  that  Nineveh  shall 
be  like  a  wilderness,  that  flocks  shall  be  in  the  midst  of  her,  and 
that '  desolation  shall  be  in  the  thresholds.' "'' 

23—27.  (23)  ram,  comp.  Ex.  xxix.  31 ;  Le.  viii.  22.  (24)  cast 
salt,  Le.  ii.  13  ;  Mk.  ix.  4!)."  (25)  seven  days,  the  same  sacri' 
lices  were  to  be  offered  on  each  of  these  days,  except  that  a 
bullock  was  offered  on  the  first  day.  (26)  consecrate  them- 
selves, according  to  Mosaic  regulations.  (27)  peace  offer- 
ings, or  thank  offerings.*  Mai.  i.  11.  accept  you,  oh.  xx.  40, 
41  :  Ro.  xii.  I  ;  1  Pe.  ii.  5. 

Thrc&hold.i.  —Among  the  Tartars  they  never  walk  on  the  thresh- 
old of  princes,  out  of  reepect   to  them  (Bergeron,   Voyage  ds 


Cap.  xliv.  1-3.] 


EZEKIEL. 


373 


Calpin,  cap.  10).  The  caliphs  of  Bagdad  obliged  all  who  entered 
their  palaces  to  prostrate  themselves  on  the  threshold,  whereon 
they  set  a  piece  of  the  black  stone  of  the  temple  of  Mecca,  to 
render  it  more  venerable  (  Dllerbelot).  '■  On  entering  the  first 
large  hall  we  were  stopped  by  a  silver  grating,  where  we  were 
obliged  to  take  off  our  shoes  ;  and  here  we  remarked  the  vene- 
ration of  the  Persians  for  the  threshold  of  a  holy  place,  a  feeling 
that  they  preserve  in  some  degree  even  for  the  threshold  of  their 
houses.  Before  they  ventured  to  cross  it,  they  knelt  down  and 
kissed  it,  whilst  they  were  very  careful  not  to  touch  it  with 
their  feet.  In  writing  to  a  prince,  or  a  great  personage,  it  is 
common  for  them  to  say,  Let  me  make  the  dust  of  your  thresh- 
old into  surinch  (coUyrium)  for  my  eyes"  (Morier"s  Second 
Journey  through  Persia).  In  a  chapel  adjoining  to  that  in 
which  a  saint  lies,  in  which  one  of  the  late  kings  of  that  country 
has  a  suijerb  tomb,  and  is  supjioied  to  lie  interred,  are  seven 
sacred  songs  written  in  large  letters  of  gold,  on  a  blue  ground,  in 
so  many  distinct  ]ianels,  in  honour  of  Aaly,  Mohammed's  son- 
in-law,  and  the  great  saint  of  the  Persians,  as  also  the  ancestor 
of  that  female  saint  that  lies  entombed  there.  Among  other 
extravagant  expressions  of  prai.se  there  is  this  distich  in  the 
fourth  hymn : — "  The  angelic  messenger  of  the  truth,  Gabriel, 
kisses  every  day  the  threshold  of  thy  gate,  because  it  is  the  only 
way  to  arrive  at  the  thi-one  of  Mohammed." 


CHAPTER  THE  FORTY-FOURTH. 

1 — 3.  (1)  otttward  sanctitary,  or  court  of  the  priests. 
"  Only  a  prince  of  the  housa  of  David  might  sit  down  in  the 
pri^'sts'  court."  (2)  shall  be  sliut,  i.e.  usually  shut,  and  only 
opened  for  one  person,  and  on  special  occasions  for  him." 
Lord  .  .  entered,  by  the  symbol  of  His  presence  passing  in 
that  way.*  (3)  the  prince,  ch.  xsxiv.  24.  The  head  of  the 
nation  regarded  as  the  vicegerent  and  earthly  representative 
of  God.  eat  bread,  a  custom  connected  with  sacrifices."  "  A 
relisi-ious  feast  made  of  the  remainder  of  a  sacrifice." 

lie)noval  of  (jracetf. — When  the  king  removes  his  court,  nothing 
is  left  behind'  but  bare  walls  and  rubbish.  So,  if  God  removes 
from  a  man's  heart,  wherein  He  has  kept  His  court.  His  graces 
will  not  stay  behind.  Then  farewell,  peace  ;  farewell,  com- 
fort :  nothing  is  left  behind  but  confusion  and  disorder. — 
SJiuttlnt]  the  (into  through  mhich  the  hing  has  entered. — 
Caron,  in  his  Aecovnt  of  Japan,  tolls  us  that  whenever  any 
of  the  chief  nobles  builds  a  new  palace,  he  causes  an  entrance 
to  be  made  for  common  u.se,  and  also  one  which  is  more  elegant, 
adorned  with  carvings  from  top  to  bottom,  varnished  and  gilt. 
This  is  covered  over  wfth  planks,  in  order  that  it  may  not  be 
damaged  either  by  the  sun  or  by  the  rain  ;  and  it  remains  thus 
covered  till  the  emperor  goes  to  feast  in  the  new-built  palace. 
As  soon  as  he  has  passed  in  and  out  of  it,  it  is  again  shut  and 
covered  up.  nor  is  it  either  opened  or  uncovered  again,  except 
upon  a  like  occasion,  because  no  one  may  enjoy  the  honour  of 
treading  on  the  same  threshold  with  the  emperor  ;  whilst  at  the 
same  time  it  would  be  considered  as  derogatory  to  his  majesty  to  j 


plaue  to  tlie.Tltar 
was  Icept  covered 
with  salt."— 
Edcrsheim. 

b  "  Umler  the 
guidance  of  the 
iClii.stle  to  the 
Hebrews  we  can- 
not fail  to  recog- 
nise in  this  vision 
the  symliol  ol 
tlie  purificatioa 
of  the  Chiu-cli  of 
God  by  the 
cleansing  blood 
of  Christ,  Victim 
and  Prie.st,  Heb. 
viii.,  i.x.,  '^."-Upk, 
Com. 

"  They  are  called 
in  the  niargia 
til  a  Hk-offLi-iiigt, 
bee.  they  were 
offerings  of 
th  anks  givings 
for  mercies  re- 
ceived."— Lowlh, 


a   "  In      Persia, 

wlien  a  nobleman 
build3apalace,he 
invariably  has  a 
gate  erected  ex- 
pressly for  the 
king,  whom  he 
invites  to  a  ban- 
quet at  the  open- 
ing of  his  palace. 
Wlien  the  king 
departs,  the  gate 
is  wjilled  np,  and 
no  one  is  ever 
allowed  to  pass 
through  it  after- 
wards, unless  the 
king  should 
again  visit  the- 
owner.  Sir  R. 
Porter  gives  an 
instance  of  a 
gate  at  Bagdad, 
by  which  the 
Sultan  Murad 
had  entered  into 
the  city  after  hi3 
victory  over  the 
Per^ans,  being 
bricked  up.  and 
kept  so,  as  he 
saw  it." — Gddsby. 
('(iron  says  a 
similar  custom 
prevails  in  .Tapaa. 
b  Kzc.  xUU.  2, 


S74 


LZEKIEL. 


[Cap,  3.1V.  4-14. 


e  6e.  xxxi.  54; 
Ex.  xviii.  12, 
x.xiv.  11;  1  Co.  X. 
18. 


a  Be.  iii.  26 ;  1 
Pe.  iv.  3. 

6  Spk.  Com, 

e  Le.  iii.  16,  xvil. 
11. 

d  "  Or,  '  Ye  have 
not  your.tflves 
kopt  tlie  charge 
of  My  lioly 
tliing.-i,  "but  have 
set  others  as 
keejiors  of  My 
charge  in  Wy 
sanctuary  for 
yourselve  s." 
— Maurer. 

"The  more  dili- 
gently I  pursue 
my  search  into 
these  oracles  of 
eternal  truth,  the 
Scriptures,  I  per- 
ceive a  wilier,  a 
deeper,  an  ever- 
increasing  fund 
of  spiritual  trea- 
sures."— Ihl-Vt'lJ. 

e  Uarmer. 

a  2  Chr.  XXXV. 
11. 

b  Very  few  Le- 
vi tes  returned 
from  the  cap- 
tivity. See  Kzra 
ii.  4U— 42;  Neh. 
vii.43— 45:conip. 
Ezr.  ii.  3G-39, 
and  viii.  15,  18, 
19. 


"  The  gap  in  the 
number  of  Le- 
vi tes  was  filled 
up  by  220  Nethi- 
nim  (given  ones), 
prob.  original 
strangers  and 
cai)tives,  who 
Were  held  by  the 
Jews  in  lowest 
repute."  —  £'Ufr- 
i/ui/n. 

e  "To  perform 
the  servile  ofiices 
belonging  to  My 
temple  and  wor- 
•hip."— Z,iiM7A. 


pass  over  one  that  had  been  ■n'om.     In  the  -words  of  the  text^ 
*•  This  gate  shall  be  shut.     It  is  for  the  prince." 

4—8.  (4)  north  gate,  ch.  xl.  20.  glory,  etc.,  comp.  1  Ki, 
viii.  10,  11.  (i))  entering  .  .  going  forth,  these  were  carefully 
arranged  so  as  to  secure  that  nothing  profane  or  idolatrou.'- 
should  be  admitted  within  the  temple  precincts.  ((J)  let  i. 
suffice,"  let  the  past  suffice  ;  don't  repeat  it  any  more. 
(7)  strangers,  here  meaning  unauthorised  priests.'  my 
bread,  the  fat  and  the  blood  were  regarded  as  peculiarly 
appropriated  to  God.'  (8)  charge,  Le.  viii.  3.").  for  your- 
selves, i.e.  at  your  own  pleasure,  not  according  to  the  revealed 
will  and  law.'' 

The  open  gate. — Among  other  instances  of  the  extreme  distance 
and  profound  awe  with  which  Eastern  majesty  is  treated,  one  that 
is  mentioned  by  Sir  .John  Chardin,  in  his  account  of  Persia, 
ai)pears  very  strange  to  us,  yet  may  afford  a  lively  comment  on 
a  passage  of  the  Prophet  Ezekiel.  Sir  John  tells  us,  •■  It  is  a 
common  custom  in  Persia,  that  when  a  great  man  has  built  a 
jialace.  he  treats  the  king  and  his  grandees  in  it  for  several  days. 
Then  the  great  gate  of  it  is  open  ;  but  when  these  festivities  are 
over,  they  shut  it  up,  never  more  to  be  opened."  He  adds,  '•  I 
have  heard  that  the  same  thing  is  practised  in  Japan."  It  seems 
surprising  to  us  that  great  and  magnificent  houses  within  should 
have  only  small  entrances  into  them,  which  no  one  would  sup- 
pose would  lead  into  such  beautiful  edifices  :  but  such,  he  observes, 
is  the  common  custom  there  ;  making  no  magnificent  entrance  into 
their  houses  at  all ;  or,  if  they  do,  shutting  them  up  after  a  little 
time,  and  making  use  of  some  small  entrance  near  the  great 
one,  or,  it  may  be,  in  some  very  different  part  of  the  building.' 

9—14.  (9)  stranger,  etc.,  of  the  sons  of  the  stranger. 
Comp.  Nu.  xvi.  9,  39,  40.  (10)  gone  .  .  me,  2  Chr.  xxxvi.  14. 
Individuals  among  the  Levites  had  proved  unfaithful,  bear 
their  iniquity,  i.e.  the  due  consequence  of  their  iniquity. 
(11)  ministers,  or  attendants  at  the  gates  ;  porters,  slay,  etc., 
this  was  the  work  of  Levites."  The  Levites  mentioned  were  to 
minister  to  the  jiroper  Levites.*  (12)  caused,  better,  were  an 
occasion  to  ;  they  led  the  people  by  their  bad  example.  (18)  near, 
so  as  to  be  in  actual  contact  with  the  holy  things.  (14)  keepers, 
i.e.  doorkeepers  and  attendants.'' 

Siipcrloritij  of  the  Bihle. — This  book  is  the  mirror  of  the 
Divinity — the  rightful  regent  of  the  world.  Other  books  are 
planets  shining  with  reflected  lustre  ;  this  book,  like  the  sun, 
shines  with  ancient  and  unbon-owed  ray.  Other  books  have,  to 
their  loftiest  altitudes,  sprung  from  earth  :  this  book  looks  down 
from  heaven  high.  Other  books  appeal  to  understanding  or 
fancy ;  this  book  to  con  .-science  and  faith.  Other  books  solicit 
our  attention,  this  demands  it — it  speaks  with  authority,  and  not 
as  the  scribes.  Other  books  guide  gracefully  along  the  cailh,  or 
onwards  to  the  mountain  summits  of  the  ideal :  this,  and  this 
alone,  conducts  up  the  awful  abyss  which  leads  to  heaven. 
Other  books,  after  shining  their  season,  may  perish  in  flames 
fiercer  than  those  which  consumed  the  Alexandrian  library'  :  tliis, 
in  essence,  must  remain  pure  as  gold,  and  un  ;onsumable  as 
asbestos,  amidst  the  flames  of  general  conflagratio:..  Other  books 
may  be  forgotten  in  the  universe  where  Buns  go  down   and 


Cap.  xliv.  15—31.] 


EZEKIEL. 


375 


disappear  like  bubbles  in  the  stream  ;  this  book,  transferred 
to  a  higher  clime,  shall  shine  as  the  brightness  of  that  eternal 
firmament,  and  as  those  higher  stars,  which  are  for  ever  and 
ever.'' 

15—19.  (15)  sons  of  Zadok,  ch.  xl.  4G.  xliii.  19.  fat  and 
tlie  blood,  c.  7.  (IG)  sanctviary,  the  first  chamber,  known 
as  the  holy  place,  table,  or  altar.  (17)  linen  garments," 
including  the  linen  breeches,  the  coat,  the  girdle,  aud  the  bonnet. 
no  ■wool,  regarded  as  unclean,*  i'.  18.  (16 j  bonnets,  or  caps. 
(19)  utter  court,  or  outer  court  of  the  people,  with  tlieir 
garments,  i.e.  while  having  on  their  special  priestly  gar- 
ments. 

Tho  vse  of  a  Bible. — It  was  cu:<tomaiy  in  Cromwell's  time  for 
his  soldiers  to  carry  each  a  Bible  in  his  pocket.  Among  others, 
a  iirofligate  young  man  was  ordered  to  attack  some  fortress. 
During  the  engagement  a  bullet  had  perforated  his  Bible,  and 
gone  so  far  as  to  rest  opposite  these  words  in  Ecclesiastes : 
'■  Rejoice,  O  young  mau,  in  thy  j'outh,  and  let  thy  heart  cheer  thee 
in  the  days  of  thy  youth,  and  walk  in  the  waj's  of  thy  heart,  and 
in  the  sight  of  thine  eyes  ;  but  know  thou,  that  for  all  these 
things  God  will  bring  thee  into  judgment."  The  words,  so  appro- 
priate to  his  case,  powerfully  affected  his  mind,  and  jiroved  by  the 
blessing  or  God  the  means  of  his  conversion.  He  used  to  observe 
that  the  Bible  had  been  the  happy  means  of  saving  both  his  soul 
and  bod^'."^ 

20-25.  (20)  shave,  etc.,"  Le.  xsi.  5.  grow  long,*  wh. 
was    an    ordinary    sign    of    mourning,     poll,"^    cut   and   trim. 

(21)  drink  wine,  Le.  x.  9.  The  prohibition  refers  to  times 
v^hen   the    pn-iests    were     actually     engaged    in     holy    service. 

(22)  widow,  Le.  xxi.  13.  The  Levitical  law  for  the  high  priest 
is  extended  to  all  priests.  (23)  teach,  etc.,  Le.  x.  10,  xi.— xvi.  ; 
Mai.  ii.  7.  (24)  controversy,  i.e.  when  controversies  or  dis- 
putes arise  among  the  people.  (25)  dead  person,  Le.  xxi. 
1,  II. 

The  duty  of  mlnhters  (r.  23).— God's  ministers  are  to  be 
public  instructors.  1.  They  are  to  teach ;  2.  Their  instructions 
to  be  specially  addressed  to  Israel,  "My  peoi^le:"  3.  Their  in- 
structions to  have  defined  purpose,  to  show  "  the  difference," 
etc.  :  -1.  Their  method  of  instruction  to  be  twofold,  by  example 
aud  by  precept. 

26 — 31.  (26)  cleansed,  fr.  the  defilement  ensuing  in  relation 
to  a  dead  body.  Nu.  xix.  11.  (27)  his  sin  offering,  Le.  iv.  3. 
(28)  it  shall  be,  render  r.  "  This  shall  be  to  them  for  an  inhe- 
ritance, that  I  am  their  inheritance."  (29)  eat,  etc.,  for  their 
necessary  support,  dedicated,  or  devoted  thing.  Le.  xxvii. 
21.28.  (30)  first,  chief,  or  best,  oblation,  or  offering;  gift 
from  the  produce  of  the  ground,  dough ,  made  from  the  new 
corn.  Nu.  xv.  20.  (31)  dead  of  itself,"  Ex.  xxii.  31  ;  Le. 
xxii.  8. 

//iji(l''J.<iandfhe  Bible. — Xomatter  how  infidel  philosophers  may 
regaid  the  Bible  :  they  may  say  that  Genesis  is  awry,  and  that 
the  Psalms  are  more  than  half-bitter  imprecations,  aud  the  pro- 
phecies only  the  fantasies  of  brain-bewildered  men,  and  the 
Gospels  weak  laudations  of  an  impostor,  and  the  Epistles  only  the 
letters  of  a  mad  Jew,  and  that  the  whole  book  has  had  its  day  ;  I 


d  G.  Giljillan. 


a  "  The  material 

of  wh.  the  fdxir 
Vestments  of  the 
ordinary  priests 
were  made  was 
I  '  linen,'  or  more 
I  accurately,  '  bys- 
i  sus,'  the  wliite 
sinning  cotton 
stufl  of  Egypt. 
These  two  qua- 
lities of  the  bys- 
sus  are  specially 
marked  as  cha- 
racteristic, and 
on  them  part  of 
the  symbolic 
meaning  depend- 
ed."— &/ik.  Com. 

b  "  Wool  soon  in- 
duces perspira- 
tion in  the  sultry 
E.,andsobecoraeB 
uncleanly." — 
Fa  iissi't. 
c  J.  Evans, 
a  "  Jerome  sup- 
poses that  the 
Jewish  priests 
were  forbidden 
to  shave  their 
heads,  thereby  to 
distinguisli  them 
fi\  several  of  the 
heathen  priests, 
particularly  the 
Eg.  priests  of  Isis 
au'l  Serapis,  who 
hail  their  heads 
shaved  and  un- 
covered.'"- Lowlh, 
b  "Long  hair  was 
a  sign  of  effe- 
minacy. 1  Cor. 
xi.  \i." — Words- 
woiih. 
s  2  Sa.  xiv.  26. 

a  "  The  Moham- 
medans are  for- 
bidden to  eat 
that  wh.  dieth  of 
itself,  and  blood, 
and  swine's 
flesh,  and  that  on 
wh.  the  name  of 
any  besiaes  God 
liath  be'Ui  in- 
voked ;  and  that 
wliich  hiith  been 
strangle  d,  or 
killed  by  a  blow 
or  a  fall,  or  by 
the  horns  of 
another  beast ; 
aud  that  wliicli 


370 


[Cap,  xlv.l— at 


hath  been  torn 
by  a  wild  beast, 
exc:'pb  vv'.iab  he 
himself  sliall  kill; 
anil  that  wliic  i 
hath  been  sacri- 
fice! unto  idolsl" 
— (Jadsby. 

h  n.  W.  Beeclier. 


shall  cling'  to  it  until  they  show  me  a  better  revelation.  The 
Bible  emptied,  eflEete,  worn-out !  If  all  the  wisest  men  of  the 
world  were  placed  man  to  man,  they  could  not  souud  the  shal- 
lowest depth  of  the  Gospel  of  John.  O  philosophers  !  break  the 
shell,  and  fly  out  and  let  ine  hear  how  yo'i  can  siu,!|.  2sot  of 
passion,  I  know  that  already  ;  not  of  worliliy  power,  1  hear  that 
everywhere  ;  but  teach  me,  through  your  song-,  how  to  find  joy 
in  sorrow,  strength  in  weakness,  and  light  in  darkest  days  ;  how 
to  bear  buHeting  and  scorn,  how  to  welcome  death,  and  to  pass 
through  its  ministration  into  the  sphere  of  life  ;  and  this,  not 
for  me  only,  but  for  the  whule  world  that  groans  and  travails  in 
pain ;  and  until  you  can  do  this,  speak  not  to  me  of  a  batter 
revelation.* 


Cn AFTER   THE  FORTY-FIFTH. 

1 — 5.  (1)  by  lot,  or  allotment,  apportionment.  Reference 
hei"e  is  to  the  portion  assigned  to  Jehovah,  and  used  for  His 
sanctuary,  priests,  and  Levites.  oblation,  Heb.,  hcare-offrrinri.'' 
reads,  this  word  is  supplied  by  the  translators,  prob.  correctly. 
The  reed  was  twelve  feet  long.  The  whole  was  a  square  of  sixty 
miles  on  each  side.''  (2)  sanotiiarj'-,  including  the  entire 
temple-area,  suburbs,  void  places  ;  ground  immediately  about 
the  temple-walls,  wh.  might  not  be  built  on.  (3)  this  mea- 
sure, V.  1.  (-1)  for  the  priests,  for  their  work,  dwellings, 
and  maintenance.  (5)  twenty  chambers,  LXX.  trans,  better, 
'■  for  cities  to  dwell  in.'''' 

The  Bible  a  imracle. — The  Bible  itself  is  a  standing  and  au 
astonishing  miracle.  Written  fragmeni  by  fragment,  throughout 
ha  f  his^denni'te  [  ^"^^  Course  of  fifteen  centuries,  under  different  states  of  so^^iety, 
portion"  of  land  and  in  different  languages,  by  persons  of  the  most  opposite 
instead  of  being !  tempers,  talents,  and  conditions,  learned  and  unlearned,  prince 
supported  by  the  .  j^^j  peasant,  bond  and  free  ;  cast  into  every  form  of  instructive 
contributions   of  ^     -  '  '  •' 

the      people." — 
Spk.  Com. 

e  Nu.  xxxr.  2. 


«  "  So  called  bee. 
when  anythius 
was  offered  to 
God,  the  offerer 
raised  the  hand." 
— fausset. 

Ex.  xxT.  2,  xxix. 

24,  27. 

h  "This  quantity 
of  land  could  not 
be  sim|)ly  for 
dwellings,  and 
was  prob.  in  lieu 
of  tithes,  just  as 
the 


d  Mwlagan. 


composition  and  good  writing",  history,  prophecy,  poetrj',  allegory, 
emblematical  representation,  judicious  interpretation,  literal 
statement,  precept,  example,  proverb,  disquisition,  epistle, 
sermon,  prayer  ;  in  short,  all  rational  shapes  of  human  discourse, 
and  treating,  moreover,  of  subjects  not  obvious,  but  most  difficult. 
Its  authors  are  not  found,  like  other  writers,  contradicting  one 
another  upon  the  most  ordinary  matters  of  fact  and  opinion,  but 
are  at  harmony  upon  the  whole  of  their  sublime  and  momentous 
scheme."* 


6 — 8.  (G)  possession  .  .  city,  or  the  portion  to  be  occupied 
by  the  city,  for  the  whole  house,  i.e.  it  was  to  be  regarded 
as  belonging  to  the  nation,  and  free  for  the  use  of  the  entire 


a  "  On  either  side 
of    tiie     as.uoo 
reeds  a  strip_  of  | 
land,       runuiug  i 
westwards  to  the 

the^Tonrairfora°  ^  P'^.'^P^^  (^)  fo^*  the  princo,  for  his  palace  and  private  estate.* 
His  portion  is  thus  carefully  defined  to  prevent  future  encroach- 
ments, such  a-5  there  had  been  in  the  past.*  (8)  oppress,  by 
seizing  on  private  property. 

Siippoxrd  Jd.is'  of  fhc  Bihlr. — It  was  very  early  suggested  that 
the  whole  Bible  had  again  and  again  been  quoted  piecemeal  in 
one  book  or  other — that  it  had  impressed  its  own  image  on  the 
,  surface  of  hi;man  literature,  and  had  been  reflected  on  its  course 
as  the  stars  on  a  stream.     But  alas  !  when  lost,  on  investigation 


ed  the  possession 
of  the  prince." — 
Spk.  Com. 
h  1  Sa.  viii.  14, 
etc. ;  2  Ki.  xxiii. 
35;  Je.  xxii. 


A  proud  Indian 
nabob,  goitig 
along:  tlio  streets 
one  day,  wa3  at- 


it   was  found  as  vain  to  expect  that  the  gleam  of  starlight 


Cap.  xlv.  9—17.] 


EZEKIEL. 


377 


■would  still  remain  mirrored  in  the  water  when  the  clouds  had 
veiled  the  stars  themselves,  as  that  the  bright  characters  of  the 
Bible  would  remain  retiected  in  the  books  oi;  men  when  they  had 
been  erased  from  the  book  of  God.     On  iuspection,  it  was  found 
that  every  text,  every  ijhi-ase  which  had  been  quoted,  not  only  in 
books  of  devotion  and  theology,  but    in   tho  e  of   poetry   aud 
fiction,  had  been  remorselessly  expunged.     Never  before  had  I 
had  any  adequate  idea  of  the  extent  to  which  the  Bible  had 
moulded  the  intellectual  and  moral  life  of  the  last  eighteen  cen- 
turies, nor  how  intimately  it  had  interfused  itself  with  habits  of 
thought  and  modes  of  expression  ;  nor  how  naturally  and  exten- 
eively  its  comprehensive  imagery  and  language  had  been  intro- ! 
duced  into  human  writings,  and  most  of  all  where  there  had  been  1 
most  of  genius.     A  vast  portion  of     literature  became  instantly 
worthless,  and  was  transformed    into  so  much  waste-paper.     It  i 
was  almost  impossible  to  look  into  any  book  of  merit,   and  read  j 
ten  Images  together,  witout  coming  to  some  provoking  erasures  j 
and  mutilations,  some    hiatv.t  raUIe  dej! nidi,  which  made  whole  | 
passages  perfectly  unintelligible.     Many  of  the  sweetest  passages 
of  IShaktspeare  were   converted  into  unmeaning  nonsense,  from 
the  absence  of  those  words  which  his  own  all  but  divine   genius 
had  appropriated  from  a  still  diviner  source.     As  to  Milton,  he 
was  nearly  ruined,   as    might  naturally   be    supposed.     Walter 
Scott's  novels   were   filled   with   perpetual  lacuiUB.     I  hoped  it 
might  be  otherwise  with  the  philosophers,  and  so  it  was  :  but 
even  here  it  was  curious  to  see  what  strange  ravages   the    visi- 
tation had  wrought.     Some  of  thp  most  beautiful  and  compre- 
hensive of    Bacon's    aphorisms  were    reduced   to   enigmatical 
nonsense." 

9 — 12.  (9)  STifiice,  ch.  xliv.  8.  exactions, «  marg.  cxjnd- 
swnx,  lit.  cjectlon.1.  such  as  Ahab's,  1  Ki.  sxi.  19.  (10)  just  .  . 
'bath,  Le.  xix.  .35,  3(5:  Pr.  xi.  1.  (11)  bath,  a  meastire  for 
fluids.'  homer,  distinguish  from  omer,  Ex.  xri.  36.  (12)  gerahs, 
Ex.  XXX.  13.     inaneh,  orpound.'^ 

Tlie  ditty  of  tlic  civil  ridcr.t  (v.  9). — 1.  They  were  to  impose  a 
check  to  passion,  revenge,  and  wrong-doing  :  2.  To  execute  law 
and  justice  without  respect  to  persons  ;  3.  To  abolish  needless, 
and  reduce  necessary,  taxation  ;  4.  To  institute  uniform  weights, 
measures,  and  coinage  :  o.  To  do  their  personal  share  in  the 
matter  of  religious  offerings. 

13—17.  (13)  oblation,  v.  1.  (U)  cor,  prob.  a  sjoionym  for 
homer."  (1.0)  lamb,  or  kid.  peace  olierings,  or  thank- 
ofverings.  (lr>)  for  the  prince,  better,  with  the  prince.'' 
(17)  prince's  part,  his  special  duty  as  the  prince,  prepare, 
i.e.  provide. 

'J'hc  Christian'' a  htilivarh — The  BihJe. — The  Christian  faith  has 
been,  and  is  still,  very  fiercely  and  obstinatelj'  attacked.  How 
many  efi'orts  have  been  and  are  still  made  ;  how  many  books, 
seriotts  or  frivolous,  able  or  silly,  have  been  and  are  spread  inces- 
Bantly.  in  order  to  destroy  it  in  men's  minds  1  "WTiere  has  this 
redoubtable  struggle  been  supported  with  the  greatest  energy  and 
Biiccess?  and  where  has  Christian  faith  been  best  defended? 
There  where  the  reading  of  the  Sacred  Book  is  a  general  and 
assiduous  part  of  pttblic  wonship.  there  where  it  takes  place  in  the 
interior  of  families,  and  in  solitary  meditation.     It  is  the  Bible, 


tracteil  \>y  the 
sounds  proceeil- 
injj  from  a  niis- 
s-iuu- school,  and 
lie  ilrew  near  to 
listen.  The  boys 
were  reailing  the 
fifih  chapter  of 
Matthew.  The 
eyes  of  the  prince 
flashed  with  \\n- 
wouted  fire ;  and 
when  they  had 
finished  their 
lesson,  he  ex- 
claimed, "  Well, 
if  you  Only  live 
'that  chapter  as 
well  as  you  read 
it,  I  will  never 
say  another  word 
against  Chris- 
tianity." 
Uuring  the  per- 
secution of  the 
K  o  nconformists, 
in  the  reign  of 
James  II..  one  of 
tliem  copied  out 
the  whole  Bible 
in  shorthand  for 
his  own  use,  fear- 
ing the  re-estab- 
lishment  of 
popery,  and  the 
suppression  of 
the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, 
c  //.  Rogers. 

a  "  Tour  evic- 
tions of  My 
peoiile."—  Words- 
wviilt. 

bl  Ki.vii.  2G,38; 
2  Chr.  ii.  10,  iv. 
5  ;  Is.  V.  10. 

c  1  Ki.  X.  17; 
Ezr.  ii.  69;  Ke. 
vii.  71. 


a  1  Ki.  V.  11 :  2 
Chr.  ii.  10,  xsvii. 
5. 

6  "The  prince 
shall  join  with 
the  people  ia 
making  these  ob- 
lations, whereas 
those  that  follow, 
in  the  ne.xt  v., 
are  to  be  at  the 
sole  charge  of  the 
prince." — Loicth, 


378 


E7XK1EI. 


[Cap.lxvl.  1-4. 


a  "  The  offerings 
here,  and  the 
manner  of  ofTer- 
in-;  as  to  the 
siirinkling  of  the 
MdimI,  etc.,  ililVor 
in  many  respects 
from  the  injunc- 
tions of  the 
Levitical  law." — 
Vi'ofdsworlh. 

b  Dr.  Beard. 


"  Do  I  cast  away 
the  ISible?  No. 
But  the  Bible  is 
like  a  telescope. 
If  a  man  looks 
through  his  tele- 
scope, then  he 
sees  worlds 
beyond  ;  but  if 
he  looks  at  his 
telescope,  then  he 
does  not  see  any- 
thing but  that. 
The  Bible  is  a 
thing  to  be 
looked  through 
to  see  that  which 
id  beyond  ;  but 
most  people  only 
look  at  it;  andso 
they  see  only  the 
dead  letter." — 
Beecher. 


a  "This  worship 
was  offered  l>y 
bowing  his  head, 
and  bowing 
down  his  face  to 
the  earth,  or  fall- 
ing down  upon 
the  ground,  as 
the  postiue  of 
Dios  worship  is 
elsewhere  de- 
&crihGiX."—Loiclh 

h  "  The  prince 
ocoipies  an  ana- 
logous ])osition, 
standing  in  front 
of  the  porch  of 
the  eastern  gate 
of  the  innir 
court,  while  the 
priests  are  sacri- 
ficing before 
him."— /S^/t.  Com. 


the  Bible  itself,  which  combats  and  triumphs  most  eHicaciously 
iu  the  war  between  iucrediilily  and  belief. 

18—21.  (18)  first  month,"  sec  Le.  xvi.  16.  (10)  upon  the 
posts,  etc.,  comp.  ch.  xiii).  20.  (20)  simple,  or  errs  through 
ignorance.     (21)  passover,  Ex.  xii.,  etc. 

The  Bihie. — You  lind  the  liible  the  patriot's  charter-book,  the 
child's  dclij^fht,  the  old  mans  comfort,  and  the  youn.o-  niau>. 
guide.  Iu  its  pages  the  sick  and  weary  find  the  solace  which  they 
need,  aud  the  tempted  meet  with  timely  succour.  Its  worda 
whisper  hope  and  peace  to  the  dying,  and  minister  daily  food 
to  the  healthy  and  vigorous  household.  With  the  X'ious  music  of 
its  sublime  or  plaintive  songs  echo  the  roofs  of  ten  thousand 
times  ten  thousand  Christian  temples,  and  the  child's  prayer, 
night  aud  morn,  is  lisped  forth  in  the  simple  and  compre- 
hensive words  which  were  dictated  by  Him  who  is  its  central 
light.* 

22—25.  (22)  prepare,  or  provide.  (23)  seven,  etc.,  comp. 
Nu.  xxviii.  I'J— 24.  (21)  meat  offering,  etc,  rr.  11,  1.5.  hin, 
sixth  part  of  an  ephah  or  bath.  (2."))  feast  .  .  days,  Nu.  xxix.  12. 

Injiuence  of  the  JJihle. — The  Bible  has  been  expelled  for 
centuries,  by  atheistic  or  sacerdotal  hate,  from  the  dwellings  of 
many  of  the  European  nations.  As  a  matter  of  course,  the 
domestic  virtues  have  declined  ;  the  conjugal  relation  is  dis- 
paraged ;  deception  aud  intrigue  have  supplanted  mutual  con- 
fidence ;  and  society  has  become  diseased  to  its  very  core.  The 
very  best  thing  we  can  do — the  only  thing  which  will  be  eflicient 
to  arrest  these  evils,  is  to  restore  to  those  nations  the  Word  of 
God  ;  to  replace  in  their  houses  that  Bible  of  which  they  have 
been  robbed.  Only  do  for  France  and  Italy,  Belgium  and  Spain, 
Portugal  and  Austria,  what  has  been  attempted,  and  to  a  great 
extent  accomplished,  for  our  country — put  a  Bible  in  every 
family,  and  a  mightier  change  will  pass  over  Europe  than  can  be 
effected  by  all  the  diplomacy  of  her  statesmen,  or  aU  the  revolu- 
tions projected  by  her  patriots. 

CHAPTER  TEE  FORTY-SIXTH. 

1—4.  (!)■  gate,  etc.,  ch.  xliv.  2.  3.  (2)  worship  . .  gate," 
comj).  Sol.'s  position  at  the  dedication,  2  Chr.  vi.  12,  IS.'  (3) 
people  .  .  land,  standing  behind  their  prince,  and  represented 
by  him.     (■!)  burnt  offering,  cidnjj.  Nu.  xxviii.  9. 

Iteligious  deeUion.  —  (Jonm\cv — I.  The  importance  of  religious 
decision.  Important  because  thus  only  can — 1.  The  hamionious 
operation  of  all  the  powers  of  the  soul  be  secured  :  2.  Every 
ditliculty  be  successfully  overcome  ;  3.  We  obtain  the  full  appro- 
bation of  God.  II.  The  i)hilosophy  of  religious  decision.  To 
serve  the  Lord  demands  the  action  of  the  will.  1.  The  will  is 
the  controlling  faculty  of  the  soul ;  2.  To  be  virtuous  in  its 
action  or  volition  it  must  be  free  ;  3.  Its  action  is  determined,  to 
a  great  extent,  by  the  infiuenccs  wliich  are  brought  to  bear  upon 
it.  III.  The  urgency  of  religious  decision.  "This  day,"  because 
— 1.  Procrastination  is  dangerous  ;  2.  Your  advantages  will  never 
be  greater  than  they  are  now  ;  3.  It  is  criminal  to  hesitate  to  do 
that  which  is  so  manifestly  your  reasonable  duty.  If  you  will 
not  decide  while  it  is  a  day  of  grace,  you  must  for  ever  perish.' 


Cap.  xlvi.  5—24.] 


EZEKIEL. 


879 


Heathen,  and  Jen-is7i  irorsTiip  contrasted. — AVe  have  met  "nuth  a  "^  P-  L-  Davics, 

very  curious  engraving-  in  the  Anti/jititc's  d'Hrreulaneion,  after  ^"^' 

an  ancient  painting-  lound  at  Poiliei,  representing  the  Eg-yjjtian  I*  would    ba   a 

worship  of  Isis.     Ihis  -^-e  have  copied  ;   for  while  some  allege  "^^^  'T/l'^r^.*!'?'^ 

that  the  forms  of   the  Hebrew  worship  resembled,  essentially,  bath  iu' Leaven' 

those  of  the  Egvptians.  and  others  contend  that  their  forms  were  to  have  nii-sptut 

designedly  made  as  different  as  possible  from  those  of  Eg-ypt,  it  "'^'  ^^'^\  ^^^^^^^ 

is  an  advantage  to  ascertain  the  truth  f^om  the  unexceptionable  °"  ""    ' 
testimony  of  an  ancient  painting.'' 

5 — 8.  (5)  able  to  give,  i.e.  the  amount  i»  to  be  settled  by 
hisi  own  ability  and  willingness.  (6)  new  mDon,  Nu.  xxviii. 
11,  15.    (7)  meat  offering,  v.  5.    (8)  that  gate,  v.  1. 

Choose  your  God. — I.  "What  will  you  live  for  if  not  for  God  ? 
1.  Pleasure.  And  what  does  this  promise  you  ?  Live  as  you 
like,  it  says  ;  but  will  it  last  1  2.  Wealth.  But  will  your  wealth 
make  you  happy  /  Is  a  miser  happy  '  3.  Praise.  Fame  sa3-s,  I 
will  blow  my  trumi^et  loud  over  your  grave.  Over  your  grave  ! 
AViU  you  hear  it  ihen .'  AVill  you  sleep  the  sweeter  lor  it .'  At 
God's  bar  it  may  be  a  heavy  curse.  4.  AfEection  :  friendship. 
Kow,  this  in  itself  is  beautiful.  But  earthly  friends  must  die  ; 
and  then  they  are  not  perfect.  Ko,  you  want  something  better 
than  this.  II.  Vv'hy  you  should  live  for  God.  In  Him — 1.  You 
have  what  nothing  else  can  give  ;  2.  You  may  have  aU  the  other 
portions,  too,  as  far  as  they  are  worth  having."  j 

9—15.  (9)  over  against  it,  i.e.  by  the  gate  on  the  opposite 
side.  (10)  in  the  midst,  as  their  representative.  (11)  able 
to  give,  *-.  5.  (12)  voltmtary,  etc.,  as  an  act  and  expression 
of  personal  piety.  (13)  daily,  etc.,  Ex.  xxix.  3S.  (14)  con- 
tinually, a  daily  solemn  recognition  that  all  things  they  had 
were  the  Lord's.     (15)  prepare,  or  provide.  | 

The  presence  of  tJie  jirinee  {r.  10). — I.  He  is  in  the  midst  of  his  | 
people  :  2.  His  presence  is  apprehended  by  his  people  ;  3.  He  is 
accessible  to  his  people  :  4.  His  lu-esence  is  for  ]>ractical  purposes. 
Apply  : — (1)  Live  as  in  the  presence  of  your  Prince  ;  (2)  Beware 
of  going  where  you  cannot  expect  Him  to  follow  ;  (3)  Be  willing 
to  follow  where  He  leads  ;  (4)  So  cherish  His  presence  in  life 
that  when  you  go  out  of  this  world  He  may  still  be  with  you. 

16—18.  (IG)  give  a  gift,  it  could  only  be  from  his  allotted 
portion  ;  and  to  his  sons,  not  to  his  servants.  He  must  not  alienate 
any  portion  from  his  family.  (17)  year  of  liberty,  jubilee 
year,  when  property  was  restored."  (18)  take  .  .  oppression, 
ch.  xlv.  8. 

llie  trumpet,  the  law,  and  the  croTvn  (r.  17). — T.  The  trumpet 
of  the  year  of  liberty.  1.  "When  sounded  ;  2.  "Where  sounded  : 
3.  For  what  purpose  sounded.  XL  The  law  of  the  year  of 
liberty;  its  duties  are  typical.  1.  Unworldliness ;  2.  Entire 
devotion  to  God.  .  III.  The  crown  of  the  year  of  liberty.  1.  It 
Epake  of  the  joy  of  the  recipient  of  special  blessings  ;  2.  It  spake 
also  of  sympathy.* 

19—24.  (19)  a  place,  for  cooking  the  priests'  food.  (20)  i  „  jp„„^jj.,_ 
boil,  2  Chr.  XXXV.  13.  bake,  Le.  ii.  4.  5,  7.  (21)  every  corner  I 
a  court,  for  cooking  the  flesh  of  the  peace-offerings,  of  wh.  i  "The  gTo\yth  ot 
the  jicopie  partook  along  with  the  priests."  (22)  joined,  better, '  n^e  a^iJiuliiTOwn 
68  marg.,  '-had  chimneys."     (23)  row  of  buildings,  furnaces,!  but  Lke"au  oaki 


d  Dr.  Kitio. 


a    Dr.     J.     Ed- 

mo7ids. 

"  Among  all  that 
has  been  pnh- 
lislied  oil  ethical 
subjects,  on 
science,  on 
sociology.on  phy- 
sical ecoiuiiiiy, 
can  you  find  any 
book  tl.at  so 
iuj^pires  coinage, 
ami  hope,  and 
correct  judg- 
njent,  and  love 
of  holiness. as  the 
Bible  does  ?"— 
Bi'fcher. 

"The  Bible  will 
not  be  less,  but 
rather  more, 

prized  by  our 
occasionally 
turiiiiiglroiiiitto 
c]iOii  Hiiotlier  and 
equally  divine 
volume,  to  read 
some  pnges  of  the 
Book  of  Kature." 
— Dr.  Guthrie. 


a  Sons  may  have 
freehold  rights, 
but  servants  only 
leasehold  rights. 

"  The  Jubilee 
year  was  restored 
after  the  cap- 
t  i  V  i  t  y."  —  Jo- 
sejihus. 

h  Stems  and  Twigs, 


880 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  xlvil.  1--8, 


wliicli    increases 

slowly  iii'liu'd, 
but  surely.  Many 
suns,  showers, 
anil  frosts  pass 
upon  it  before  it 
c  lines  to  perfec- 
tion; anil  though 
iu  winter  it 
seems  ilea-l.  it  is 
g  a  t  li  e  r  i  n  g 
streugLli  at  the 
root." — Cowper. 
b  Dr.  li,  W. 
{lamilton. 


a  "  Tlie  Prophet 
Joel,  taking  oc- 
casion of  the  fact 
in  nature,  tliat 
there  was  a  foun- 
tain under  the 
temple  at  Jeru- 
salem, wli.  par- 
ried off  the  blood 
of  the  sacriSoes, 
and,  carrying  it 
off,  was  inter- 
mingled with 
that  blood— the 
image  of  the  All- 
atoning  Blood- 
speaks  of  a 
fountain  flowing 
forth  from  the 
liouse  of  the 
Lord,  and  water- 
ing the  valley  of 
Shittini,  whither 
by  nature  its 
waters  could  not 
flow." — I'li-iey. 
a  "  The  waters  of 
the  sea  will  be 
sweetened  by  the 
stream  flowing 
into  them." — 
Mosheh  lien  She- 
shelh. 

"  In  its  bitumi- 
nous waters  no 
vegetable  or  ani- 
mal life  is  said 
to  be  found.  Bat 
now  death  is  to 
give  plnce  to  Hfe 
in  JudiB.i,  and 
throughout  the 
world,  as  sym- 
bolised by  the 
healing  of  those 
Oeatli  -  pervaded 
waters  covering 
the  doomed 
cities."--/v(H.«,5rf. 
h  "  We  find  in  it 
only  n  spiritual 
allegory,  which 
foreslialows  mi- 
raclua  of   mercy 


etc.    (24)  ministers,  or  attendants.    Distinguished  from  the 
priests. 

JJomcutlc  relii/ion. — Let  us  consider— I.  In  -n-hat  domestio 
rolio-ion  consists.  1.  Piety  :  2.  Instruction  :  3.  Discipline  ;  -i. 
E.^cmplary  consistency.  II.  The  benefit-  that  result  from  it. 
1.  It  gives  a  deliuite  aim  to  domestic  ])lans;  2  It  secures  the 
spirit  of  harmony  and  love  :  S.  It  is  the  ordinary  means  of  con- 
version to  tho.se  who  reside  ■within  its  circle  :  4.  It  heightens  all 
our  social  enjoyments ;  .5.  It  soothes  the  calamities  which  are 
incident  to  our  most  intimate  relations  :  (3.  It  strengthens  and 
raises  the  piety  of  all  spiritually''  engaged  iu  it ;  7.  It  establishes 
so  many  seats  of  holy  iuflneuce  and  usefulness.* 


CHAPTER  THE  FORTY-SEFENTH. 

1 — 5.  (1)  waters,  there  was  a  fountain  under  the  temple  of 
Jerusalem,  and  this  suggests  the  fig.  here  used."  toward  the 
east,  looking  eastward.  The  inner  sanctuary  was  placed  to- 
ward the  west.  (2)  on  the  right  side,  '•  these  were  the  spare 
waters  not  used  in  the  service  of  the  temple."  (;5)  waters  .  . 
ancles,  stated  as  indicating  their  depth.  (4)  knees,  gra- 
dually increasing  in  depth.  (."))  river,  symbolical  of  the  full 
gifts  of  the  Spirit  in  the  later  days. 

The  vhion  of  the  hoJi/  vafns  (rr.  1 — 12). — I.  This  river  in  the 
place  and  character  of  its  origin,  in  the  gradual  increase  of  it, 
and  also  in  the  healing,  vitalising  properties  of  its  waters,  may 
be  regarded  as  a  type  of  the  gradual  development  of  the  plan 
of  salvation.  II.  They  may  be  regarded  as  a  figure  of  the  rise 
and  progress  of  religion  iu  the  soul.  III.  They  suggest  a 
picture  of  our  glorious  Christianity  in  its  origin,  diffusion,  and 
general  results. 

6 — 8.  (0)  seen  this,  taken  full  and  careful  observation  of 
this.  (7)  many  trees,  the  natural  accompaniment  of  a  fresh 
flowing  stream.  (3)  desert,  or  plain  of  the  Jordan,  sea,  the 
Dead  Sea.  healed,"  typical  of  the  gracious  work  of  God's 
Spirit.* 

yh-rs. — The  laurel,  firm,  erect,  and  bold,  expands  its  leaf  of 
vivid  green.  In  spite  of  the  united,  the  repeated  attacks  of 
wind,  and  rain,  and  frost,  it  preserves  an  undismayed  lively 
look  :  and  maintains  its  post,  while  withering  millions  fall 
around.  Worthy,  by  vanquishing  the  rugged  force  of  winter, 
worthy  to  adorn  the  triumphant  couqiieror's  brow.  Kor  must  I 
forget  the  bay  tree,  which  scorns  to  be  a  mean  pensioner  on  a 
few  transient  sunny  gleams,  or.  with  a  servile  obsequiousness, 
to  vary  its  appearance  in  con  form  itj''  to  the  changing  seasons  : 
by  such  indications  of  sterling  worth,  and  staunch  resolution, 
reading  a  lecture  to  the  poet's  genius,  while  it  weaves  the 
chaplet  for  his  temples.  These,  and  a  few  other  ])lants,  clad 
with  native  verditre.  retain  their  comely  aspect  in  the  bleakest 
climes  and  in  the  coldest  months.  Such,  and  so  durable,  are  the 
accomplishments  of  a  refined  understanding  and  nn  amiable 
temner.  The  tawdry  ornaments  of  dress,  which  catch  the  un- 
thinking vulgar,  soon  become  insipid  and  despicable.  The 
rubied  lip  and  the  rosy  cheek  fade.  Even  the  sparkling  wit.  as 
well  as  the  sparkling  eye,  please  but  for  a  moment.    But  th» 


Cap.  xlvii.  9—17.] 


EZEKIEL. 


581 


virtuous  mind  lias  charms  which  survive  the  decay  of  every  in- 
ferior embellishment ;  charms  which  add  to  the  fragrancy  of  the 
flower,  the  permanency  of  the  evergreen.  Such,  likewise,  is 
the  happiness  of  the  sincerely  religious  ;  like  a  tree,  saj's  the 
inspired  moralist,  '  whose  leaf  shall  not  fall.'  He  borrows  not 
his  peace  from  external  circumstances,  but  has  a  fund  within, 
and  is  •  satisfied  from  himself.'  Even  though  impoverished  by 
calamitous  accidents,  he  is  rich  in  the  possession  of  grace,  and 
riclier  in  the  hope  of  glory.  His  joys  are  infinitely  superior  to, 
as  well  as  nobly  independent  of,  the  transitory  glow  of  sensual 
delight,  or  the  capricious  favours  of  what  the  world  calls  fortune." 

9 — 12.  (9)  shall  live,  or  be  healthy  and  vigorous,  every- 
thing shall  live,  or,  there  shall  be  abundance  of  life.  (10) 
fishers,  the  sign  of  its  being  known  as  a  river  full  of  life. 
En-gedi,"  Ge.  xiv.  7.  En-eglaim,  on  the  E.  side  of  Dead 
Sea,  where  the  Jordan  falls  into  it.''  great  sea,  or  Mediter- 
ranean. (11)  marislies,  or  marshy  places  ;  from  these  salt  was 
obtained  for  commerce.  These  will  not  be  healed  because  the 
living  stream  will  not  reach  them.  (12)  fruit,  etc.,  comp. 
Ee.  xxii.  2. 

The  hoi II  n-nters  (v.  9). — I.  The  river  the  text  specifies.  1.  The 
source  from  whence  its  i.-sues  :  2.  The  direction  in  which  it 
flows  :  3.  Tlie  plenitude  with  wlfich  it  abounds.  II.  The  bless- 
ings the  text  describes.  1.  The  Gospel,  if  healing  in  its  virtue  ; 
2.  Is  abundant  in  its  success  ;  3.  Is  quickening  in  its  power. 
III.  The  instructions  the  text  suggests.  1.  The  duty  of  gratitude 
for  Gospel  blessings ;  2.  The  necessity  of  embracing  Gospel 
blessings  ;  3.  The  blessedness  of  enjoying  Gospel  salvation. 

13 — 17.  (13)  border,  or,  arrangement.  A  new  allotment  of 
the  land  wfs  necessary  on  the  return  from  captivity,  two 
portions,  Ge.  xlviii.  5  ;  Jos.  xiv.  4.  (14)  one  as  another, 
each  receiving  an  e(iual  portion,  lifted,  rfc,  ch.  xx.  o,  6.  fall 
unto  you,  by  Divine  arrangement,  so  that  a"bout  it  j-ou  need 
have  no  disputings.  (1."))  Hetlilod,  a  place  near  Damascus; 
ch.  xlviii.  1."  Zedad,  Nu.  xxxiv.  7,  8.  (IG)  Hamath,  at  the 
foot  of  Mt.  Hernion.'  Berothah,  2  Sam.  viii.  8.  Sibraim, 
unknown.  Hazar-hatticon,  or  the  middle  Hazar,  to  dis- 
tinguish it  from  Ifazar-cnan.  Hauran,"^  the  district  S.  of 
Damascus.     (17j  Hazar-enan,  or  village  of  fountains. 

Ej'pcrimcntal  evidence  of  the  Bible. — My  next  proof  consists  of 
experimental  evidence.  In  order  to  appreciate  it,  I  would  bid 
the  objector  come  with  me  to  some  sequestered  glen  amid  the 
hills  and  valleys  of  Scotland.  I  will  take  him  to  the  patriarchal 
occupant  of  a  lonely  cabin,  where  you  may  behold  the  grey-headed 
man,  amid  intermingling  smiles  and  tears,  bending,  morniug, 
noon,  and  night,  over  one  book — "the  big  ha'  Bible."  Let  us 
ask  him,  "  How  do  you  know  that  that  book  called  the  Bible  is 
the  book  of  God  .'  You  never  read  the  writings  of  a  Paley,  the 
analogy  of  a  Butler  :  you  never  studied  the  credibility  of  Lardner, 
nor  the  eloquent  demonstrations  of  a  Chalmers  ;  how  came  you 
to  believe  it?  "  "  Come  to  believe  it  ? "  would  the  peasant  say  ; 
"  I  have  felt  it  in  my  heart  and  conscience  to  be  the  book  of  God  ! 
it  has  taught  me  the  truths  I  never  knew  before,  it  has  given 
me  a  peace  the  world  could  never  give  :  it  has  calmed  my  beating 
heartj  it  baa  etaunched  my  bleeding  wounds,  it  has  kicdled 


in  stoi-e  for  tha 
whole  woi"ld  iax 
more  .'^tupeudors. 
...There  is 
another  desert, 
however,  wh.  He 
will  surely  heal, 
the  desert  of  sin, 
the  sea  of  spiri- 
tual death."—. 
Thomson. 
c  Hervey. 

a  "  South  of  En- 
gedi  tlie  sea  ia 
contracted,  by  a 
peninsula  jutting 
into  the  sea 
northwards,  so 
as  to  give  to  the 
w'jole  southern 
part  of  the  sea 
the  appearance, 
not  of  a  broad 
sheet  of  water, 
but  rather  of  a 
long  winding 
bay,  or  the  es- 
tuary of  a  large 
river  when  the 
tide  is  out  and 
tlie  shoals  are 
left  dry."— Tio- 
hiiisnn. 

b  So  Hengsteri' 
berg. 

a  "Prob.  the  de- 
file between  the 
raiigesof  Libanus 
and  ant  i-L  i- 
banus,  from  the 
sea  to  Hamatli." 
— Spk.  Com. 
b  1  Ki.  viii.  65; 
Am.  vi.  2,  14. 
c  Auranitis. 
An  Irish  boy 
being  command- 
ed by  a  jiriest  to 
burn  his  Bible, 
reluctantly  com- 
plied ;  but  at 
the  same  time 
said,  "I  thank 
God  that  j'ou 
can't  take  from 
me  the  twenty 
chapters  that  I 
have  in  my 
mind." 

'■  The  Christian 
graces  are  like 
perfumes,  the 
more  they  are 
pressed  by  afflic- 
tion the  sweeter 
they  smell  ;  or, 
like  the  stars, 
they  appear  best 
in  the  darknesa 
of  trouble."— 
/.  BeaumoMi, 


382 


EZEKTEL. 


[Cap.  xlvlil.  1—7. 


d    Dr.    J.    Cum- 
miiij. 


a  Nu.  xxxiT.  5. 

We  migrlit  to  look 
■with  deep  oar- 
iifistness  of  spirit 
into  the  Jloly 
Pcriptures  —  tlie 
mirror  of  God's 
word,  In  order  to 
find  out  oar 
faults,  that  tliey 
may  bpcorrocted; 
in  ordpr  to  find 
(/liristian  graces 
therein  which 
mny  be  im- 
proved ;  in  order 
to  find  tlie 
blessed  doctrines 
of  our  Saviour, 
which  we  may 
learn  to  adorn  in 
all  things. 
6  /'/of.  Gaussen. 
a  "  Foreigners 
never  before  had 
the  privilege  of 
purchasing  or 
possessing  any 
inheritance 
among  t  li  e 
Jews." — Lnwth. 
Le.  XXV.  10  ;  Nn. 
xxx-vi.  7 ;  Do. 
xxiii.  3. 

*  Bp.  Tlwmson. 


"  Both  are  good 
books,  and  both 
are  God's  books  ; 
and  he  only  looks 
on  this  great 
world  aright 
who,  valuing  it 
for  something 
more  valuable 
than  the  goM 
men  draw  from 
its  rockv  bowels, 
the  flocks  it 
jiastures,  tlie  rich 
freights  borne  on 
its  waves,  and 
the  harvests  that 
wave  on  its 
Celda.       beholds 


within  me  the  love  of  God  and  hopas  of  g:lory.  Not  the  book  of 
God  !  I  am  as  convinced  of  it  as  that  I  am  here  a  living,  breathing 
man."'' 

18—21.  (13)  east  sea,  i.e.  the  Dead  Sea.  (19)  Tamar,  or 
Eng-edi.  strife,  or  Meribah.  De.  xxii.  52.  river  of  Egypt, 
\]'iif///-cl-Ari.s'h.'-  (20)  great  sea,  Mediterranean.  (21)  so, 
according  to  this  ontline. 

Inspiration  of  the  wJwle  Blhle. — We  say  that  it  is  the  whole 
Scriptures  that  are  inspired  of  God  ;  the  historical  books  as  well, 
as  the  prophecies  :  the  Gospels  as  well  as  the  Song  of  Solomon  ; 
the  Gospels  of  Mark  and  Lnke,  as  well  as  those  of  John  and 
Matthew  ;  the  history  of  the  shipwreck  of  St.  Paul  iu  the  waters 
of  the  Adriatic,  as  well  as  that  of  the  shipwreck  of  the  old 
world  in  the  waters  of  the  flood  ;  the  scenes  of  JMamre  beneath 
the  tents  of  Abraham,  as  well  as  those  of  the  day  of  Christ  in 
the  eternal  tabernacles  ;  the  prophetic  prayers  in  which  the 
Messiah,  a  thousand  years  before  Ilis  first  advent,  cries  in  the 
Psalms,  "  My  God,  My  God,  why  hast  Thou  forsaken  Me  ?  they 
have  pierced  My  hands  and  My  feet,  they  have  cast  lots  upon 
JMy  vesture,  they  look  and  stare  at  Me,"  as  well  as  the  narratives 
of  them  given  by  St.  John,  St.  Mark,  St.  Luke,  or  St.  Matthew.* 

22,  23.  (22)  strangers,  foreigners  dwelling  with  them  as 
proselytes."     (23)  sojournetll,  or  settles  down. 

Bible:  self-perpctvatinrj. — It  has  a  self-perpetuating  and  multi- 
plying power.  Infidels  have  written  books  :  where  are  they  ? 
Where  is  Porphyry,  Julian  ?  Fragments  of  them  there  are  ;  but 
we  are  indebted  even  for  this  to  Chi-istian  criticism.  Where  is 
Hume,  Voltaire,  Boliugbroke  1  It  requires  the  world's  reprieve 
to  bring  a  copy  out  of  the  prison  of  their  darkness.  Where  is 
the  Bible  ?  Wherever  there  is  light.  Speaking  the  language 
of  heaven  in  seven  score  and  three  of  the  tongues  of  earth,  and 
giving  the  Word  of  God  by  forty  millions  of  voices,  to  five  times 
as  many  million  ears,  and  in  tongues  spoken  by  six  hundred 
millions  of  men  ;  and  having  swept  its  path  of  storm  through  all 
time,  it  still  walks  triumphant,  despite  earth's  dying  malice  and 
hell's  eternal  wrath  ;  and,  like  the  apocalyptic  angel,  though  it 
wraps  its  mantle  of  cloud  around  it,  calo.ly  looks  out  upon  the 
world  with  a  face,  as  it  were  the  sun  encircled  with  the  rainbow.* 

CHAPTER  THE  FOETY-EIGHTH. 

1 — 7.  (1)  Dan,  taking  the  first  allotment,  with  border  to 
Damascus.  (2)  border  of  Dan,  icon  his  south  side.  (3—7) 
These  tribes  are  all  to  be  on  the  northern  side  of  the  holy  portion, 
which  is  set  in  the  very  middle  of  the  country. 

Bible  and  nntnre. — The  God  of  nature  and  the  Bible  is  one. 
He  who  inspired  histories,  and  psalms,  and  prophecies,  and 
epistles,  was  He  who  made  stars  and  flowers,  and  the  works  of  His 
hands  never  look  so  fair  as  when  studied  in  the  light  of  His 
Word.  Nature  is  not  so  much  a  book  by  which  we  can  find  out 
God,  as  a  book  from  which  we  may  gather  illustrations  of  what 
God  is,  having  learned  His  perfections  from  His  revealed  truth. 
It  is  said  of  Archbishop  Usher,  when  he  grew  old,  and  spectacles 
could  not  help  his  failing  sight,  that  a  book  M'as  dark  except 
beneath  the  strongest  light  of  the  windows.    And  he  aged  man 


Cap.  xlviii.  8—24.] 


EZEKIEL. 


383 


would  sit  against  the  casement,  with  his  outspread  volume 
before  him,  till  the  sunshine  flitted  to  another  opening,  when  he 
would  change  his  place,  and  jiut  himself  again  under  the  bril- 
liant rays  :  and  so  he  would  move  about  with  the  light  till  the 
day  was  done,  and  his  studies  ended.  And  truly  we  may  say  our 
weak  eyes  will  not  suffice  to  make  out  the  inscription  on  the  page 
of  nature,  unless  we  hold  it  up  in  a  Divine  light — unless  we  get 
near  the  window  of  Scripture,  where  God  pours  in  upon  us  the 
radiance  of  His  Spirit.  And  wherever  it  shines  let  us  follow  it, 
knowing  that  nowhere  but  in  its  illumination  can  we  study  the 
spiritual  meanings  of  nature  so  well." 

8—14.  (8)  offering,  or  portion  devoted  to  God.  (9)  obla- 
tion, ch.  xlv.  1.  (10)  for  them,  for  tlreir  maintenance, 
(llj  sons  of  Zadok,  the  lawful  line  of  priests,  cliarge, 
ward  or  ordinance.  (12)  most  holy,  regard  as  solemnly  con- 
secrated to  God.  (13)  Levites,  as  previoiisly  narrated,  ch. 
xlv.  7.     (14)  alienate,  devoting  any  of  it  to  common  purposes. 

IiiKprrat'iun  of  the  Blhle. — The  Bible  must  be  the  invention 
either  of  good  men  or  angels,  bad  men  or  devils,  or  of  God.  It 
could  not  be  the  invention  of  good  men  or  angels  ;  for  they 
neither  would  nor  could  make  a  book,  and  tell  lies  all  the  time 
they  were  writing,  saying.  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  when  it  was 
their  own  invention.  It  could  not  be  the  invention  of  bad  men 
or  devils,  for  they  could  not  make  a  book  which  commands  all 
duty,  forbids  all  sin.  and  condemns  their  souls  to  all  eternity. 
"We  therefore  draw  this  conclusion — the  Bible  must  be  given  by 
Divine  inspiration." 

15—20.  (1.5)  profane,  common, unsanctified  :  ch. xlii.  20.  .(If?) 
the  measures,  or  measurements.  (17)  suburbs,  or  out- 
skirts." (18)  tlie  increase,  or  produce,  serve  in  the  city, 
porters,  etc.  (19,  20)  foursquare,  a  square  fig.  is  the  emblem 
of  perpetuity,  strength,  and  solidity.* 

ravViammtarij  cy^acfincnts  a.i  to  ilic  Scr'ipfvres. — At  the  request 
of  the  Romish  clergy,  severe  proclamations  were  issued  by  king 
Henry  VIII.  against  all  who  read,  or  kept  by  them,  Tindal's 
translation  of  the  New  Testament :  so  that  a  copy  of  this  book 
found  in  the  possession  of  any  person  was  sufficient  to  convict 
him  of  heresy,  and  subject  him  to  the  flames.  '-But  the  fervent 
zeal  of  those  Christian  days,"  says  the  goal  old  martyrologist.  Fox, 
"  seemed  much  superior  to  these,  our  days  and  times,  as  mani- 
festly may  appear  by  their  sitting  up  all  night  in  reading  or 
hearing  :  also  by  their  expenses  and  charges  in  buying  of  books 
in  English,  of  whom  some  gave  a  load  of  hay  for  a  few  chapters 
of  St.  James,  or  of  St.  Paul,  in  English.'"" 

21—24.  (21)  for  the  prince,  ch.  xlv.  7.  (22)  from  the 
possession,  i.e.  measuring  from."  (23.  21)  a  portion,  better, 
one  portion.     Comp.  Josefili's  double  portion. 

Company  of  the  Blhle. — By  opening  this  volume  we  may  at  any 
time  walk  in  the  garden  of  Eden  with  Adam  :  sit  in  the  ark  with 
Noah  :  share  the  hospitality  or  witness  the  faith  of  Abraham  ; 
ascend  the  mount  of  God  with  Moses  ;  unite  in  the  secret  devotions 
of  David,  or  listen  to  the  eloquent  and  impassioned  address  of 
Paul.  Nay,  more,  we  may  here  converse  with  Him  who  spake 
as  never  man  spake  ;  participate,  with  the  spirits  of  the  just 
made  perfect,  in  the  employment  and  happiness  of  heaven ;  and 


there,  as  in  a 
glorious  mirror, 
the  wisdom  and 
power  of  God^ 
tlie  goodness 
tli.it  shiiips  in 
every  sunbeam 
and  falls  la 
every  shower." — 
Dr.  Gulhrie. 
a  J.  Stoughton. 


a  D.  Simpson. 
We  are  not  tO| 
wish  our  Bible 
to  flatter  us,  as 
some  persona 
love  to  be  flat- 
tered by  their 
mirror.  The 
Bible  flatters 
none  ;  it  sliows 
infirmity  in  the 
strongest,  de- 
formity in  the 
fairest,  defile- 
ment in  the 
purest  Christian. 


a  "  The  city 
being  4,500  reeds 
square,  lenves 
2S0  reeds  north, 
250  south,  for 
suburbs:  the  like 
are  marked  oil  on 
the  east  and  west 
fr.  the  city  land." 
— Spk.  Com. 

b  Ee.  xxi.  16. 


cR.T.a. 


a  "  The  prince'f 
portion  shall  ex- 
tend from  the 
boundary  of 
Judiih,  on  the 
north  of  the  Holy 
Portion,  to  the 
border  of  Ben- 
jamin on  the 
south,  so  as  to 
flank  the  Holy 
Portion  on  the 
E.  and  AV..  and. 
to   till  up  'n-hat 


384 


EZEKIEL. 


[Cap.  slviil.  25—33. 


lies  bptwrcn  It 
ami  the  .Ioril;in 
on  tlie  K.,  and 
bet.  it  aiui  tlie 
Jle.lit.  on  the 
W."-  Woi-dsirorlh. 
h  Dr.  Pu'json. 

In  ISna  the 
bishop  of  AVin- 
cliester  bonvwed 
a  Bible,  in  two 
volumes  folio, 
from  a  convent 
in  that  city,  giv- 
ing a  bond, 
drawn  up  in  a 
most  formal  and 
solemn  manner, 
for  its  due  return. 
This  Bible  had 
been  given  to 
the  convent  by  a 
former  bi.-ihop, 
and  in  considera- 
tion of  this  gift, 
and  one  hundred 
marks,  the  monk 
founded  a  daiiy 
mass  for  the  souj 
of  the  donor. 

a  Dante. 


a  Re.  xxi.  12. 

b  "Not  that  the 
city  will  be  called 
so  in  mere  name, 
but  that  the 
reality  will  be 
best  expressed  by 
this  descriptive 
title." — Fausset. 

Je.  iii.  17,  xxxiii. 
16;  Zee.  ii.  10; 
Ee.  xxi.  3,  xxii.  3. 

0  R.  Cecil,  M.A. 


enjoy  sweet  commnnion  with  the  Father  of  our  spirits  through 
His  Son  Jesus  Clirist.  Such  is  the  society  to  which  tlie  Scriptures 
iutroduce  us  ;  such  the  examples  wliich  they  present  to  our 
Imitation. 

25 — 29.  and  by,  etc.,  these  trihcs  were  located  on  the  further 
or  southern  side  of  the  Holy  Portion.     Ezekiel  s  arrangement  is 
manifestly  an  ideal  rather  than  a  jiractical  one. 
Thc^JJiblc  fiometimi'K  a  chi.icd  booh. — 

'Men,  thus  at  variance  with  the  truth, 
Dream,  though  their  eyes  be  open;  reckless  some 
Of  error  ;  others  well  aware  they  err, 
To  whom  more  guilt  and  shame  are  justly  due. 
Each  the  known  track  of  sage  philosophy 
Deserts,  and  has  a  by-way  of  his  own  : 
So  much  the  restless  eagerness  to  shine, 
And  love  of  singularity  prevail. 
Yet  this,  offensive  as  it  is,  provokes 
Heaven's  anger  less,  than  when  the  Book  of  God 
Is  forced  to  yield  to  man's  authority, 
Or  from  its  straightness  warp'd  :  no  reck'ning  made, 
What  blood  the  sowing  of  it  in  the  world 
Has  cost ;  what  favour  for  himself  he  wins, 
Who  meekly  clings  to  it. 

******  It 

Christ  said  not  to  His  first  conventicle. 
Go  forth  and  preach  impostures  to  the  world  : 
But  gave  them  Truth  to  build  on  ;  and  the  sound 
Was  mighty  on  their  lips  ;  nor  needed  they, 
Beside  the  Gospel,  other  spear  or  shield. 
To  aid  them  in  their  warfare  for  the  faith." 

30—35.  (30)  goings  out,  or  gates.  Ways  of  entrance  for 
the  various  tribes  from  north  and  south  of  the  Holy  Portion. 
(31)  after  the  names,  called  after  the  names  of  the  several 
tribes."  (32—34)  Joseph,  the  name  covers  the  tribes  of 
Ephraim  andManasseh.  (3.5)  the  Lord  is  there,  Heb.  Jehovah- 
Shammah.'' 

Tlie  Lord  in  Zion  (r.  35). — I.  ^Miat  is  contained  in  the  promise  ? 
II.  What  are  the  signs  of  this  high  privilege  being  annexed  to 
the  Church  at  large,  or  to  any  individual  therein.'  Apply  : — 1. 
If  the  Lord  be  present  in  Zion,  with  what  temper  of  mind  should 
we  come  to  the  house  of  God  ?  with  what  so  enmity  we  should 
remain  there  and  return  thence  ?  2.  We  should  learn  a  lesson  of 
charity  ;  3.  If  it  is  our  high  privilege  as  Christians  to  be  made 
temples  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  then  let  us  say.  Blessed  be  God,  who 
has  given  us  strong  consolation  and  good  hope  through  grace." 


